My name is Ursula Mauro. I'm 38, a single mother, separated since 1998. My daughter, Isabella, is 13. I've always lived in Germany, but traveled a lot the last years. Isabella and me live since two years very good together with a French woman and her seven-year-old son.

I'm working part-time as something like an educating nurse (the profession is aimed for handicapped people) in a Center for epileptic people, as picture editor in an artist/graphic office and I am studying to become a nonmedical practitioner. My body was always weak, since I can remember; many little illnesses, some big ones, a slipped disc, a few surgeries with scar problems later, loss of one kidney. I was already often in pain, before the myelitis came.

The last years I tried after each illness more and more to balance the stress. I know now that I am not balancing the stress enough. March, polio-vaccination, a few days later a big flu, which lasted almost one month. There started my swallow problems and didn't go away until today. After an especially stressful April/May, everything became more slowly again.

June 10th, when I woke up in the morning, the first symptoms: a numb feeling in the higher stomach with a permanent high painful pressure above the liver and in the lower abdomen like a belt with often heavy pain like contractions. I felt weak also.

I went to a doctor, she assumed my brace (I wore it to hold my back pain down) would cause it and squeeze nerves, so I waited on without wearing my brace. Three days later it progressed: numbness in the right hand, little-finger-side until the third finger and up the arm, sometimes also painful, like needles, often very cold or completely hot, with movement-disturbations. One day later the same in the left hand. I went to my doctor, he assumed stress-reasons, but sent me to a neurologist and for an abdomen ultrasound. Many many examinations and everything seemed to be completely normal, also the SSEP. So, the neurologist wanted to wait three more weeks. Nothing improved at this time. I was always tired. Meanwhile, in addition, "needles" in my left leg and foot. I did slower, but I still worked and studied further, although I felt very exhausted.

1st of August, I've got the MRI - Transverse Myelitis C4/C5 and a slipped disc T7/T8. 2nd of August, a spinal tap and starting with high doses of steroids iv for five days. During giving the steroids, the tremor started, especially in arms and legs, sometimes a real body shaking, sometimes just little, also heart racing and knee pain. I stopped working and studying completely. Now, we are on research for the reason with many blood tests, x-ray lungs, etc. So far they found oligoclonal bands in my liquor (what only proofs a local gamma-globulin-production in the central-nerve-system, which can happen during a lot of inflammatory illnesses), but we are still waiting for more results. A few days ago I've been to a specialist for my throat problem. Nothing got found (thanks heaven!). Since a few days, the stomach pain seems to get a little better. That's already a big relief, because this is the worst bearable symptom for me.

I'm aware that I'm lucky to be able to walk around and doing things! Friends support me at the moment in many directions and I'm proud and happy to have such a lot of reliable active people around me. I'm also happy that I've found the TMA on the internet two weeks ago, got to know Sandy and finally the people from the mailing-list, they gave me such a friendly welcome. The possibility to communicate with other people with TM is very special. To feel not alone with this illness, to support each other in different directions, share and exchange information and personal experiences.

I am excited to announce that I will be starting a support group in Germany. We have a growing membership, and there is much we can do to help each other. If you are interested in participating, please get in touch with me; I will also try to reach out to you.

Take care,
Ursula
umauro[AT SIGN]t-online.de
07807 3154