Alabama

My name is Anita Dudley.  I was diagnosed with NMO in the spring of 2006.  In September of 2005 I was paralyzed from the waist down.  The doctors at the hospital where I was being treated had no idea what caused the inflammatory attack in my spinal cord.  They gave me a transverse myelitis diagnosis.  They did every test they could think of to find the cause and to determine the diagnosis.

In the spring of 2006 my neurologist went to a meeting and mentioned my case to the speaker.  He was told that it sounded like NMO.  So, the NMO-IgG antibody test was done at the Mayo Clinic and it came back positive for NMO.

It was a very scary time.  I can now walk unaided, but not very far and not on uneven ground.  I found help through The Transverse Myelitis Association web site.  Reading about others and their experiences was such an inspiration to me.  And all of the information on the website is just wonderful.

I am hoping that I can help others in our state.  Please feel free to contact me.  I am here for support and any information that I can give or help you find.

Sincerely, 
Anita

Anita Dudley
Mobile, AL 36695
(251)607-0323
dudleygene@bellsouth.net

Alabama Support Group

My name is Missy Logan and I am excited to work with Anita Dudley as co-coordinators for the Alabama Support Group!  Here’s my story…

January 3, 2004, I started my new dream job.  I was healthy and happy, and life was good!  Little did I know that one week later, I would be spending nine days on the neurology floor at the University of Alabama –Birmingham (UAB) Hospital!  I was 33 years old and had never spent even one night in the hospital, let alone nine!

My diagnosis was an acute episode that started out with complete urinary retention and then a tingling / burning sensation in my legs on Wednesday, January 5. This terrifying incident took me to the emergency room twice in one day to be cathed; with the last visit sending me home with a bag catheter and a follow up appointment with an urologist. No one at either ER visit questioned me about other symptoms or issues.  They thought my problem was related to a reaction to an antibiotic I was taking for an upper respiratory infection and sent me on my way!

However, within two days, the burning and tingling sensation worsened, and I began losing mobility from the waist down.  This worsening resulted in a third visit to the ER. By this time, I could barely squat without assistance.  I had numbness in my back and feet, I continued to have urinary retention, and I was scared to death!  The doctor on-call from my doctor’s office sent me for an MRI immediately to rule out MS, but his initial diagnosis based on my conditions/symptoms was Transverse Myelitis (TM) (thank goodness for this doctor)! Following this ER visit, I was transferred to UAB where the neurologists conducted routine tests, including a spinal tap, another MRI, and other electromagnetic testing.  They confirmed the diagnosis of TM and began my IV steroid treatments. 

I consider myself very fortunate to have had a doctor who was educated on TM and transferred me to a teaching and research hospital where they had treated other TM patients.  I also recognize that my acute episode was very minor compared to some others. I never lost complete control of my legs or other extremities, and today, while I still experience some numbness and tingling, I do have complete and full use of my legs. And, even though I do continue to intermittently cath to completely empty my bladder, I can void on my own!  I am able to play tennis, exercise regularly, shop and I also gave birth to our first child February 14, 2005 – one year and one month after being released from the hospital with TM!

My neurologist and urologist, of course, do not know the cause of my attack – either the upper respiratory infection or the flu vaccination that I had received a few weeks prior to the onset of my symptoms.  While I had excellent care and received a lot of information regarding my diagnosis in a timely fashion, I know others do not always have this experience, which is why I look forward to working with The Transverse Myelitis Association and helping others in Alabama!

Missy Logan
Hampton Cove, Al 35763
(256)415-0994
missyandbrent@comcast.net