Re: Recent diagnosis

FHargr3092(AT)aol.com
Sun, 16 Nov 1997 14:42:34 -0500 (EST)

Hi back!
I don't know what they did to get me back on my
feet as quickly as I did--they started a Medro IV
drip within the first day I was diagnosed which was
from 1st sign (loss of bladder/bowel) at midnight
on Friday night and admittance into hospital on
Monday--drip was started about 11pm. I do know
that my daughter who works in Post Trauma/Rehab
area in OK City saw toedrop during the day Monday
and a footboard was installed on my bed before all
diagnostic testing was completed. They also stood
me up on Tuesday am, had me up and "walking" with
therapist on each side of me the following day,and did
ROM therapy duringthe four days I was in the hospital
before being movedto the skilled nursing unit for physical/
occupation therapies.

I think more than anything was the positive attitude that
was there from the drs to nursing staff to family etc ie,
drs told me they knew where I'd be a week from diagnosis
but didn't about a month from then. They never told me
that I might not walk again and I never thought in those
terms! I pushed the limits especially while I was on the
descending dosage of steroids--with no feeling I could do
more walking etc. I practiced the exercises, stretching etc
constantly as I lay on the couch. I continue to work as
much as I can. I now have pain but try to work through it.
I'm doing water exercises and they are easier to do than
on land.

I also know that prayer was a major asset when it came
to my improving health and my return to some semblance
of my prior self. I also have found much help in this tmic
group because the people "in the same boat" understand
what I'm saying when I talk about those things that are
happening to me. I also have accepted the fact that if I do
no more that I have to date, this is ok.

I hope that I have said something that is useful--I didn't mean
to step too hard on you yesterday but I hate to see someone
just quit hoping and being negative about themselves. My hopes
and prayers are with you and each person with this disease.

Let me hear. Jan