Re: Transverse Myelitis

FHargr3092 (FHargr3092(AT)aol.com)
Tue, 20 Jan 1998 16:14:01 EST

Suzanne, Jan H here. I, too, was diagnosed with TM following
a bout with pneumonia.. It was explained to me that TM results
from a virus present in the lungs that for some unknown reason
after pneumonia it can become active and attack the spine. This
is not a common occurance. I also was told that my immune
system was enough out of whack that it 'allowed' this.

You ask what the recovery rate is and I can't answer you except
to say that it appears, from what I've read, to be a very individual
thing. You don't say what treatment your friend received, how
quickly your friend was diagnosed, what extent the disability was,
how long ago TM was contacted, etc..

I think that recovery is dependent on many things. Is your friend
paralyzed? I will state that I believe that a positive attitude and
prayer are most important to recouping. I also think that a core
of friends and loved ones and their support are most helpful. Your
friend must have a support group around with you looking for help
for him/her. That's a good start.

We all have a story to tell and much of our histories are in the archives
Jim Lubin has established.

Let me hear if I can be of any help. JanH