When I woke up saturday morning, I argued my way into a wheelchair
since I had about 3 hours till a neurologist could see me. At last,
after 13 hours in the hospital, I got to have a smoke and a meal.
When the neurologist came down to see me, he wanted to see if I could
get onto the examining table, and gave me some privacy, well, I wasnt
able to, in fact I fell down, and ended up having the wheelchair land
on top of me. When they got me back up onto the bed, and he did his
examination, I had severe loss of sensation below the belly button,
fully symmetrical. I was sensetive to vibration and temperature, deep
sensation I could feel okay, but surface sensation (bed-sheets,
walking in dress pants) triggered that lovely burning sensation.
There was lowered sensation, not as drastic, upto the nipple level.
There was also a girdle-like band of tightness about two inches wide
circling my abdomen.
After the neurologist had examined me, and examined my films, he made
a preliminary diagnosis of spinal cord injury, and arranged to have me
admitted to the hospital. Finally having some idea what was happening
to me, I called my girlfriend and my folks, let them know (didnt
realize what a panic I started with my folks). About 8 hours after
the diagnosis had been made, I got to go to the urology ward (neuro
was full). At this point I had been in the hospital for 26 hours.
Well, being 29 years old, not in great shape, but not sickly
(overweight, around 300 lbs at 6' tall, and a smoker), stubbornly
independant, and a total pig-headed idiot, the next few days were hell
for me (pardon the language). At this point paralyzed from the waist
down, couldnt urinate at all, and for the first time in many years,
dependant on people I didnt know to help me. I was so helpless I
couldnt even roll myself over in bed.
On monday, I got to go for the MRI, and I am SOOOOO glad Im not
claustrophobic. When I was finally done, I was nice and relaxed, nice
small chamber, pounding sound like the waves of an over-driven ocean,
being told to keep my eyes closed, sounded like the perfect time for
meditation to me. On Tuesday I got the diagnosis of ATM, I also got
moved to the neuro ward. Monday they started me on an IV drip of
Salbutamol (i think), that was given once a day for 3 days, by the end
of which I was able to move my legs a bit. Then they started me on
60mg of Prednisone a day, I despise!!! the taste of that stuff.
The rest of the story is pretty standard stuff, I seem to be in a very
lucky group, my recovery started almost immediately, and now, almost
two months after I went into the hospital, I am almost fully
recovered. I was out of the hospital Feb. 10th, using a walker, now I
am using a cane, not much stamina in my legs, if I'm out for about
three hours, I suffer for it the rest of the say, and the day after.
About a week and a half after I got out of the hospital, my girlfriend
and I broke up, and are now room-mates. The break-up was not related
to the disease, we had been having problems for a while, although the
fact that she went on a trip out of town (and country) for a week
while I was in hospital didn't help my mood at all. My best support
through this whole ordeal, has been a very good friend of mine for
about 10 years now, a girl I have been interested in since I met her.
We have never had a romantic relationship (so far), but have been
there for each other through seventy kinds of hell of both sides.
Now for my present situation. I still have the burning sensation in
part of my right thigh, still suffer from bowel problems, and cannot
urinate. In addition to everything else that is happening, the
relationship with my longtime friend is starting to heat up, it looks
as if we may finally get the relationship I have wanted for ages. And
therein lies the rub, it appears that in addition to everything else,
I have also picked up a dose of impotence. I am not looking forward to
trying to start a relationship with her now, while I still have
everything else on my mind. I know that she will be supportive beyond
belief, but I think she deserves me at my best, which I'm definately
not right now.
I apologize to you all for taking so much time and space, but I dont
have anyone around that I can really talk to about this.
I also want to thank you all for sharing the details of your lives on
the web. While I was in the hospital, I had a computer loaned to me,
being able to find your stories helped me keep a positive attitude.
Calishar
(Still hiding my real-name because I'm shy)
--- To reply, remove the character that doesnt belong in ~sprint