>Sorry, this is longer than I thought it would be.
>
>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
>
>