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From: Plazzeri <Plazzeri(AT)aol.com>
Return-path: <Plazzeri(AT)aol.com>
To: JHarper33(AT)aol.com
Subject: Re: Ditropan
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1998 20:46:18 EDT
Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com)
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Barbara,
I don't think I ever really told my story to the whole list. I've been on the
list for quite awhile. I don't think the early format had people introducing
themselves as they do now. Here's my story...
On October 25, 1979, I was 12 years old and at a Halloween party. I had a bad
back ache and decided to go to bed early. When I woke up in the morning the
back ache was still there so my friends Mom took me home. Once home my Mom
tried a heating pad on my back. But once again the ache just wouldn't go away
so my Mom and Dad took me to the emergency room. They checked me over, x-
rayed me and sent me home with the diagnosis of a pinched nerve.
By the time I got home my balance was getting pretty bad. As I walked through
my house my knees would buckle and I barely had enough strength to get up.
Feeling very weak I laid down in front of the TV with my siblings. While
there I fell asleep. I felt this wave of paralysis go from my feet to my
neck. When I awoke, my mother was telling me to go to bed. I laid there and
said "I can't Momma, I can't move". This was early evening about 7:00 pm.
The doctors were shoked to see me again in the emergency room paralyzed from
my neck down. I could move arms a little. (The level was C6-7) I was put
through all the tests. About a month post onset I was diagnosed with
Transverse Myelitis and moved to a Children's Hospital where I underwent
intensive physical and occupational therapy. After 4 months of Children's
Hospital I was released to go home.
I was able to regain most of the use of my hands back. The fine motor skills
are still still tough. They have since moved the level of my paralysis to
T-1. I can feel everything from T-1 down but pain and temperature. My legs
feel numb and tingly. I use a wheelchair 100% of my day.
I was never given steroids. I don't know if they were giving them that long
ago. I'm now 31. It hasn't stopped me much. My family has always been very
encouraging and supportive. I made it through college, have worked as a tax
accountant for the past 9 years, am married now for 11 years, and have a 5
years old son.
Unfortunately I've also had cysts, a collapsed lung, 3 full spinal fusions,
broken tailbone, broken femur, many baldder infections, and skin breakdowns.
Quite the busy life.
I'd love to know your story. Please tell..
Thanks,
Paula
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