<< This is something I'm confused about.
I had never heard of a TMX virus until reading your web site. You said on
your site that was something you hypothetically termed. In that case there
isn't a test for it yet, is there?
Barbara H. from GA >> >>
Dear Barbara and Phil,
This a ? I ask when they (doctors) told me of TM and that I had it. I first
was in shock based on the fact I was fine only 48 hours before I entered the
Hospital, not to mention I was afraid that I had cancer based on the fact they
called in an Oncologist (sp). Obviously I and my family wanted to have
everything explained. The only two docs that would sit down long enough to
answer these ? were an intern Neuro and my own doctor.
The ? ranged from how did I get this and am I going to live, then they went to
how can damage like (TM) this happen. The answers I received were "TM is a
virus" and it is "In and out of your system before you know it. It goes in
and does the damage and goes dormant or leaves. The neuro actually explained
the facts of a virus to me, then when I had the chance to talk to a medical
student I even got more answers believe it or not. A virus is neither living
nor dead, it is in a group all by it's self. Some think that the TM virus
invades the body crosses the blood/brain barrier as well as 'takes on' your
own DNA. As explained to me" the reason I knew I had TM was the symptoms from
the damage done by the virus, NOT the actual virus. One of the other test to
provide the dx is the spinal tap, in MS or other illnesses there is a
different protein level, as with TM it must be higher than a person with MS.
(just from memory of the ? back then) Also the test are done by a lab to
'culture' the virus from the Host (your body) Most of the time they can
'culture the virus but in the case of TM the are unable to culture the virus
that does the damage , however sever or light it may be. The other basic
reason for the TM dx in MY CASE was that I had no lesions in the brain. By
the way on the 'brain scan", my brain was so small they had to pay the
radiologist a finders fee, LOL.
I hope this helped it is just form my journals and what I can remember about
that time in my life, I will ask more ? when I get to NY, and from my doctor
tomorrow.
I was also told that the two most common factors in TM we cadistrophic stress
or severe trauma to the spinal cord.
Kindest regards,
Beth