A Saint Patrick's Day TMer

Eric & Pat Norling (ericpat(AT)insnet.com)
Sun, 19 Apr 1998 23:28:40 -0500

I laid in the Hospitol thinking there's gotta be someone out there who
knows how I feel - and then I found you, Jim lubin and this group ! Yep
- another holiday ! Saint Patricks Day '98 - I woke with numb, tingling
hands, then arms. Worried - I clocked in at work, called the clinic,
drove there and walked in. Got an anti-inflammetory, went back to work
and sprayed my hair a bright green ( as any self-respecting Activity
assistant in a nursing home would do :-) .Finished my day with legs
starting to feel strange. Went home to relax and got worse. By middle of
the night, nothing was working good and it got worse.Was in the Hospitol
the next day with everything (inside and out-except my lungs) paralized.
Does anyone here identify with that fear ? Like Andy R. writes - I may
have been VERY lucky as I started to reverse in 2 days with little
improvements almost daily.It took a couple weeks for bodily function to
come back almost to normal, but surface sensation is still lacking and
my hands are fairly stiff, numb and tingly. Andy - I also continue
having that "corsette" wrapped tight around my midsection.
Ron and Anne R. - I also have one eye that drooped halfway-tho it's
almost OK now. The Hospitol zonked me out with AMITRIPTYLINE at night,
and it felt like climbing out of the third subfloor basement to wake up.
I asked for and received a half-pill at night and that's what I'm
continuing on. It gives me just enough help for sleep,pain and relaxing.
The first letter I read when discovering this wonderful group was from
Kathy about her friend. All I can add is to look for and celebrate each
TINY advancement. Also - keeping a journal might be a good thing - - so
many things are forgotten. I've been walking for over 2 weeks now and
have even drove the car 3 times ! Can anyone explain this feeling I
have in my hands and legs and feet? They feel like I'm laying them on
blocks of ice. If I walk on a tile or wood floor with stocking feet or
God-forbid, bare feet--it feels like walking on ice.I'm at home now for
out-patient therepy. The doctors want me to regain as much as I can -
then I have to go back to the Hospitol. You see - while getting my 5
MRI's, Echo Cardiogram, EKG's,Angiogram,etc. etc. they found 3 totally
unrelated,probably from birth, non-bleeding aneurisms. So WHEN I get
those things out of my head and re-habilitated again - - I will have to
say THANK YOU to my Transverse Myelitis (yep, they attached a POSSIBLE
MS to my diagnosis too). In conclusion - I guess I'd like to ask one
question of everybody - what did people like us do before the 'internet'
??????? My gratitude and respect to you all ! Pat Norling (Cyber Mom52)