Re:Anyone listening,need your opinions please!
MichelleVM(AT)aol.com
Mon, 6 Jul 1998 23:31:10 EDT
Hi to everyone out there. I had sent an e mail but I don't think it got
through so I will try again. I am a new member of the tmic-list. I am also
new to this diagnosis.
I am a 38 year old athletic female who has been through a rough four weeks.
My symtoms started with tingling or numbness in the groin area with forward
flextion of the neck - I think it is called L'Hermittes. I just assumed it
was that I was getting older and loosing some flexability, I took advil and
ignored it.
Two months later I woke up with major numbness (felt like a girdle was around
my torso - extremely uncomfortable to touch) of my torso back and front, feet
and hands. I have had MRI's, Xrays, blood work, a spinal tap, evoked
potential testing; they found three lesions on my brain and two lesions on my
cervical spinal area - whatever that means. My blood, spinal tap came back
good. They put me on steroids oral and then IV transfusion therapy then oral
again. I regained the majority of my feeling in my hands, torso, feet and
legs and then one week after being off of them the weakness in my legs,
tingling and numbness in my feet returned. I have full mobility and my
bladder and bowl controls are in tact so far. I am being told to just give it
time (3-4months), it may go away completely or it may leave some perminent
sensory damage or reoccur more accutely. If it goes away and then return, it
may be MS. I of course am asking for steroid treatment again because I am
afraid if I just "give it time", I may have perminent damage. Can anyone help
me out or make some recommendations for preventative treatment or alternative
options for treatment.
*Continued: My local Dr. allowed me another 3 days of Solumedrol - infusion
therapy -I.V. with a prednisone tapered perscription for the next three weeks,
however the Dr. I saw from Mayo disagrees and feels it is not a good idea
(side effects or masking or symptoms) Please tell me your opinions, should I
wait it out and not take the oral prescription or should I take the steroids
and hope it helps? What do I have to lose? What side effects might I expect.
I have been off the initial steroid treatment for 3 weeks. Thanks, Michelle