Subj: My Son Recently Diagnosed With TM
Date: 98-11-09 10:14:01 EST
From: wenciker(AT)hotmail.com (Jerry Wenciker)
To: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com
On Aug.31st 1998, my son, 42 yr.old, was suddenly stricken with sharp
pain shooting down both legs, and in a matter of hours was paralysed
from the waist down. The 1st ER Dr. he saw, sent him home with a shot of
Demerol, and Valium. Later he was hospitalized, and an MRI was done of
spine and brain, to rule out MS and finally he was diagnosed with TM.--
to date have no cause, as there was no virus preceeding this attack. He
did have a Tetanus booster 1 mo previous, which we are still wondering
about. I'm a RN, and had heard the term, but had never seen a case. It
was soon evident that most, if not all of his Drs. or nurses had ever
seen a case either. He was started on large doses of Solu-cortef, IV
first, then orally. This we were to understand was to halt the progress
of the disease, but not to cure. He experienced much pain the first 24
to 36 hr in his back. He now has much discomfort in his legs which he
describes as nerve spasms. He lost his bodily functions, and has
learned to self cath intermittently, and uses suppositories for bowel
function He was hospitalized for 2 weeks, and then sent to Rehab. for 4
wks. He is home now , still goes to PT 3 times a wk.-- is mostly in the
wheel chair, though he is learning to walk with a walker. He feels most
of his walking is being done with his upper body strength. His body
functions have not returned, and he still has no feeling in his feet or
toes. Because his Drs. know so little about this condition, no one has
been able to tell him what to expect. He has questions like will I ever
walk again? Will my body functions ever return? Does sexual funtion
ever return? Will the nerve spasms in my legs and feet go away? Will
this condition recur? If any of these functions do come back, what time
frame is he looking at. He also now has a bedsore in the coccyx area,
and would like information on the best and fastest way to heal it. No
one knows, but those of you who have this disease what a change this
makes in ones life. Our prayers go out to all of you. My son Al, has
stayed very positive, and plans to go hunting and fishing again. I have
read from others how important positive thinking is. I wonder if this
is an attainable goal? I would like to hear from any one who can give
any encouragement and/or information that might be of help. Also, if any
of you may have had a vaccination of any kind it would be interesting. I
am Alan's Mother Connie. My E-mail address is wenciker(AT)hotmail.com