8 YEAR OLD IN TROUBLE
ALICE ROGERS (tarprent(AT)gte.net)
Fri, 15 Jan 1999 10:40:10 -0500
Good Morning,
I just found your list and am hoping some of you can help us.
My oldest daughter was diagnosed with Acute Transverse Myelitis in
Sept. 1994. She spent 3 months in the hospital and came home paralyzed
from the armpits down. It took about a year but she is walking and
doing very well. Of course there are occasional relapses and always
pain, but she has learned to just live with it.
Our problem now----my youngest daughters 8 year old daughter has just
spent 4 days in the hospital. On Monday whe was walking across the
floor and her legs just colapsed from under her. She cried with severe
pain in her lower back, from about L2 down. There was immediate
swelling in that area. Her doctor admitted her to the hospital right
away. After numerous tests nothing definite was found. She was sent
home, still in pain, and still with the swollen lump at the lower part
of her spine. The neurologist said she may have a "mild case of
myelitis". When told about the Aunt having ATM he just said 'really?
That's interesting." and walked out of the room. He told my grand
daughters parents that even if this is myelitis they shouldn't worry
just make sure she gets plenty of bed rest and increase the pain
medicine if it gets worse. If the symptoms seem to be getting worse
bring her back to the hospital. She has marked weakness on the right
side with some loss of sensation in the lower leg.
After our experience with our oldest daughter any mention of myelitis
is taken very seriously. I don't feel that my grand daughters doctors
are being adequately thorough in determining what is wrong with her.
Do any of you know of a spinal spcialist in the Panama City, Fla area?
Tallahassee is close enough also. If absolutely necessary she can be
transported to Shands Hospital at the University of Florida but we
would like to minimize travel as much as possible.
Thanks for any help you can give.
Alice Rogers
Tarpon Springs, Fla.