Re: TA From An Insect Bite
AZMAINIAC (AZMAINIAC(AT)prodigy.net)
Mon, 25 Jan 1999 20:13:34 -0800
John DesMarteau (by way of Transverse Myelitis Association ) wrote:
>
> My name is John DesMarteau and I am an anesthesiologist. I was in good
> health until I woke up one morning at the end of June 1998 with a spider
> bite. Subsequent to the bite I developed problems with bowel and bladder
> and then a flu-like illness. At one point I had some difficulty breathing
> and talking but fortunately did not end up on a ventilator. Since that
> time I have had numbness in both legs which makes it quite difficult to
> walk, and have had a great loss in energy. My symptoms fluctaute quite a
> bit in intensity so I never know how I am going to feel from one day to
> the next. The two lumbar punctures I have endured both showed marked
> elevation of the protein level in my CSF.
>
> All the physicians I have seen, both where I work and outside consultants
> feel I have TA. Personally, I think it has become MS - fortunately at
> this point a rather mild case - but MS none the same.
>
> The most interesting part of my case, if I look at it dispassionately, is
> that I am convinced that the spider infected me with a virus which lead
> to an inflammation of my spinal cord. I have been tested for every virus
> that we currently have treatment for with negative results. And I have
> been tested for Lyme disease several times and Ehrlichia.
>
> I posted my story to see if there is any one else who can connect their
> TA (or MS) for that matter with an insect bite.
>
> Please e-mail me at jd(AT)americuscd.com if you think you have.
>
> Best regards
> John DesMarteau, MD
Dr. Desmarteau,
I didn't have any spider bite. I had a flu shot in Oct., was stricken
with mononeucleosis(EBV) near the end of Nov. and was hospitalized on
Dec. 12.
Which one reduced my immunity not to fight the other or was it the
combination of both?
Did you possibly have a flu shot prior to the spider bite?
John