Regards from Errol, Queensland Australia,.
-----Original Message-----
From: John DesMarteau (by way of Transverse Myelitis Association
<myelitis(AT)myelitis.org>) <jd(AT)americuscd.com>
To: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com <tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com>
Date: Monday, 25 January, 1999 5:06 PM
Subject: TA From An Insect Bite
>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
>