Re: Sarah's Story
Connie Wenciker (c_wenciker(AT)hotmail.com)
Fri, 12 Feb 1999 08:56:30 PST
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>In 1981 I was diagnosed with TM I was 13 years old it happened during
the
>night.
>The day before I was riding my bike and roller skating in the drive
way. I
>was told that there was a virus that attacked my spinal cord and
damaged
>the nerves in the spine, there was server back pain and a burning
sensation
>also both legs had tingleing sensations in them, I was walking very
slow
>and the steps were very heavy and short. I was given Tylenol and I went
>back to sleep.The nixt day when I woke up I was paralized from the neck
>down and my breathing was very weak.I also lost use of my bladder and
bowel
>functions. I was put on Ditropan, Baclofin,and Septra DS. Also later in
my
>adventure I was resusatated 3 times. I had physcial therapy for a long
>time. I recieved therapy at West Point therapy building where we were
told
>all the therapy in the world wouldn't help, but we went any way. 3
years
>later I started getting migrains I was taking codine, cafergot, which I
>don't take anymore. The leg spasms were horrible and uncomfortable, at
>times at night it was worse. Few years later I had heal cord surgury on
>both my legs at the same time, it helped my right leg some but didn't
help
>my left leg at all. They were going to do hamstring surgury but it was
>never brought up again. I've had lots of MRI's, Cat scans, spinal taps
and
>nerve blocks. I had to learn to use a catheter and use it for the rest
of
>my life due to a flactic bladder which I carry with me all the time.
Now
>at the level I am at everything is ok so far I have noticed some
weakness
>but no increase in the strength so I guess this is where my life ends
with
>this no improvements and no new strengths. Thank you for letting me
tell my
>story my Email address is taz5(AT)ptd.com.
>
>
>
> I was rushed to West Point Hospital where they did a load of useless
>testing when they were done they airvacked me to Walter Reed Army
Medical
>center where they did alot of the same testing and they diagnosed me
with
>TM.
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for your letter--sounds as though you have had a lot of
problems since age 13. My heart goes out to you. You do sound somewhat
depressed. Have you asked your Dr. for anti-depressent medications??
These can be very helpful, as well as counceling. I personally do not
have TM--I write because of my son with TM. From all I have been told,
improvements can be very slow, but will never completely quit. However;
to get improvement you will need to continue to exercise, and really
want to. As many have said, prayer and laughter are healers too. You
have written to a wonderful group, who will give you lots of
encouragment, and try to help you in any way they can. You will be in my
prayers!
Connie --from Kansas where it is supposed to be in th 50's today--That's
good after having a snow storm yest morning!!!
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