[TMIC] Unidentified subject!
Kimberly Stolhmann (a_stechno(AT)ameritech.net)
Sun, 27 Jun 1999 19:31:51 -0700
In October of 1993 my finance rushed me to the ER when I complained of a
severe back pain and loss of feelings in my legs. I spent 2 hours in the ER
before the doctors scheduled an X ray and an MRI. Between the Ray and the
MRI I had a spinal tap done. It was 4 hours after entering the ER that I had
my MRI. After my 2 hour MRI I was wheeled back to the ER and poked and
prodded more. After 6 1/2 hours in the ER the doctor finally decided to
administer IV Steroids. That was also the first time since I entered the ER
that my finance was allowed to see me. I was admitted to the hospitals
surgical wing after 8 hours in the ER. My diagnosis was Psychotic Paralysis.
After 3 days in the hospital with the same doctor I saw in the ER, I was
told I would be transferred to either a psychiatric rehab center or a
physical rehab center. My doctor was to make that decision. He choose
physical rehab ( I am sure it was a legal decision, not his medical
opinion). I then spent 8 weeks in the physical rehab wing of the same
hospital.
One night I decided to read my chart which hung outside my room. I was
appalled to find that the entire rehab program specified that if they could
get me to think I could walk I could get my feelings back and walk again.
the next morning I asked what I had to do to go home. I was told I had to
walk out the front doors. I asked for a definition of "walk". The nurse
explained that I had to be mobile under my own strength in an upright
position. It was then that I began to build up my arm strength to use a
walker to "walk" out the front door. I " walked" out the front door under my
own power. I used a walker to get upright and used every bit of strength to
drag my myself through the doors to my finance's awaiting car.
Two days later I went to The Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio and saw a
neurologist who diagnosed my condition as Transverse Myelitis. He also
stated that the extended time with my misunderstand condition could cause my
recover to be less then favorable. None the less I was able to walk again.
Now 6 years later my doctor is telling my that my condition is worsening.
I had originally attained 90% recovery with minor foot drop problems. Now,
after 6 years of 90% recovery, the numbness and tingling have returned. The
doctor is now calling my condition Ascending Myelitis caused by Transverse
Myelitis damage.
The condition is progressive and will result in permanent paralysis with
complete or partial loss of sensation in my legs. My bladder and bowel
control ability is not known at this time. It is assumed to me a loss of
both.
I am now married to the wonderful man who saw me through my nightmare. We
have two beautiful healthy children, 1 girl (6) and 1 boy (3). I work full
time for a company who admits to not being accessible to the disabled, but
that is changing also.
My philosophy on life is " Life is road with many speed bumps. How you deal
with those speed bumps determines how well you travel through life."