[TMIC] new member

Richard & Lois Robinson (riloi(AT)eastland.net)
Sat, 03 Jul 1999 14:33:15 -0700

HI Everyone ! I have just been reading some of your letters and am amazed that
there are so many others out there with TM. I live in a small town with not
very much medical knowledge, and I thought this was rare. I was diagnosed with
TM in June 1978.
I was 44 years old and in very good phsical condition. I was a letter carrier,
and walked 15 to 18 miles a day.I had been having strange symptoms, like
dizziness and extreme fatigue for about a year. A local Dr. had prescribed a
anti-spasmodic drug, (Dilantin) and the symptoms went away. On June the sixth I
felt fine.
Came home after work, took a bath, and started getting dressed. Suddenly I had
a severe pain in my lower back. after a few minutes it went away, and a few
minutes later, a severe pain in the front part of both my thighs. I streched
out on the bed, and the pain subsided in a few minutes. I tiried to get up,
but couldn't move my legs at all.
went through the same ordeal as most evryone else did. Ride to a city 60 miles
away in an ambulance, spinal tap,blood tests, x-rays, catheter, ICU for twenty
four hours.
I never recovered any feeling or movement. Am a t-12 parapalegic with no bowl
or bladder control. have lived with it for twenty one years, and have tried to
live a normal life, other than not being able to walk, and do a few other
things. I am encouraged by some of your letters. Hope they find a cure. I am
probably to too old for a cure, but iwill be great for the younger folk. Would
like to hear from anyone who has had similar experience. Richard