Re: [TMIC] new member

Michael L. Pennington (mikepepp(AT)email.msn.com)
Sat, 3 Jul 1999 23:09:16 -0500

Welcome to the group. I too led a very active lifestyle and was in good
shape before my onset May 98. I was 4 days out of Bermuda in the Atlantic
Ocean when my similiar symtoms started in my lower buttocks and upper
hamstrings. I lost bladder and bowel control the next day. The Captain of
my ship increased speed to 30 knots ( I was on a Guided Missle Destroyer) to
reach Bermuda as soon as possible. By the time I reached the the hospital
on Bermuda paralysis from the naval down had set in. The ER doctor on duty
was from Australia and dianosed TM almost automatically. I was flown by
U.S. Air Force Lear jet to Norfolk, Virginia. After 15 days of
hospitalization, steroids, patience, I walked. Now I exercise regularly
with a lot of walking and using finess machines at the gym. It took me a
full year to get where I am now. I keep pushing a little more each day and
never give up hope that I can go without self cathing, have normal bowels,
and return to normal sexual relations with my wife. She has been a driving
force in why I keep pushing. By the way I was 43 when TM changed my life.

Welcome,

Mike Pennington in sunny Virginia wondering if it will ever rain
----- Original Message -----
From: Richard & Lois Robinson (by way of TMA <myelitis(AT)myelitis.org>)
<riloi(AT)eastland.net>
To: <tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 03, 1999 4:33 PM
Subject: [TMIC] new member

> 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
>