Thank you for responding to my email to the list. I have just been
plugging along, and just when I get used to things the way they are,
another "Whammy" gets thrown at us.
The Neurologist's office that originally had scheduled me for February 11
called to change it until later, because the Dr. was going on vacation. I
became very upset with them, told them to give me the name of another Dr.
if their office did not want my case. At that point, they moved my
appointment to an earlier date.
I went in for my first visit. He is very, very nice, and seems to have a
lot of knowledge of TM. He is also the head of a Rehab center, and
Psychiatry Center.(A lot of initials after his name). He spend about two
hours with me answering all my questions before I even had a chance to ask
them. I was told that TM has varying degrees of severity, which I already
knew that. Dr. also said that 96% of all TM cases result in 100% recovery
with no repeat attacks. As far as being related to MS, he stated that TM
is only one symtom of the beginnings of MS, that the absence of other
symtoms ruled out MS in my case. Also that there is absolutely no
relationship between TM and Oral Polio Vaccines, that that is speculation
by journalists. He said that subject had been discussed and dismissed by
the AMA years ago.
He told me that age was a definite consideration in how fast recovery time
is, that children usually bounce back at mostly 100% recovery in a short
time. My age at 45 is a good age, where I am still young enough, which is
why I was able to start walking within two to three weeks. However, I
should not expect "full" recovery for between six months and two years.
The longer the time, the more gradual the noticeable recovery. Then at two
years, if there is anything left, such as inability to wiggle little toes,
then that would probably be permanent. He told me that that is the
scenario for my age group. The older you are, the longer and more gradual
the recovery time. The Dr. also told me that I was at a point where I did
not need to be on physical therapy, because insurance companies usually ask
the question,"Are they able to walk on their own?" and if the answer is
yes, then they say "No more money for PT."
The "Whammy" now is-because my onset was on December 30, and I had not met
a $2,000 deductible for the year, I have to pay that amount, then they pay
80% until I have paid another $2,000. Now when January 1 rolled around, I
have to meet another $2,000 deductible, and another $2,000 out of pocket
expense before they pay anything. The hospital stay was $18,000. Two
emergency rooms were $500 each, not including the Dr. bills for the
emergency rooms, not including the tests, not including the medications.
The ambulance bill to transport me from one emergency room to the next was
$400.
At this point, I am wishing 1997 would go away, and maybe 1998 will be
better. I have no income, my husband has to work by himself. We have
worked together as a team for twenty years, now he can only take jobs that
he can handle alone, which cuts our income in half.
That is the only depressing factor at this point. I can handle this
disorder, I can not handle the treatment by the insurance company, and the
fact that I, as a hard working american with a lot of accomplishments in my
life, college educated, might be on the verge of losing everything I have
accumulated, and could be destitute. I know I will never be homeless,
because I have my family around me. But I would never want to be a burden
to anybody, my pride will not allow that. And I will NEVER allow myself to
be on the welfare system.
Here I am, venting and rambling again, so I will end this letter.
Thank you again for responding.
Debbie