Questions for my Neurologist

Christopher L. Mindenhall (Mindenhall(AT)worldnet.att.net)
Sun, 30 Mar 1997 21:03:21 -0600

I am a 26 year old female who has had 2 attacks of TM in the past 5
months. Basically, I've spent 4 of the last 5 months in the hospital.
I just got out of the hospital for the second time and I'm seeing my
neurologist for a follow-up visit next week. Since getting out of the
hospital, my strength has improved but I've noticed some strange
things. First of all, my level of injury is at T-6 and I lost all
sensory and motor from there down. For the past few days, I've had a
hard time breathing. It feels like I can't get enough air in my lungs.
Yesterday, both of my legs felt like they were being burned and
scraped. It only lasted about 3 minutes but it was the most nauseating
feeling I've ever felt. Also, my leg muscles feel like they're shaking
from the inside-out. My lower back pain has progressively gotten worse
and the only thing my rehab doctor prescribed upon discharge was
flexeril because she said..."you can't be on percocet forever". The
problem is that flexeril does nothing for me and they make me feel like
a junkie for asking for percocet.
I want to go to my neurologist with a list of good questions but I don't
know where to begin. Whenever I see a doctor I get nervous and forget
everything and leave feeling more confused than ever. I'm deathly
afraid of ANOTHER relapse and I don't want my questions treated
lightly. I desperately need some advice about what meds to inquire
about and prevention tactics. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Kara