I would be lying if I said that having a second baby has been easy. My
mother was really worried when I told her I was pregnant, as I think that
she lives in constant fear that I will get sick again. She sees me now as
"fragile", even though I tell her that TM was a one-off freak virus.
Anyway, the other consideration is what sort of problems you still have. I
can walk, run, work; my only problems really are bladder, bowel and
genitals not working. The long-term sympoms I'm only just beginning to
realise after reading some of the letters on this list. I get very, very,
tired, but it's hard to know where parenthood stops and TM takes over. I
mean, being a mother is exhausting. I think it's important to take it easy
and not to feel guilty when at times you just need to shut down. i.e. ask
for help. My back pain has also made it difficult at times. Sometimes it's
so sore, I can't do anything, and they're the times I just say to my
husband "you take over". The only other problem I can think of is when you
have an arm full of baby stuff in one hand and the baby in the other and
you start to leak. I've wet myself so many times, and I have to say that
I'm getting quite used to walking in public holding myself to stop the
urine coming out. But that's all just something you have to take in your
stride. As I wrote earlier, the first three months after having the baby
were terrible because of the constant UTI's. I thought I was going to die
for a while, as my body was just so run down and I couldn't get my health
back. But that's a fading memory now, and I love my baby boy and do not
regret having him at all.
As for your question about Ditropan, I do still leak occassionally, but
compared to what I used to be like, I can manage a whole lot better. If I'm
working (I'm a film producer, and it's often hard to leave set to go to the
loo), I wear a thick pad or "nappy" to help with spills. I resisted this
for years, but what the heck, it prevents embarrassing accidents and makes
life easier.I went for a twenty minute walk yesterday, and only started
leaking as I got home, which I never could have done a couple of years ago.
So give it a try and see what happens.
- Tracey
----------
> From: Patrick Rofe <plrofe(AT)msn.com>
> To: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com Tracey Taylor <filmday(AT)wr.com.au>
> Subject: RE: good signs
> Date: Tuesday, 12 August 1997 18:42
>
> Tracey-
> I'm on Ditropan also but I'm afraid to try to ween off it. I'm only on
5mg a
> day, but I usually have accidents every day. I work in a restaurant and
it'
> hard to go to the bathroom as soon as I feel the urge. Are you able to
hold
> your urine until you reach the bathroom? Does your urologist have you on
any
> special program? My uro is supposed to be this "world reknown"
urologist, but
> he doesn't really do anything for me. I'm thinking about switching soon.
Any
> ideas?
>
> Lizz
>
> ----------
> From: Tracey Taylor
> Sent: Monday, August 11, 1997 1:08 PM
> To: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com
> Subject: good signs
>
> I had TM four years ago and have been self-catheterising ever since. I
take
> Ditropan (Oxybutinin) to help with bladder control, without which I can't
> even walk down the street. Until last month when I ran out of the
> medication, so I just stopped using it. I've been able to function to the
> same extent as when I was on the medication. Does this mean that my
bladder
> function has improved? Will it go on improving? Who knows, but I just
> thought my story might give some hope to fellow sufferers.
>
> -Tracey
>