> In a message dated 97-08-10 12:07:23 EDT, you write:
>
> > Have you ever heard that you can't have an epidural after you have had
TM?
>
> >
> > Stephanie
> >
>
> I read in a book that multiple sclerosis patients should not have spinal
> anesthesia, as it might precipitate a relapse. TM is somewhat similar or
> possibly related to MS, so I'd ask about it beforehand. This book, though
> very good, is about 10 years old, so there might be newer information that
> would say something different.
>
> Barbara
>
> Thanks for the info. What is the name of the book you have? I would like
to
> find a book about TM so I can understand it better.
>
> Stephanie
>
I haven't found a book about TM -- I guess maybe it is not well known or not
many people have it, compared to MS or other diseases. The book I have is
about Multiple Sclerosis. From what I understand, MS is the closest relative
to TM. There have been many discussions on this list about what kind of
relationship may or may not exist between TM and MS; many of us have been
told different things by our drs., which, I guess means there's not enough
evidence or research on it to be conclusive. But, at any rate, there are many
similarities between the two. My dr. told me it would be good to "be
familiar" with MS, so I read a lot about it at first. But it scared me, so I
stopped. My son stumbled across this book at the library and brought it to
me. It is entitled just Multiple Sclerosis, by Louis J. Rosner and Shelley
Ross, but the subtitle says, "New Hope and Practical Advice for People with
MS and Their Families." It was published in 1987, so it's not the most
up-to-date source. But I found the practical advice in it some of the most
helpful information I've ever read. Some of the chapter titles are: Symptoms
and Signs, The Diagnosis, The Course, Taking Control, Treatments, Treatment
of Symptoms and Rehabilitation, Sharpening Your Emotional Tools, MS and Your
Relationships (different sections in this chapter about dating, spouse.
children, parents, doctor, career), If the Person With MS Is Someone You Care
About, New Hope for a Cure, and What To Do Until the Cure Comes.
Some of the practical advice about dealing with the disease emotionally and
dealing with relationships would probably be true of any chronic condition or
symptoms. And the section on treating symptoms covers a lot of the symptoms
that have been mentioned on this list. As I said, some of the information I
had read in the past about MS was frightening, but this book was very
practical and reassuring, and I found a lot of parallels to TM in it.
Barbara