Re: good signs
paul wynn (p.wynn(AT)sfxavier.ac.uk)
Thu, 28 Aug 1997 16:35:20 +0100
Tracey Taylor wrote:
>
> Lizz,
>
> 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
> >
My wife has TM (mild version) in in 2 weeks is going to have our first
baby. Did you return to good health after birth?
Paul