Hello
Ulf Reimann (Ulf.Reimann(AT)logic-ol.de)
Tue, 7 Oct 1997 10:48:33 +0000
Hello, I am writing this serving a friend who does neither have a computer
nor the skill using one:
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Hello! This is a kind of report of a 'newcomer' from Germany. Hoping you
will be gracious with my poor English, I dare put in my TMA-story. A friend
of mine is an eager specialist in computer technique. He makes this writing
and the receiving of very interesting internet-news possible.
Being almost 70 of age, at the end of February 96, I caught a feverish
cold. One night there was a rather strange numbness, coldness and
prickling in my feet. Within a few hours only a complete slackness and
numbness of feet and legs grasped my body, crept upwards until the
waist-line. I became totally unable to move my legs and incontinent with
bowel and bladder.
The same night I was transported to a hospital in Wiesbaden (city near
Frankfurt). The first diagnosis: GBS (Guillain-Barre-Syndrome). Further
medical tests however, during my 6 weeks stay in hospital, led more to
TMA. In a 3 months stay in a rehab-clinic I was taught to manage handling
with the wheel-chair and shifting into bed and reverse by a slide-board.
During the following 6 months I was at home being nursed by my brave and
patient wife. Then I went through a series of diagnostics in a special
neurological clinic at Frankfurt. This stay was arranged, because after
around a half year of complete numbness of legs and feet, a new prickling
of an indefinable activity of nerves had begun, yet without normal
skin-feelings and without mobility of legs. Hope arose.
Another stay in a rehab-clinic (3 months) was to strengthen my limited
condition of health and stability. Yet there is no ability of a balance in
my hip, since the spinal cord in the lower vertrebas (A-11) is shrinked.
When sitting in the wheelchair - 4 hours in the morning and another 4
hours in the afternoon until evening - I am burdened with pains, which
have their starting area in the lower back spreading around the waist-line
and radiating into the legs and feet. I do not take any drugs against the
pain. My neurology-doctor said, if I can endure without drugs this is to
be preferred, thinking of my complete condition and the side-effects of
drugs. When lying in bed the pains are diminishing. During the night I lie
on my back and can sleep well without pain.
My incontience of bladder is managed by an abdominal wall-catheter; my
bowel incontinence has to be managed by my good wife (napkin).
Now what's about my future and my hope? The doctors say, if there does not
come any notable change in my physical condition during 24 months after
the beginning of TM, the sickness and immobility probably will be
permanent Now I count the 19th month! My wife and myself have not given up
hope, that there might come a change. Believing in God, we pray for it and
trust in Jesus Christ, who still is the "Lord of Lords". We let him go his
uncomprehensible way for and with us knowing that this is the best.
During daytime, when in wheelchair with pain, I have no tediousness. There
is the piano, I like to play (classics), a good therapy for my fingers.
There are letters to be written and plenty of books. Finally a question:
Does any of you know of a medical treatment, which supports the recreation
and activation of the central nerve-system?
I will be happy to get response!
Theophil Rehse
Oldenburg, Germany
Oct. 5, 1997
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Ulf Reimann, logic GmbH
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