Sally, I think I agree with your statement "Unless you feel like you're having another attack, it seems to me that the original 'attack' of TM is long past and you're just dealing with the aftermath of the attack and treatment meds, like most of us."
I think my neuro's idea is that if the spinal tap shows MS then I can take treatment to help prevent further MS attacks. He said that he hopes it was just a "one time" lesion brought on by a virus but the spinal tap will show if it is MS and treatment right away would stem any tide of MS. My opinion is that iwhat happened to me is just a one- time idiopathic occurrence as I have had no brain or spinal changes in three years ( I've had MRIs) and so forget the spinal tap. Of course, if I get "hit" down the road with MS I'll wish I had listened to him--so I'm in a quandry. I do have good insurance so could just get the spinal tap but still...... Thanks for your input. Gary ----- Original MeUnless you feel like you're having another attack, it seems to me that the original 'attack' of TM is long past and you're just dealing with the aftermath of the attack and treatment meds, like most of us.ssage ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 5:26 PM Subject: Re: [TMIC] from Gary Gary, I'm no expert here but this sounds concerning to me. It was my impression that the spinal tap they did in the ER was to establish if there was a viral cause of the TM (or was it bacterial? - sorry I always get the 2 confused). They even put me on meds just in case and sent the sample to the mainland to have it tested. When it came back negative, they stopped the meds. I always kind of raise my eyebrows at doc's giving meds 'just in case'. Unless you feel like you're having another attack, it seems to me that the original 'attack' of TM is long past and you're just dealing with the aftermath of the attack and treatment meds, like most of us. It sounds like she wants to treat you as if the inflammation in your spinal cord just started, rather than recognizing that it was just the culprit that originated all the problems you have now, leaving you with a myriad of symptoms to deal with! It sounds like she's read something about TM and remembers this piece, but doesn't understand where all the pieces fit! But I well may be wrong, here, and welcome differing opinions! I was fortunate that the neuro who was in the ER had seen a case of TM before and had the 1,000 mg/day for 5-days routine of methyl-prednisone started within 13 or 14 hours of my sudden paralysis. Within 3 days I could wiggle a muscle in my knee, and went from there. On the other hand, she doesn't seem to know anything about the aftermath of symptoms I deal with, and seems to think if I can stand up and walk, everything's fine. But hey, you can't have everything! At least I'm not still paralyzed! Good luck, Sally
