Mary Ann,
Welcome to our elite group. Larry said it all - how have you gotten along all these years? I've had 2 episodes of TM OR as my neuro stated one long episode. My first attack was on 01/05/07 and I was paralyzed from the bra line down. It took almost a week to figure out what I did have - I had a long list of things I did not have and found out that other than a messed up autoimmune system, I was healthy. After the dx of TM, I had cortisone drip for 5 days and 5 MRIs. It took 3 MRIs before they found the spot at T11-T12. There was another spot at C4 - T1. The MRIs after the cortisone drip showed that the T11-T12 had cleared up but the C4 - T1 was still inflamed. I was sent home without further treatment of cortisone - on outpatient PT/OT. I was in the hospital until 1/28/05. During that time, I went thru 2 weeks of PT/OT and was "hell on wheels" in my wheel chair. I could walk a few steps with a walker but my legs were really weak. On 1/31/05, I woke up and couldn't move from my neck down. Back in the hospital for 18 days and another 2 MRIs. One before the PLEX treatment showing that the C4 - T1 was more inflamed and one after the PLEX treatment showing that the C4 - T1 has cleared up. The PLEX treatments helped me within 24 hours. With each PLEX treatment more and more movement was possible. However, I had no stamina nor energy. I was VERY independant before TM, divorced for almost 20 years I did it all - raised my daughter without financial help, went back to collage full time while working 2 part time jobs. I got my degree and worked for several Fortune 500 companies in Atlanta as a system analyst. I moved back to Naples, FL in 1999 to help my mom take care of my stepfather after his stroke. I then got a job with the county and was one of their top programmers/analyst, when TM struck. I was lucky in that 2 weeks before TM, I had signed a contract to sell my house and during the time of the contract and closing, the real estate market started slipping. I spent 6 months with outpaitient PT/OT; I was in assisted living for that time. I now live on my own in a nice place in a retirement community here in Naples. All in all, I get along. I manage to take care of my basic needs. I can drive but I have to use 2 feet because my R leg won't move up. My L arm/hand are only about 25% of what it was. My R arm/hand is approx. 60% and my L leg is about the same. I have terrible back aches, spasms in both hands and legs, electrical shocks in all parts of my body, and banding of the truck which feels like a thight corset. I can't take the cold anything below 70 and all symptoms are worse. If it gets over 80, I sweat like a race horse even if I'm just sitting. Living with TM is NEVER dull. I had planned on early retirement, but not quite in this manner. I know that my HIGHER BEING has a plan, I just wish that at times he would give me an outline, cause I sure hate to be blind sited. If you wish, please share your story with us. -- Prayers and thoughts for you and yours, Candy K. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Throne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Mary Ann Wesselman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [email protected] Sent: Sunday, November 4, 2007 6:49:01 PM (GMT-0600) America/Chicago Subject: RE: [TMIC] Newbie Sandsifter, Welcome aboard my sister! As the old saying around here goes "We are sorry you had to look for us but glad you found us" You've lived with TM a long time girl. Where have you been? Larry in Oklahoma TM since 9/27/74 > Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2007 16:11:30 -0800 > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [email protected] > Subject: [TMIC] Newbie > > Hi all. Just joined. Had TM back in '77. > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com >
