Hey Craig, Please know that I've got several years on you.....I don't want you to think you get a prize for age! -:) janh
P.S. I, too, was struck at age 57.......that was 14½ years ago. ________________________________ From: Rev. Craig Crossman <[email protected]> To: Patricia Cooley <[email protected]> Cc: [email protected] Sent: Mon, July 26, 2010 11:09:43 AM Subject: RE: [TMIC] TM Info request I was diagnosed almost exactly a year ago. I had gone to the ER because someone at church noticed I was dragging my left leg and thought I might be having a stroke. No stroke, but after all the tests were done my doctor came in to tell me about TM. I was fortunate because he is well-known as one of the best neurosurgeons in the Pittsburgh, PA area. I haven’t had a lot of mobility issues until this summer. Like you I can get around the house OK but I do use a cane in public. My balance is off enough that I tend to lose it quite often. It wouldn’t do for people to think the new Baptist preacher had been nipping at the bottle! Over the last year there has been a marked decrease in feeling and function in my hands. I have a lot of trouble even picking up a pill. Eleven years ago I broke my back in an accident and have a partial spinal cord injury, so even on the best days I only have 20% nerve function from the waist down. The doctor could not rule out that the injury sort of made me more vulnerable to something like TM. One thing… I have read in these messages people talking about “banding” and it seems they know where on the spinal cord the damage is. What is banding? I never asked my doctor about where I am most damaged but I am not sure it would make any difference to me if I did know. I also know I am older than most (57) to be diagnosed for the first time. I’ve had a couple of messages from Gunny. And I read about his friend who said “It’s about ability, not disability.” Actually, I have never thought of myself as disabled. I just have some health issues which means I must do things a bit differently than others. But so far it has not been a big deal. I am just stubborn enough to refuse to let it get to me. From:Patricia Cooley [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, July 26, 2010 9:17 AM To: 'Rev. Craig Crossman' Subject: RE: [TMIC] TM Info request WELCOME TO OUR TM CLUB. I AM SORRY THAT IT TOOK SOMETHING LIKE TM TO BRING YOU TO US. YOU WILL FIND A LOT OF ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS, SO DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK ANYTHING. WE HAVE HEARD IT ALL AND MOST OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED IT ALL AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. FIRST, LET ME ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. A LOT OF US DO SUFFER IN THE HEAT, AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO GET OVER HEATED. I AM FORTUNATE IN THAT WAY. HEAT DOESN’T BOTHER ME AT ALL, BUT THAT MAY BE I AM USUALLY COLDER THAN EVERYONE ELSE. WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS WARM, I USUALLY REACH FOR MY SWEATER. HOW MOBILE ARE YOU. I AM ABLE TO WALK UNAIDED IN THE HOUSE, BUT WHEN I GO OUT IT IS USUALLY WITH A CANE AND/OR WALKER. I DID PURCHASE A 3 WHEEL ELECTRIC CART OVER A YEAR AGO, SO I CAN GET OUT TO FUNCTIONS THAT REQUIRE A LOT OF WALKING. IT HAS BEEN 2 YEARS THIS PAST JUNE THAT I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TM. I HAVE COME A LONG WAY, AND THEY SAY THE FIRST 2 YEARS IS WHEN YOU WILL GET MOST OF YOUR IMPROVEMENT. I HAVE FOUND THAT EXERCISE IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP UP WHAT MUSCLE STRENGTH YOU HAVE AND TO MAYBE INCREASE IT. YOUR RIGHT, MANY DOCTORS HAVE NEVER SEEN A PATIENT WITH TM. I HAVE RECENTLY MOVED SO WILL HAVE TO FIND ALL NEW DOCTORS. I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, BUT YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR NEW DOCTOR, AND KEEP US INFORMED ON YOUR PROGRESS. GOD BLESS AND TAKE CARE. PATTI - WISCONSIN From:Rev. Craig Crossman [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2010 12:26 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [TMIC] TM Info request Hello, I was very glad to find this e-list. I am “new” to TM having been diagnosed one year ago. We moved from PA to Kansas in April. This has been a hot summer with 20+ days straight of temps in upper 90’s to low 100’s, and I find I am having a greater number of symptoms than normal. Does anyone know if TM patients are adversely affected by heat? My doctor is not very familiar with TM and I won’t see a neurosurgeon until September. Thanks, and God bless. Rev. Craig Crossman First Baptist Church 615 W. Webster St. Colby, KS 67701 W - (785)462-2867/ Cell - (785)443-5154 [email protected] www.firstbaptistcolby.org
