[TMIC] Problems with being paralyzed
In the middle of the night I sat up and slid over on the bed to remove a pad that was all wrinkled up under me. When I slid to the side, I lost my grip on the bed rail and fell backwards over the edge of the bed. Being paralyzed from T4 on down means that I have no control over the majority of my upper body and whileI tried and tried and tried to pick myself up and get back in bed, I couldn't do it. So there I was, lying (laying?) half-way out of bed, with the metal bed rail digging into my back right where the lesions are. It hurt so badly I could barely breathe. Luckily Dave had come home from work a couple of hours earlier and was asleep upstairs. It took all of the energy I could muster, but I yelled as loud as I could and after a few minutes he heard me and came to help. After he lifted me back into bed he held me for a while until I settled down and could relax a little. It was so damn scary to not be able to help myself! What would I have done if Dave had been at work? He said, "Well, you would have had to call 911." Well, I hate to tell him but when a person is half in and half out of bed, hanging off of one side, it's pretty darn difficult to reach the phone which is on the table on the opposite side of the bed from where I was. If I could reach the phone, I could have sat up.DUH! No, really, it was so scary. I'm still upset and worried about the next time. So far I've fallen over backwards in my wheelchair onto the cement driveway, and now out of bed. I guess I can join the Klutz Klub with Grace and all that fall. I know there's nothing any of you can do about it. I just feel better sharing with some people who understand what I'm talking about. Those who know how frightening something that looks so benign can be. Peace, Light and LovefromJude (did I steal this from Bernie?)
Re: [TMIC] Problems with being paralyzed
Buy and carry a cell phone. I did. Most accidents, but not this one, will leave you within reach of help. Alton who has a cell phone in his pack
[TMIC] Check out Lifeline - the most trusted medical alert service provider
I have a Life Line, and even though I've never had to use it yet, I feel much more secure. Click here: Lifeline - the most trusted medical alert service provider Priscilla in TN
Re: [TMIC] Check out Lifeline - the most trusted medical alert service provider
Priscilla, That is exactly what I was trying to describe. Thanks Jude, I hope this helps you. Heather in Calgary - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: tmic-list@eskimo.com ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 12:02 PM Subject: [TMIC] Check out Lifeline - the most trusted medical alert service provider I have a Life Line, and even though I've never had to use it yet, I feel much more secure. Click here: Lifeline - the most trusted medical alert service provider Priscilla in TN No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 268.1.1/270 - Release Date: 2/27/2006
Re: [TMIC] Problems with being paralyzed
Those who know how frightening something that looks so benign can be. Oh I know exactly how you feel! I've been there a number of times! I always feel like so frightened and embarrassed, even though I know I don't need to be. Like when I had to yell in my office bldg. because I had slid off the toilet! and I had the door locked - can you imagine?! well, I had them call my son to come and get me. there was no way I was letting any of them in! Since that happened they've changed the lock on the door so that it can be opened from the outside with a key we have hanging in the vault. and they put up another bar because if there would have been one on the other side I may have been able to draw myself up. whew! now I can laugh, but sometimes I cry too. I carry a cell phone around my neck now. and have the phone on the bed with me because I also slipped off the bed. I woke up in pain, saw my legs hanging off the side and tried to pull them back up and managed to slide the rest of me off. there was no way I was going to be able to get up so I pulled the blanket down and stayed there until someone came. I also have a flashlight in bed with me, and in my chair bag. this was added after I dropped the keys in my van while transferring from chair to driver's seat. Major panic attack because I couldn't feel them anywhere close. worked myself into quite a state until another car parked by me and by those headlights I saw the sparkle of metal.I didn't cry quietly that time. I screamed and yelled and sobbed. What a journey we're on.God bless us Everyone! Love, DebC in Mi. No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding.Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com
Re: [TMIC] Problems with being paralyzed
Also, maybe bedside rails like those in hospital beds? The kind that fold down when not needed ? We swore we'd never spend the money on cell phones but over a year ago we bit the dust and got us one each with lotsa minutes. To ameliorate the cost we closed one of our land lines and use the other one mostly for puters and faxing. Bobberino in nice and warm but a bit windy Elvisland From: Alton Ryder To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: TM List Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 11:39 AM Subject: Re: [TMIC] Problems with being paralyzed Buy and carry a cell phone. I did. Most accidents, but not this one, will leave you within reach of help.Alton who has a cell phone in his pack
[TMIC] Relapse Steoirds
You all are awesome at giving out words of kindness and encouragement. Here is what I am going through and if you have any suggestions, through them my way. June 2005, diagnosed TM. Hospitalized 5 weeks. One week IV steroids, 4 weeks aggressive rehab. Got strong enough to walk again. Beginning of Feb 2006 I started growing weaker. My most affected leg becoming more limp with tighter banding. Met with my neuro, who suggested f/u MRI to look for any changes since June and a Visual Evoked Response Test. The brain MRI showed no change. Which I guess is good since he was looking for MS. But now he says it must must be a relapse of TM.This past weekend, felt like my back was swollen, both legs got worse. I was on an oral dose of Methylprednisolone (Steroid) 250 mg 2 capsules twice daily for 5 days then 1 daily for 5 days, the neuro said that was equal to the IV I had in June. Since I finished this dosage 2 days ago, I became worse. Today my neuro is now putting me back on a steroid, but a different one and a lower dose. Prednisone 60 mg for 4 days, then 40mg for 4 days, and then 20 mg for 4 days. I HATE the way I felt while I was on the Methylprednisolone. I was depressed, food tasted like crap, and overall feeling of exhaustion. I am also diabetic, controlled by Actos, diet and exercise. Naturally, taking the steroids I had to use insulin injections to keep the blood sugar under control. What I would like to do is crawl in a dark room and stay there for the next 12 days. :( AND I have an interview for a new job on March 3rd, cause I got fired from my last one cause I can't keep my thoughts straight and not learning it fast enough. I have NEVER encountered this problem before. Is there anything I can do? What else besides steroids are out there for this monster, TM? How many relapses are probable? I was doing so good and now back to using the walker. Could stress from the job have brought on the relapse. Are there any finding of this sort that stress and TM do not mix? How do I get through the next 12 days of steroids and and interview? How did you all overcome the ill affects of steroids when you were on them? Recap: my concerns of relapse, feeling of sickness and depression and overall feeling of cloudiness while taking the steroids. Carol in Culver, IN T10
