Hello All,
I thought I might mention this regarding the TENS unit. If you are going to be
investing in this, you might want to consider the EMS unit instead. A TENS
unit is for "nerve stimulation" to help with pain. The EMS unit is a "muscle
stimulator", used to waken up sleeping muscles or prevent atrophy from
paralysis. It has a different "wave"; however, the EMS unit can be used as
both the EMS and the TENS. The TENS can only be used as a TENS, so if you get
the EMS you are getting double the bang for your buck.
I just got the EMS unit and it is too soon to tell, but I think that it is
going to be of some benefit. (I was totally paralyzed from the waist down 12
years ago on December 30, 1996, but did get a lot of recovery.)
Take care,
Debbie
----- Original Message -----
From: Lawrence King
To: tmic-list@eskimo.com
Cc: Lawrence King
Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2009 7:50 AM
Subject: Re: [TMIC] Fw: my transverse myelitis story
I recently passed my 2 year mark and today I am going to try out a TEN's
unit so wish me luck!
Mindy the Artist
On May 7, 2009, at 10:25 AM, Tami Streeter wrote:
Janice, Thank you for saying this about the 2 year mark. I am getting
close to it and found myself getting nervous and down thinking “this is it”.
You guys keep me going!
Thanks,
Tami
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Patricia Cooley [mailto:patticoo...@wi.rr.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2009 9:21 AM
To: 'Janice'; 'Amanda Diskey'; pjv1...@chartermi.net; tmic-list@eskimo.com
Subject: RE: [TMIC] Fw: my transverse myelitis story
YOU ARE RIGHT JANICE. I GUESS AS LONG AS I AM DRAWING A BREATHE I WILL
HOPE AND WORK TOWARDS ANY IMPROVEMENT NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES. THANKS FOR
THE ENCOURAGEMENT.
PATTI IN WISCONSIN
From: Janice [mailto:jan...@centurytel.net]
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 8:38 PM
To: Patricia Cooley; 'Amanda Diskey'; pjv1...@chartermi.net;
tmic-list@eskimo.com
Subject: Re: [TMIC] Fw: my transverse myelitis story
Amanda and Patti,
When you think of the "2-year mark", don't be too disappointed if you are
not where you want to be. I let it be a big thing for
me and was panicky when 2 years came and I wasn't where I wanted to be and
felt there would be no more recovery.
Recovery still happens. Your body doesn't know 2 years from butkus!
The doc's are only saying the biggest hunk of
recovery comes "a b o u t" then. There will be more. Also, I think
something happens in the adjustment to your body. You
begin to accept, but are still working for improvement. At least, that
was the way it is for me at 28 months of TM.
Janice
----- Original Message -----
From: Patricia Cooley
To: 'Amanda Diskey' ; pjv1...@chartermi.net ; tmic-list@eskimo.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 10:37 AM
Subject: RE: [TMIC] Fw: my transverse myelitis story
AMANDA:
IT IS OBVIOUS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PUT THROUGH THE WRINGER. I AM SO SORRY
FOR ALL YOU HAVE SUFFERED. I WAS DIAGNOISED WITH TM LAST JUNE. WHEN IT
HAPPENED I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MY LEGS AND HAD NO FEELING. IN THE LAST 11
MONTHS I HAVE COME A LONG, LONG WAY. THE BIGGEST CHANGE HAS BEEN IN THE LAST
2-3 MONTHS. I HAD BEEN ABLE TO USE A WALKER, BUT I FIGURED I WOULD NEVER BE
ABLE TO USE A CANE. BUT, ALL OF A SUDDEN I FIND THAT I CAN USE A CANE AND EVEN
WALK WITHOUT A WALKER OR CANE. I DO NEED TO GRAB HOLD OF FURNITURE OR THE
WALL, BUT I AM ABLE TO WALK SHORT DISTANCES. SO PLEASE DON’T GIVE UP. KEEP UP
WITH YOUR THERAPY. I THINK IN MY CASE I WAS FORTUNATELY DISGNOISED IMMEDIATELY
AND PUT ON STEROIDS RIGHT AWAY.
EVERYONE HAS SAID THAT IMPROVEMENT COULD HAPPEN WITHIN THE FIRST 2 YEARS,
SO WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE WE REACH THAT POINT. DON’T GIVE UP. WE ARE
HERE FOR EACH OTHER SO KEEP US POSTED.
PATTI IN WISCONSIN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "pjv1...@chartermi.net" <pjv1...@chartermi.net>
To: tmic-list@eskimo.com; Amanda Diskey <adis...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 6:38:49 AM
Subject: Re: [TMIC] Fw: my transverse myelitis story
Amanda,
I have chills from reading your story and I think they started when I
read that you can wiggle your toes. I hope you continue to acquire movement
and will keep us up-to-date on your accomplishments. I was still "healing" at
nine months and pray that you are too.
Patti - Michigan
---- Amanda Diskey <adis...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Amanda Diskey <adis...@yahoo.com>
To: wllo...@tampabay.rr.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 12:33:53 PM
Subject: my transverse myelitis story
Hello, I am Amanda a 30 year old single mother of two awesome kids, and
this is my story about the worst day of my life! I got up that day and helped
my boyfriend clean his daddy's house, we ate lunch when we were finished, and I
went outside for a smoke. While smoking my cigarette I started having chest
pains, and my right arm was hurting so I went back in and laid on the couch.
About an hour later, or maybe more, I decided to go to the ER in case I was
having a heart attack. They took me back immediately, but they could find
nothing wrong with me. After six hours of tests I told them the chest pains
were probably caused by my GERD (acid reflux) because it had happened to me
before, and I wanted to go on home. After I left i noticed one of my knees
buckled every time I took a step, but I didn't think much of it. I went to bed
early cause I just didn't feel good, and I woke up about 11 p.m. because my
back was on fire like it was sunburnt. There was a
> rash across my shoulders and down my spine. I was feeling really bad,
and I told my boyfriend I needed to go back to the hospital. When I went to get
out of bed I almost fell in the floor, but he caught me. I could not stand so
he had to carry me to the car along with both kids. So here we go, I have to
stop on the way and started throwing up over and over again. I finally get to
my second hospital of the day only to run tests until 6 a.m. and finally
admitted to a room where they left me lay for 12 more hours without even
monitoring me. When the neurologist finally came at 6 p.m. I was paralyzed from
the shoulders down. He said that 2 more hours I could have died! He transferred
me to ICU at another hospital and I was 3 points away on blood oxygen levels
from being put on life support. It was 2 days before I was diagnosed with TM at
C6-T3 and also T9-T10. I received 5 days of IVIG, and 10 days of solumedrol,
and an antiviral. I stayed in ICU for 8
> days, 2 days on the neuro floor, and 6 weeks of inpatient rehab. I
still go to therapy now. I got a partial recovery, my arms returned but not so
much my hands. My trunk and legs remain paralyzed but I can wiggle my toes! It
has been 9 months now and who knows what could happen! Maybe they will figure
out a cure one day!!
