Deb, It seems to me you're doing great things!! Your pushing to do is so positive.......... your hubby's understanding and support are so important......keep pushing for the smile to return!!
I'd love to watch you at your martial arts workout!! I can just imagine what fun you make for your 'class' mates........my one daughter and 2 of her kids are black belts in ti kwan do (spelling?) which I've been to meets and I can see trying to get in to that. (HA!!) I'd be there to keep the folks laughing!!) Keep up the good work......and do your pressure-relieving talk whenever you need...we understnd!!! jan OK ________________________________ From: Deb Monteleone <aiki...@optonline.net> To: "Towery, Ruben Dale" <rdtow...@southernco.com> Cc: TMIC <tmic-list@eskimo.com> Sent: Sat, June 5, 2010 10:50:09 AM Subject: RE: [TMIC] How to deal with isolation Hi Ruben, Not sure how your upper body is, but I installed hand controls in my car. It was a wonderful feeling to know I can get up and go. Although the go part is still not so great, not too many places to go. I still work so it gets me there and I got a scooter to put in it. Compared to staying home all the time, it is great. Still miss all I used to do, but trying to go forward and find ways to at least feel I have some freedom back. I woke up two years ago today (just realized today is my two year anniversary) with numb feet, 5 days later up to waist, 5th day Primary care Doctor sent me to neurologist that day. My neurologist is a wonderful man (knowledgeable, friendly, returns calls and emails, sympathetic, funny). He diagnosed TM right there, sent me that day for 3 days of outpatient steroid infusions, then oral for a week, then after another week went into hospital for 5 days of steroids 4 times a day (at this point I could not stand or take a step, bladder and bowels weren't working either). Then rehab for almost 3 weeks. Just kept pushing after that. Now I walk with a cane (not in house) for short distance or scooter for longer. I still grieve for all that I lost, sports, kayaking, woodworking, gardening. Slowly I am working myself back to some of it. I pick a weed now and then, who knew weeding would be so enjoyable. Just purchased a stool with wheels and a footrest so I can try my lathe and some small wood projects (hope it works out). I am a black belt in Aikido, had been practicing for 18 years before TM. Every now and then I go to class and do the movements (not gracefully) and throw people around with a big smile on my face (one of the few moments that I am happy and feel like my old self). I tire quickly, rest, throw etc... For bike riding I got a three wheel bike, don't go very long but I am out there riding a bike which I so enjoyed. Going to a MS support group helped, oh yea, it was finally diagnosed that I had MS which caused the TM. As is this support group, it is nice to speak with people who really know how you feel, the MS support group is in person. My husband reads all these emails so he has a good understanding of what I feel and he knows it's for real since so many others have the same pains. He is a wonderful man on top of that, don't know where I would be without him! He even accepts and deals with the fact that I don't laugh or smile like I used to, I have gone within to try and deal with this pain and loss. I think I am slowly getting back to my smiling face. Keep moving forward, reach out to people, think out of the box as to how to enjoy some of the things you did, look for new things to do. Keep conversation with your doctor to try different concoctions of medicines. Cry when you need to, it is a great reliever. Sorry this is so long. I guess I needed to relieve some of my pent up thoughts. You are all wonderful, brave, kind and sharing people on this site, even though I don't write much, what I read re-enforces my sanity. Stay strong, feel better. Deb Long Island, New York
