Journal Volume 1 - January 2006
Article 50
| Support Groups: Florida My name is Jim Jeffries. I am pleased to join Brad Highwood in offering support to people from the TM community in Florida. I am 65 years of age, married, retired and was looking forward to many years of fun in my “golden years.” I was a perfectly healthy man with never so much as a broken bone or surgery of any kind. I enjoyed golf, long distance running and yard work. In 2000 we moved to Hernando, Florida and built a new retirement home. Things were great and my wife, Maureen (MO), and I were busy getting the property and home the way we wanted it. On Thursday, June 28, 2001, I was working in the yard and moved a concrete bird bath to clean it. The next morning I was in a lot of pain in my chest and upper back. Friday night and Saturday morning I could not sleep due to the pain. On Saturday morning, Mo took me to the hospital emergency room. It was determined that I had pulled some muscles and I got prescriptions for anti-inflammatory and pain medicine. The same evening I was watching TV and about 8:00 PM I felt a tingling in my left foot. Thinking my leg was falling asleep due to a cramp, I went to stand up to walk it off and all my muscle control in the leg was gone. We went immediately to the same ER I had been to earlier. After the routine exam, a neurologist was called in. After a CT scan and being pricked with a bunch of needles all over my body, the doctor stated that it appeared I had a spinal infarction. Since I could not be treated at the local hospital, I was transported the next day to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. Over the next week I had MRIs, CT scans, an angiogram, spinal tap and a lot of doctors scratching their heads. Finally the diagnosis of idiopathic Transverse Myelitis with Brown Secord Syndrome was made. Apparently, the cause may be due to a small lesion at the T11-T12 level in the thoracic spine. At this point, I assumed that surgery would fix it and I would be back to normal. Of course, I was wrong. As with most TM sufferers, I was in denial, depressed, and mad as hell. While I was being treated, I was given a lot of steroids to fight the inflammation. I was also unlucky enough to be given a staph infection that took weeks of antibiotics to kill. In fact, after a month in the hospital and the rehab center, I went home with a PIC line IV in me to get my antibiotics at home. The TM affected me in many ways. My left leg was paralyzed and I got drop foot also. The staff failed to prop up my foot for at least a week. Because my muscles and nerves atrophied, I will always have some drop foot. I have no sensation in my torso and right leg. My bladder and bowel functions were severely altered. Later I also found out that TM caused erectile dysfunction. Of course, there is a fatigue factor with TM. During rehab I went from using a wheelchair to a walker. I was equipped with a leg brace from my foot to just below my knee. Later, I got rid of the walker and used a cane. The cane has now gone away and I now use just the leg brace. Before I could leave rehab, I had to be able to use my bodily functions. My bowels improved over months as well as urination. I was being catheterized in rehab and could not urinate on my own. I asked to be taught to use the catheter myself and one of the nurses taught me. At that point, I could go home. A therapist came to my home several days a week for about a month. I then went to out-patient therapy for three months. I learned the exercises that would help me and began working out on my own. I have to give kudos to my great wife who never lost faith or hope and was, and is, always there for me. Thank you, Mo. She helped me so much with the therapy and emotional support. As for now, my bladder and bowel functions have returned to the point that it is almost normal. My urologist has provided medicine for the ED problem. I still have leg spasms from time to time. Things are a lot better than I thought they would be. When I talk with other TM sufferers and hear what they are dealing with, I feel fortunate and blessed. I could always have been worse. Probably as a result of having to hike my hip to let my left leg drop forward, I developed (and still have) serious back problems. In October, 2003, I had a spinal fusion at L4-L5. Now I have a herniated disc at L3 that is being treated with epidural shots. As for the medicines, I take Flomax for urination, an aspirin a day, multi-vitamins, Arthrotec and Hydrocodone as needed for back pain. I am keeping a positive attitude and do everything I can to maintain a normal life style. Each day is a struggle, but four years ago I did not think I would be as productive as I am today. If there are any people with TM or family members who would like to talk, please call me at (352)249-1031 or email at mojimjeff[AT SIGN]netscape.com. G-d Bless and don’t quit fighting. Brad Highwood James G. Jeffries |