Health Update

[ThomCat]

For those of you who are interested...

A few months ago I suddenly lost the ability to speak for a few days. My neurologist immediately took me off one of my meds and I gradually got my voice back but now I stutter. It's bad when my pain and/or tremors are bad, or when I'm under a lot of stress. But when I'm relaxed and properly medicated the stutter almost goes away.

They thought for a while that I had a stroke. The MRI was negative, so it doesn't look like I had a stroke. So now they're considering some kind of seisure disorder. I'm going through more tests.

One of my doctors is still convinced it was a small stroke that somehow just hasn't been detected. He is generally the sharpest of my doctors, so maybe it really was a stroke. But at this point, who knows.

My tremors are visibly worse. I shake a lot now; head, neck, hands and arms. If I wasn't sitting down I'd probably have other tremors but I'm pretty much anchored to the chair.

My pain levels are going up. My use of painkiller has gone up x6 in the past year. I probably have to start using a constant delivery patch combined with pills for the spikes. That's the next converstation with my pain management doctor.

That's where things are right now... I'll share the details of going on disability as they happen. :)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear ThomCat...

Oh, sweetie...

I will stand by you and share as much as I am able to...

What I would not give to have you whole and well again...

:hug: :loveya:

[ThomCat]

2. It's mostly okay.

I deal with heavy pain better than some people deal with minor traffic delays. :P

Mostly it's a constant process of adjusting, which I'm handling pretty well. As long as I've still got friends with me I haven't had any problems dealing with any of this.

If I ever end up alone, that's when I'm going to freak out. :(

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. You will NEVER be alone as long as I'm around...

Just sayin'...

And that goes for a lot of us!

:hug:

[Connonym]

65. And you know we'd love to have you in Wisconsin

any time you need us.

[ThomCat]

67. I would love to be there.

My big concern is how well I survive winters. I have more trouble with cold now than I ever did. But I'll manager anything to be with people who care about me and can help me. :hug:

[rcrush]

3. I recommend you see this guy.

[ThomCat]

5. If there were real doctors like him, I would.

:)

Bad attitude and all, it would be worth it. He always seems to find a quick and easy answer to every health problem at the end of every episode.

[rcrush]

6. And sometimes he gives out free vicodin to!

[billyskank]

7. .....

:cry:

:hug:

[ThomCat]

9. Life is suffering.

Only death is not. :(

As long as we have compassion for each other we can get through this. :)

[billyskank]

11. Yes, but

some people get such an unfathomably large helping of it.

:loveya:

[lizziegrace]

8. I still think you had a small stroke

I heard you slurring your words, stuttering and searching for words. It was painful listening to you talk. I wanted to reach through the phone and hug you.

Someday, you will be here so I can hug you when you need it. Until then, I'm always here for you online or on the phone.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

10. You have no idea how much I appreciate you.

:hug:

You are an absolutely wonderful, amazing person and I can't thank you enough. :loveya:

[LynzM]

12. Oh Thom...

How much I wish I could fix this all for you... :hug: and :loveya: and :hug: Love and peace to you, my friend. You know we're always only a message or a phone call away if you need anything. I'm so sorry about all the pain.

[ThomCat]

15. The worse things get

the more I find out that all I really need is good company. :)

Any time you guys want company or want to come down to NYC and be company I'm available. My place is newly renovated and I have space for guests.

I'm very poor now that I'm not working, so I can't be an extravagant host, but I can definitely be as good a host as I can manage, and your family is always welcome here.
:hug:

[lightningandsnow]

13. I hope things get better for you.

We're here for you, dude.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

16. Thank you, AspieGrrl.

:hug:

I'm getting better at dealing with all of this, so that's okay. :)

Someday you'll come to NYC and I'll get a chance to meet you.

[Haole Girl]

14. Wow

That is scary. I can believe it could be medications.

This is one interesting link I found: http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/symptoms/loss_of_speech/side-effects.htm

Whatever the cause, I certainly hope they pinpoint it soon... and I'm glad you're better!! :hug:

[ThomCat]

17. The Combination of medications I was on

was Lyrica and various medications for Migraines. I was having a very severe migraine when the problem with my ability to speak started.

People with migraines have a higher risk of stroke. But that doesn't mean that it was necessarily a stroke. One neurologist thought it was purely a drug interaction. She took me off the Lyrica.

I would like to find out that I can safely go back on the Lyrica. It was helping me quite a bit with the tremors and pain in my hands and feet. But we'll see where this all goes after the testing is done. :)

[Lady Freedom]

18. Glad to see ya!

Hang in there ThomCat!

[ThomCat]

22. Thank you. I'm definitely hanging on.

:)

I got past to pity and anger, thankfully, years ago. So now it's just life.

[Shardik]

19. Jesus, that's tough.

Sounds as if you're a trooper though. Hang in there and hang tough.

You can beat this thing.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

23. I don't know about beating it, but I can definitely live with it.

I've figured out that I can live through each new thing. It takes me a little while to be angry and sad and adjust each time I get a new loss, and then it's just day by day.

I'll keep living with each new thing. :)

[Tuesday Afternoon]

20. damn. TC. I hope they figure it out...

:hug:

[ThomCat]

24. I hope so too.

Health care is much, much easier when your doctors have a name for stuff. They take it all much more seriously when they can pin a tag on it.

Doctors don't like mysteries. They tend to ignore them, and tell the patients to go away. Having a diagnosis, any diagnosis, helps.

[malta blue]

21. A stroke would make more sense as far as the

stutter is concerned, rather than the medication.

:hug::hug::hug:

I am so glad you are back and wish I could help you somehow.

For now, I am always here when you need to chat :pals:

[ThomCat]

25. It does. The medication conflict wouldn't explain

the ongoing stuttering unless there was some kind of damage.

That's why they're still doing tests.

Thank you. :hug:

[Kajsa]

26. Thom, you are one heck

of a good guy. You have a lot of courage and strength
to get through everything you are dealing with.

I wish I could take all your pain away.

Like Peggy said, as long as I'm around, you
are not alone.

I'm as close as a PM!

:hug:

[ThomCat]

27. Thank you very, very much.

:hug:

I can't claim to have all that much courage or strength. Without help from friends I know I couldn't make it.

But as long as I have that help, it's just inconvenient stuff I can deal with day by day. :)

[Lavender Brown]

28. Oh, wow

You are an incredibly strong person to be handling all of this at one time. :hug: I hope the doctors find an answer, or at least the best possible treatment, soon. :hug:

[ThomCat]

30. I hope so too.

I don't/can't take credit for getting by. There really isn't any other good alternative. Anything else would be making more pain for myself, so I'm just trying to make it as easy for myself as I can. :)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

29. hugs.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

31. Hi Priyanka!

:hug:

Thank you!

[DarkTirade]

32. I'm sick but I'm pretty sure I can't spread germs via the internet right now...

so :hug:

[ThomCat]

33. I hope you feel better soon.

I'd share some soup and tea with you if I could. :hug:

Antivirus software is 100% effective at preventing the spread of biological viruses online. :P

[BlueIris]

34. OMG, that sounds brutual.

(((((( ThomCat )))))

[ThomCat]

35. It is, for part of every day. But then it's not for part of every day.

I just have to let go of the pain once it's over. If I don't hold onto it then I can enjoy the rest of the day. Then it's not so bad. :)

[blueraven95]

36. ...

:hug: :hug: :hug:


if you need anything, please let us know!

[ThomCat]

40. DUers have already been a lifeline for me.

:grouphug:

I have amazing friends here, and they've rallied wonderful DUer's to help me immensely.

I rarely ever ask for help, but I won't turn away help that's offered. :)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

37. Sending gentle hugs...

:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:
I'm so sorry you're going through this hell.
:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:

[ThomCat]

41. It's only hell some times.

As long as I don't hold on to it and wallow in it, it's not too bad. I just have to keep remembering to enjoy the breaks when I get them. :)

And if I'm diligent with the meds, the rest, and taking it easy then I get those breaks frequently.

[TZ]

38. I'm so sorry Thom....

As many problems as I have had, I feel lucky that chronic pain (except for the headaches)is not part of them....:hug:

[ThomCat]

42. I've thought about you a lot and hoped you were doing better.

Don't discount headaches. That's chronic pain too. :(

:hug:

We both need to work hard to stay as well as we can be.

[FloridaJudy]

39. Oh Thom, I'm so sorry

I wish you were doing better, sweetie. But I'm glad to hear you have a good bunch of docs. If there's anything we can do to help, just let us know.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

44. My friends online are a major morale boost.

You all keep me going day by day. You get me out of my little world of pain and milligrams of meds, and into a world of people. :)

:grouphug:

That's doing a huge amount of good.

LizzieGrace knew how important this is to me. That's why she did this fund raiser to get me a computer. :)

[SPKrazy]

43. I'll be praying that things get better for you Thom

sounds really rough, and I'm sorry

:hug: :hug:

[ThomCat]

45. It would be nice if things ease up a little.

:)

:hug:

[Callalily]

46. I so admire you for being

so open and honest with us, and of course your courage too. Have you considered starting a daily journal, chronicling your life? I think that would be so interesting and so helpful to many people.

Other than that, all I can offer you are hugs and my support. :hug: :hug: :hug:

[ThomCat]

58. I think a daily journal would be very repetative.

:)

How many days in a row can I say I have basically the same pains. It's only on the days with significant differences that I really say so.

I appreciate the hugs and support. They really mean a lot to me, and they really are helpful. They keep me going when I might otherwise fall into depression. :hug:

[nuxvomica]

47. Thanks for the update, good fellow

I'm hoping for the best for you. I wish I could relieve your pain and share some of your courage. For now, I'll just have to give you a cyber:hug: for the former and my admiration for the latter. :)
:hi:

[ThomCat]

59. I appreciate that hug.

Thank you. :hug:

I am not sure I deserve admiration for surviving. I think we all deal with whatever it is we are forced to endure. So we all equally deserve that admiration. Me, no more than anyone else. But appreciate the good will all the same. :)

[SacredCow]

48. So sorry, ThomCat....

Sending you all of the healing vibes I can muster!

:hug:

[ThomCat]

60. That is wonderful.

If nothing else, they definitely heal my mood and emotional endurance. Thank you. :)

:hug:

[SacredCow]

71. I still hope to get up to NY one day....

That edamamme-filled burrito you told me about intrigues me!

[ThomCat]

72. My friends are holding a "retirement" part for me at that cafe.

:)

I'm hauling everyone out to Staten Island. They'll love the food.

If you come here, I'll definitely take you there for lunch. :9

[myrna minx]

49. You really have been through the wringer.

You have such strength and endurance and courage. My best wishes to you. :hug:

[ThomCat]

61. I think I'm still in that wringer.

And I'm stuck between gears. :P

But life is what it is, and we all do what we can to survive it. :hug:

[Bertha Venation]

50. how inadequate it seems to say "I'm thinking of you" -- but I am.

:hug: I wish I could be there to do something for you. At least to hold you.

[ThomCat]

62. It means a lot. It is the people who are thinking of me

who talk to me and keep me going. It's some of the people who are thinking of me who have occasionally chipped in and helped me out when they could. And that's what has helped me out when I have needed it most.

:hug:

:loveya:

[racaulk]

51. Oh Thom...

Thank you for the update. I don't know what to say, but I'm just so sorry for what you are going though. Much love and positive thoughts for you always.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

63. Thank you! It helps me stay positive,

and that does as much good as any med I'm taking. :)

:hug:

[raccoon]

52. I don't know what to say, ThomCat.

Thanks for the update. You're one of my favorite DU'ers.

:hug: :loveya:

[ThomCat]

64. Wow. Thank you.

:hug:

You're absolutely wonderful. :loveya:

And you just made my day. :)

[Bullwinkle925]

53. oh sweetie . . . .

i wish i could wave that magic wand and take it all away for you.
i shall keep you in my thoughts and prayers - always.

hugs.....

[ThomCat]

66. If only magic wands really worked. I wish someone I know had one.

:(

I really appreciate the thoughts and prayers. Talking and chatting and positive feedback keeps me going when I'm down. :hug:

[Jamastiene]

54. I hope you find out it is something reversible...

and easy to treat as soon as they find out what it is. I wish nothing but the best for you. Please take care the best you possibly can. :hug: :loveya:

[ThomCat]

68. I'm definitely doing everything I can.

I'm going through all the tests, and being careful about drug interactions, not taking anything unless it's absolutely necessary, and my diet is as fresh and clean as I can make it. I can't get much exercise, but I do movement exercises as much as I can.

I'll make it somehow. :)

And if the doctors find out that any of this is reversible then I'll do whatever it takes to help it along.

I hope you're well and taking care of yourself too. :hug:

[jobycom]

55. Freaking sucks, man.

Wish there was something nice to say about it. You've got friends here who sympathize, and some of us are amazed as hell at your strength and courage over this. I know you have to be frustrated, because I'm frustrated just reading your posts, and I don't even know you as well as many around here do. If vibes help in any way physical, emotional, spiritual, or whatever, here's a ton from me. Along with wishes that they figure out a way to make this better. Hang in there. :hug:

[lizziegrace]

56. He amazes me

at his sheer determination to survive. I'd have pulled the covers over my head a long, long time ago. He's 1/2 Italian and 1/2 Jewish and he attributes his stubbornness and tenacity to that. ;)

I think he's extraordinary...

[jobycom]

57. I agree.

Even reading his post, I was thinking I'd give up. Of course, I've never been through anything like that, and don't know what I'd do, but just watching him makes me feel more like I'd fight in that situation. His strength really is inspirational.

And you, dear one, are exceptional, too. We've all seen how much you've helped, and I know you've had your own life struggles to deal with. So don't go acting modest. :hug:

[ThomCat]

70. Friends like LizzieGrace make anyone's struggles easier to handle.

She is an awesome friend, and I'm amazed that I have ever done anything to deserve a friend as good as her.

I can't praise her enough. :loveya:

I can only hope that she has friends as good for her as she is for others. I wish I could be a friend that good, that helpful, and that much of a blessing.

[ThomCat]

69. Vibes definitely help.

Talking and getting positive feedback keeps me positive. :)

Getting frustrated and depressed would be poison for me, so staying as positive as possible is essential.

Thank you. :hug: