Re: Welcome -To Marti

[Guest guest]

Marti,

Great message. You are trying to be positive, and that is very important.

You are also educating yourself regarding CMT, another good point. All of

us are in the same boat, but it is up to each individual how we choose to

deal with it. Members are here to help in anyway that we can.

----- Original Message -----

From: <mmc3737@...>

< >

Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2001 4:31 PM

Subject: [] Welcome ...

> Hi :

> Welcome to the group! My name is Marti and I am 31 years old.

> No, I'm not 20 any more but I can relate quite well to most of what

> you said. I first was diagnosed w/ nerve damage in my feet and legs

> at age 16. Gym (P.E. class) was hell but I fortunately got out of it

> my last few years of High School. I was given AFO's in High School

> and went through a depressed and traumatized couple of years.

> Things did get MUCH better after High School. I stopped

> wearing the AFO's but that was not the source of what was better.

> The great thing about College as opposed to High School is that in

> college ALMOST everything is about CHOICE!! You chosse where to go

> to college, you choose MOST of your classes, you choose your major,

> you choose your clubs or activities moreso than in High School. I

> found that my CMT became less of a problem because I was put in far

> fewer situations that involved competitive athletics. I am an active

> person and enjoy exercise but I was able to CHOOSE to exercise where

> and when I wanted and able to pace myself.

> For me, adulthood has been much better than childhood or

> adolescence.

> I can also relate to your anxieties because I was only

> diagnosed with CMT for the past year or so. Previous to that, I

> didn't think my nerve damage would/could get much worse, I didn't

> know my children (if I have them) have a 50% risk, I didn't know that

> CMT could be so painful or even (in very rare cases) deadly. Now, I

> am greatful for the education I've received but I find that I can't

> go five minutes of a day without thinking about the CMT. I am BETTER

> and LESS anxious than I was six months ago, but it's hard. Although

> I am mildly affected now, I do not yet have a spouse, don't have

> close family, don't own a house or any major assets, and have a huge

> debt burden from my grad student loans. As a result, I worry a lot

> about how I would sustain myself if/when my CMT progresses a lot. I

> also worry about whether or not I should have kids. Because I take

> better care of myself now, and know about the effects of stress and

> overexertion, I am glad I have been diagnosed and educated but some

> times I really do miss the times when I didn't have the diagnosis and

> thus didn't worry about these things. I do KNOW and do have to

> remind myself constantly that nothing is a given in this life - even

> w/o CMT any of us could be hit by a bus and severely disabled

> tomorrow, or worse, but that higher probability is certainly scary

> some times.

> Hang in there, it does get better and a positive attitude makes

> all the difference Marti

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