introduction

[Guest guest]

I'm a new member to the group. CMT is widespread in my

family; I am now 60 years old but was not diagnosed with CMT until I

was 55 because the disease was relatively unknown to physicians in

South Alabama. Once a relative gave us a name of the disease and

told us the type of doctor to see, we began to learn of the

disease. Six members of the family have various limitations of CMT,

all of us with many similar symptoms and some of us with individual

problems.

For years I was told I walked " funny, " was laughed at because I

could not run fast or run in a straight line, scolded because I

tired easily and tripped a lot . . . you know the story.

I am a pianist, but I cannot bend my ankle to work the sustaining

pedal: I pick up my entire leg, and that gets tiresome. Too, I can

barely raise the " ring " finger on both hands half an inch, making it

difficult to move hands across the keyboard without those fingers

striking wrong keys.

Many people at church know of my limitations, but they recently

learned why I hold on to banisters when walking up steps--I fell in

the floor leaving the piano. Luckily, my knee hit a door, pushing

it open and giving me something to hold on to as I pulled myself

up. I acted as if nothing had happened as I walked back to my seat

in the congregation, noticing opened mouths and wide eyes fixed upon

me.

I look forward reading your posts.

ph