Guest guest Posted January 3, 2000 Report Share Posted January 3, 2000 ***PLEASE READ THIS AND FORWARD IT TO EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK. IF >> YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY IDEAS OR ARE JUST NOT INTERESTED, PLEASE FORWARD >> ANYWAY. SOMEONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP OR THEY >> MIGHT KNOW SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP US SAVE DAVID'S LIFE. >> >> I am sending this plea to you for my son, , because he is incapable >> of asking himself. I thank you for reading this and pray that someone >> out there has seen an illness like >> 's or may have some ideas you can share with us. This is my son's >> story. >> >> My name is and I am 31 years old. At the beginning of 1998, I was a >> happy, energetic young man with a wife and son, a good job and had never >> been seriously ill in my life. At the beginning of the summer of '98, I >> began to feel very tired all the time. It was really all I could do to >> drag myself to work and when I got home, all I wanted to do >> was lie on the couch. I developed insomnia. I began to lose interest in >> my job or most of anything else. I began having respiratory problems and >> panic attacks. I became very claustrophobic and developed a fear of >> water. My eyes began bothering me and were red and watered all the time. >> I began to experience blurred vision. I became >> disoriented at times and was unable to differentiate between reality and >> non-reality. I began forgetting how to do things on my job that I had >> been doing very well. I became easily agitated and irritable. The only >> thing I could think of to describe how I was feeling was to say " I just >> feel weird. " My primary care physician seemed to think I was >> suffering from depression and sent me to a psychiatrist in Wichita Fall, >> Texas who started me on a series of >> antidepressants. I did not feel I was depressed, as I had nothing to be >> depressed about. My speech started to slur and it was attributed to a >> side effect of the medication and the medication was changed. When I >> began stumbling and >> losing my ability to walk, it became apparent that I was suffering a >> physical and not a mental problem. I was referred to the Zale-Lipshy >> Hospital in Dallas, Texas where I spent a week while they ran various >> tests. I was tentatively diagnosed with Stiffman Syndrome and was >> started on large doses of Valium. It did not work and that diagnosis was >> determined incorrect. At this point, I was still >> able to walk some by using a cane but gradually my condition worsened and >> I was unable to stay awake. I spent many days sleeping as much as 20 >> hours out of 24. >> The question came up concerning Chronic Tetanus as I was showing many or >> these symptoms and I had suffered a severe hand injury which required >> surgery and placing a wire in my hand. I also had a plaster cast over the >> open wound for several weeks. I was treated with penicillin injections >> and a tetanus booster and probably showed more >> improvement in that period of time than at any other during my illness. >> I drove my car for the first time since I became ill >> and was feeling much better, but it did not last. I was referred to a >> physician in Wichita Falls who specializes in rare diseases and I was >> diagnosed with Central nervous System Lupus and was started on large >> doses of Prednisone. The sleeping continued. The speech was so slurred >> at this point that it was almost impossible for anyone to understand what >> I was saying. I was now in a wheelchair and had begun to be incontinent >> of urine at night. I was admitted to the North Texas Regional Health >> Care Center in Wichita Falls, Texas in June of 1999 where I stayed a >> month. More tests were taken and other consultants called in. They >> disagreed on the Lupus diagnosis and decided I had an autoimmune disorder >> from unknown etiology. They had ruled out the obvious diseases and were >> basically down to " I just don't know. " I was given plasma pheresis and >> was ordered IV/IG monthly, which I am still receiving. >> >> They also did a brain biopsy in the hospital, which showed nothing except >> some atrophy which was unusual for someone my age. The most current >> theory seems to be that I had suffered a virus at some time and only time >> would tell if I regained any of my normal functions. At the beginning of >> my illness, I weighed about 190 pounds, which is pretty hefty for someone >> who is 5'8 " tall. I now weigh 126 pounds. >> >> My current situation is: >> I am slowly deteriorating. >> I am unable to stay awake. >> I cannot hold my eyes open when I am awake. >> I remember people I knew years ago but couldn't tell you >> what I ate for breakfast. >> I cannot talk above a whisper and then you would not be able to >> understand me. >> I cannot walk. >> I no longer have a wife as she left and took my son. >> I cannot tell you when I need to go to the bathroom. >> I NEED YOUR HELP. If you know anyone who has had a >> similar illness or have any ideas, please email to >> savingdavid@..., >> swtstcy22@..., or >> lucille@... >> >> Thank you, BARB ScribusMedicus@... " One of the greatest pleasures in life is accomplishing that which others said you could not do. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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