Living Obliquely

Approximately 1400 people are diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis (TM) annually.
Similar to Multiple Sclerosis, it attacks your myelin, leading to painful and debilitating side effects.
About 33,000 Americans are currently disabled as a result of this rare neurological disorder.
Not one person with TM will ever know their prognosis.
I happen to be one of them.



I am a neurological soup. Since my TM diagnosis, I have developed encephalitis, MS, RSD/CRPS, Osteoporosis (I am 34, no 35, eek), and Chronic Anemia. Yeah...life sucks, but I still rock.



Showing posts with label Nerve Blocks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nerve Blocks. Show all posts

7.17.2010

Ketamine Cam Day 2: with spills and special guests

Mois...coming down from ketamine...again.






ALSO, even though yesterday was the official Scatterneuries deadline, I'll extend it until Monday for those of you who are dying to take part in this brand new online game.



This one is boobalicious.

*****


UPDATE
7.16.10

With 2 weeks of plasmapharesis, followed by a nerve block surgery (link warning: video of actual procedure) of my left arm, and 2 days of ketamine boosters, I have not felt this good in a while. My pain is down to a 6, and I'm actually able to enjoy being awake, walking around, and I'm going to paint today for the first time since this last flare-up, which started over 2 months ago.

Unfortunately, my ketamine boosters will be further apart from now on because the drug can cause liver damage (and it's basic scheduling protocol), and if my LFTs are adversely effected, I can not get treatment for 6 months.

Since I've been receiving ketamine, the positive affects (if any) have lasted no longer than 1.5 weeks before they started to dwindle. This last month-long wait was excruciating. I don't know what to expect, or how I will handle, managing my pain with this longer break between infusions.

Normally, follow up boosters at this stage are every 3 months, however, we're going to try for every 2 and hope that my liver can take it. But since the nerve block worked, I'll probably be getting one every 3-4 weeks.

The good news is, the doc, Dr. Goldberg aka Dr. G, is super cool - like hip hipster in scrubs cool, the hospital in Camden, NJ is actually gorgeous (despite its location) and amazingly stylish for such an icky institution, and they have the best hand sanitizer I've ever used.

In Pictures

Please Note: Some photos may contain partial nudity or depictions of medical procedures. Though I am in many of these photos, my reason for sharing these personal photos is to promote awareness, understanding, and advocacy for people with TM and other rare diseases.
To play the slide show, click the big play button in the center of the screen, then the small one in the bottom left corner. Click here for more advanced viewing instructions, and select "Help."

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    See My Art Published in Monkey Puzzle Issue #7
    Representing TM through Art and Dialogue...Locally, Nationally, Virtually.