Sorry, Ive been sorta busy.

[Rutey]

Hi, everyone, I had my neurology appt on 10/11, and ended up in thr hospital for 5 days. My b/p was 200/110 and I didnt even know it. Its crazy how you go to the docs for one thing, and have another problem. The neurologists office is in the same parking lot of the hospital, and because it was already 4 pm, sent me to ER. I had an EKG (which was abnormal, as always) because of the hypertension, they kept me and ran a bunch of cardiac tests. I have had all those tests in the past and my heart is never an issue. They ended up keeping me 5 days because of all the meds, my b/p dropped to 70/40. I was on Ivs until they could get my b/p regulated. I go read the riot act from my doc for not taking my b/p meds. Im a registered nurse, and he said I should have known better. My b/p has been great so stupidly I stopped taking my meds. DUMB! DUMB!
Well, anyway, the neuro thinks the findings of my brain MRI are from hypertension, and not MS. She does agree with my neurosurgeon that I need surgery on my C-4-5 asap. I have a postive l'hermittes, when I touch my chin to my chest, I feel it all down my back down to legs. The neurologist says because of this she agrees with my neurosurgeon that I need the surgery because of spinal cord compromise. She does want me to return on Nov. 14th for EMG's of my left arm. I also need surgery on my C7 T-1, but the C4-5 is my main concern. Ive already had cervical dissectomy on my C4-5 and 6, so to go back in is gonna be rough. I have another neurosurgeon appt this monday Oct. 22nd, and will know more. Im trying to put the surgery off until the first of the year, but the neurologist strongly urges me to get it soon due to nerve damage in my legs if I wait. My spine is a mess all the way down, and Im scared if I have another surgery, it will just end up having surgery after surgery,

Anyway, folks, Im back, and gonna hang with yall, if thats ok.

Rutey

[sllowe]

Hi Rutey!

I'm so glad your back, and I'm sorry to hear what kept you from us! We've all been pretty worried, as I'm sure you already know.  Hey - listen to those Dr.s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Durnnit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, would hate to see you with nerve damage from waiting.  Besides, the 1st of the year isn't that far off......just think, what 8-9 weeks til Christmas. . .not so far off.

I'll say x-tra prayers for you buddy, so you can be at peace w/your decision.

SL

[frann]

Hi,
Welcome back... sorry you had a rough go of it...I will be thinking of you as you see you doc on the 22nd...

In my prayers, as always
God bless,
Frann

[Johnny Utah]

  HI! Very nice to have you back with us, sorry to hear you had a small hospital stay but your home and health so thats good. Have they scheduled surgery yet?

  Johnny

[T-lynn]

Sorry to hear about your ordeal,we have missed you.

My 2 sisters are nurses to and they don't take there meds either---um?

At least your Drs are headed in the right direction,I agree with Quix don't put the surgery off.I waited 5 years on a lumbar surgery and lets say I have lots of hardware to prove it.

I hope you stay with us and hang out

T

[pennst8r]

Boy, were we worried about you! And with good cause apparently. It's just not as fun without you around. I'm so sorry to hear what you've been through, but so glad you're back with us and that you're getting answers.

Take that darned medicine so you can stick around with us goofballs for a long, long time.

Missed ya

Penn

[Momzilla]

Oh, my goodness!!

Glad to have you back!  Wait~  maybe I shouldn't say "back!"   Glad to have you 'with us' again -- we MISSED you! It just hasn't been the same without y'all.

Golly, what fun you've been having.  Who needs to skinny-dip when you can spend five days in the hospital?  And it sounds like you're in for more fun in the future.  But don't worry.  I don't recall whether you've had any surgeries yet, but I have, on my neck.  It was the best thing I have ever done for my health!

I had severe arthritis in my neck, and had lost all curvature, and my disks were impinging on my spinal cord.  Too, I had radiculopathy in one arm from 'foraminal stenosis,' one of the nerve roots was REALLY being impinged.  The surgeon decided I needed to have FOUR vertebrae fused, which usually limits your motion.  Everyone in the medical field I knew was pretty leary of the surgery, but I was so miserable, I couldn't wait to have it done.  Ignorance is bliss, right?

Well, the surgery went beautifully, and here I am with GREAT range of motion.  The pain went away and I got my life back!  The doc asked me what my goal was for the surgery, and I told him I wanted to be able to play basketball with my boys again.  He thought that was a reasonable and darn good goal.  And I did!  After recovery and PT, I started playing with my boys more and got physically active again.  I lost about 50 lbs. over the next 2 years.  

Now, if I could just WALK normally....but that's a different story!

Glad to know you're gonna hang!  Wouldn't be the same without you!  Tell Pooty 'hey!'

Zilla*

[Quixotic1]

I am so glad to hear from you and so sorry your were in such a mess!  When readings like that, yes you certainly could have some significant "white matter disease."  Moeck here on the forum has also just been diagnosed with Cervical Spndylotic Myelopathy.  This is white matter disease of the cervcial spine.  And it IS one of the casues of L'Hermitte's that isn't MS.  Others would be cysts and tumors in the cervical spinal cord.

Please do as they advise, my mom weighted too long on her neck problems and has really suffered as a consequence.  Yes!  Yes!  Hang out.  One, you're already a part of us and  two, you bleong here as one of the MS "Mimics."  So there is no excuse for wandering off to join the "Neckies" Forum.

Welcome back!  Quix