Rising from the ashes

"Dude, I need you to take me to the ER. I fell getting out of the shower and I can't walk."

Folks let me tell you no lie, A month ago I couldn't Walk. Arms and legs felt like they were in ice water, tingling, numbness and most of all weakness. 2 ER visits, 5 days in hospital, and 30 hard days of recovery behind me I'm finally today able to drive my Miata with the top down rocking the Santa hat, and making children's eyes light up wherever I go.

As Jerry said, what a long strange trip it's been.

Of course it didn't happen suddenly. About a month before my first ER visit, I woke up with just the slightest tingling in my fingertips, really didn't think anything of it. A couple days passed, and the tingling started in my toes, just the tips. Next day, now my hands are tingling, and the bottom of my feet are tingling. Time to get this checked out!

Scheduled with my PCP, they asked me all the important questions. Here is something that may have played a part in my late diagnosis: A few days before my initial symptoms I was working out and re-injured my previously dislocated shoulder (I did martial arts when I was younger and I got my shoulder dislocated during a bad throw by a 100 pound white belt girl). I figured the tingling I had was just a pinched nerve in my shoulder and neck, no big deal right? Wrong.

My doc prescribed a CT (for my shoulder and neck) and a cervical MRI. CT came back in 3 days showing slight spinal stenosis, but nothing that would explain the symptoms. As far as the MRI, the doctor requested a full meal deal : Cervical, Bilateral brachial, and shoulder

Problem was, the authorization was all or nothing, and now I'm waiting two weeks to get the MRI. No biggie, hell I worked VDIS at Valley Medical Center for 3 years, I understand how the process works I can roll with this. I mean the tingling is only up to my knees and shoulders My walking is slow but steady. At this point two things are really annoying: I can't feel the bottom of my feet or toes, and my hands are slowing down more than my legs, and everything from my shoulders down to my fingertips was at about 60% strength.

Fast forward a week. At this point I'm walking like an old man, I can't drive my Miata because I can't operate the clutch (I have a performance clutch that is surprisingly difficult to push down for a Miata) let alone even thinking of being able to get into it.

I visit my PCP again. I am told if I get any worse to go into the ER IMMEDIATELY.

OK, 10-4 on that.

2 days later, it's band practice time, my favorite day of the week!! The guys come over and we start to jam, I'm realizing something is very wrong after the first song. Now mind you, I was already having serious difficulties, and my playing was definately not as dynamic and flowing as a normal night, but I was able to bang out the set. This night, my arms cramped and my fingers turned into what looked like eagle claws. I told the guys that I was going to go inside and put a heating pad on my arms, then I went into my house and cried.

My two favorite things in this world aside from my family, friends, and all human existence are three things. My 1997 M Edition Miata, my Darkglass Alpha & Omega bass head, and my trusty Dean bass guitar. These items give you a little peek into the microcosm of my life. Now, I cannot enjoy any of those things. I am sitting in front of a TV or computer now and that's my existance. Oh wait, but my hands don't work so now I'm stuck to just TV.

Great.

2 days later, I really couldn't walk. I fell down stepping down off the front deck of my house. This is not a big step mind you, and it is only one. My roomate takes me to Valley Med ER and I finally get seen. Doc requests cervical and brain MRI. Finally something is happening! After shooting the breeze with a really cool radiologist my scans are taken and now I'm waiting on the ER doc. I can't take more than 6 inch steps, but dang it I'm moving around. I'm not going to be in a wheelchair, this should be gone soon!

Here's the kicker. Both sides of my family don't have the greatest genetics. MS, High blood pressure, multiple cancers, Diabetes A and B all run in the family and are suffered by my family members. My grandmother has MS. My symptoms fit MS. One of my best friends had MS reduce him from a mountain man to being in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Understand that I had many internal freak outs, along the lines of something like: OH MY GOD I HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS!

ER doc comes back and says to me that they found a few "abnormalities" in my brain MRI (looking back on this, it was very likely due to a few years of undiagnosed high blood pressure according to my Stepfather who happens to be a doctor). However, there were no signs of MS, or any spinal issues. The doc asked me if I could walk. You bet! I've been walking around this whole time. A matter of fact I'm almost afraid to sit, because it's hard to stand back up again! He says "Good! I'm sending you home. Follow up with your PCP and here's a referral to a neurologist.

Thanks doc.

The next day, the events I stated at the beginning of my post occurred.

Back to the ER, and I assume "Hey, I was here yesterday, doc said to come back if it happens again. Hell, I fell out of the shower onto the floor, barely missed my toilet and had to use items in my bathroom to pull myself back up. Of course they're going to whiz me right into the ER. Boy was I wrong. a little over an hour of sitting in the waiting room in a wheelchair : / I finally get admitted. Same ER Doc, now we want a lumber MRI. Round 2 of 2 days of MRI's, bang those out and still no diagnosis. Just one possibility.

The doctor then told me that he thinks I may have what's called Guillain-Barre Syndrome

OK, the description sounds just like the symptoms for MS! This must be what I have! It can be cured! Full recover can take up to a year, but I can be fully cured! I was like "Great doc! What's the next move? "Lumber Puncture" OK... Is it like a spinal tap? "It is a spinal tap." Oh geeze. I mean, I have a bunch of tattoos, needles don't bother me. I stare the needles down when they approach me and don't look away. However, I never tattooed my spine before! (Dude, Spinal Tattoo would make an awesome thrash metal band name).

Anyway, not only do I give permission to have the procedure done, but I decided to allow a resident to do it for her first time on me (you know, FOR SCIENCE!). Not only that, there were 4 other residents who asked to be present because this procedure is definitely not performed on the average day at the ER. I said "Hey, why not. Let's get the whole group in here". The resident proceeds to do the procedure (1/10 would not recommend) while the ER doc observes her. Two of the watching residents make themselves useful and try to assist me in attaining the correct position you need to be in so they can slide the needles in between your lumbar discs and suck out the sweet sweet spinal fluid (4 vials). Basically the position a woman would take to get an epidural. 3 full minutes of that needle rooting around inside my spine finally yielded enough fluid to test. For the record, it looks exactly like water, just a little thicker.

Test comes back 45 minutes later, yes I have GBS. Now the treatment begins. I get admitted to the hospital and am prescribed 5 treatments of intravenous Immunogloblins to be take 1 treatment every 24 hours. Basically, since my immune system is freaking out and eating the insulation off of my nerves. What we had to do was drop kick my immune system like Hulk Hogan did to Andre the Giant back in 1985 (for you tech peeps this would be equal to rebooting your immune system, you know turning it off and then back again). With my liquid AIDS hooked up to my IV I suffered through my first treatment and my first crappy hospital meal. Definitely my worst day by far.

The good thing is everything was downhill from here. I managed to impress both my Occupation Therapist and Physical Therapists by managing to still be able to walk (terribly). One of them was told I couldn't get out of the bed, boy did she freak out for a second when I popped up! Anyway, in 5 days my treatments are over, I get to go home (under supervision). My physical therapist gave me a PT test and I passed with flying colors! I can finally go home.

First week back, I still need assistance up the stair. Still can't play bass or drive my Miata but I am home! I can sleep in my own bed! I even managed to do some great things. I'm now on blood pressure meds and I've never felt better. The biggest thing: I QUIT A 25 YEAR TOBACCO ADDICTION COLD-TURKEY. Yeah, that happened. I'm currently on week 4 and it is hard, but nowhere near as hard as what I already went through. Third best decision I ever made in my life.

In a week, I could walk pretty well and even jump an inch in the air and land without falling over. I would put myself at about maybe 50% of my original strength. As of about 3 hours before posting this, I was able to pick up my bass and get all the way through "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden and drive my Miata for the first time in a Month! If I didn't have my door closed my roomates would have heard me weep like a child.

About 2 hours ago I just got back from another doctors appointment. The difference this time is that I drove the Miata. With the top down. In 40 degree weather. With a Santa hat on. I would be lying to you if I told you I didn't make the dreams of the 3 kids who waved at me more enthusiastically then I have EVER seen before. It makes me feel alive again. Maybe it's the increased lung function from quitting smoking, but I'm riding the best high I've ever experienced in my almost 45 years of life on this ball.

A few key takeaway's here folks:

1. Don't ignore your body.
2. Don't put that thing (you know the thing) off any longer. You may not have another choice.
3. Always live in the moment.

I want to give a special shoutout to all the people who helped me in my recovery. I have only been at my current job for 8 months, but my co-workers at Constellation Real Estate Group have been the lynchpin in my recovery. The excellent manager Ross De Jong, crack HR personnel such as Rikki Olson and Eric Ward, and Ulises Arteaga, the technical powerhouse and general know-it-all of our little group all spring to mind. Asad Ullah is our new guy on the team, he did a GREAT job of filling in for me (I'm glad I still have a job). Ryan Singh, my man in Canada, Wasif and Ghulam, my guys in Pakistan, EVERYONE was so supportive and sending me best wishes. This is the first time I feel I work with my family and not my co-workers. I love all you guys.

Moving forward, who knows? Lots of music and spirited driving ahead though! The possibilites are endless. I promise to keep all of you informed on how my progress proceeds. Stay frosty out there!