On Sunday, November 5, 2006 - a beautiful day when I went to church, it was as if I
suddenly burst into a downpour. My windshield was flooded, my vision blurred
so bad that the road and traffic are subtle. I slowly turned and
made it at home. Blur stopped the same day, but I had a double vision, and I was surprised
"What was it all about?"
On Monday morning, on my 2 mile walk (another clear day), I looked at the full moon
settling in the western sky and clearly seeing the two moons. (2 moons apart) and my right
eyelids were devastated. When I got home, I called the cardiologist to report it, and Dr. Estes
later he called me and told me: "Come here right now."
At first glance, when I arrived there, he said: “You look like you had a blow,” and
Immediately ordered an ECG. ECG did not indicate a stroke, so he ordered an MRI
which I had on that day. The MRI did not indicate either one or the other, so he
see neuropathologist (Dr. Ken Jordan), but the appointment has not been made for 2 weeks.
The next morning I went in to tell my boss (Rosie) in CRYROP that I probably
don't work for a while, and since we spoke, my speech completely failed. she panicked
and called an ambulance. They rushed to Loma Linda University Medical Center
in Loma Linda.
LLUMC
There was a very quick response to accept me there. I do not think that diagnostic testing in
ambulance room could be better. I was impressed with them every step. my
the bed had buzzing activity. Dozens of doctors, nurses, assistants, therapists and
technicians. Before it was over, I had blood samples, X-rays, I.V,
scan and check vital organs. Then there were dozens of questions that I answered
clipboard with a pencil, because I could not speak.
One test was the injection (IV) of a mixture of saline and masstinone, which
had to fix a falling eyelid. This did not happen for long, and this is the cave of their key.
They made me feel special.
When it was final, they concluded that it was “Myasthenia Gravis” and boldly
phone # neurologist to call to plan a recovery program. Then they let me go.
By now, my speech will come and go, and my swallowing becomes more difficult.
I called the number and got a record saying that they will be back in 48 hours.
My situation was close to this conclusion: my speech, swallowing and sight were all
seriously disturbed. I could not cope with the long-awaited wait and decided to wait 1 1/2 weeks
staying to see Dr. Jordan would probably be the best choice.
Redlands Community Hospital
The next day there was another attack. I was driven by an ambulance at the Redlands Community.
Hospital. There I waited about 20 minutes before I was dragged to the station. Then
a male nurse recorded myitals and prepared me for an IV. I waited a long time and
ask all the nurses or assistants who passed by when help arrived, and they said “soon.”
the feeling that they thought I was kind of a "nut"
It seems I waited about two hours before I was told that I had conjunctivitis (Pink Eye), and I was
will be released. I didn't skate, I could hardly speak, it was hard for me to swallow, and I had
very little money for me, but they called a taxi and told me to go, Redlands Community
The hospital reminded me of a huge abandoned warehouse, with a few speculators lashing it
for possible use.
Back to SBMG
As the day progressed, my condition worsened, and my friends across the street from my
the house came to my rescue. They took me to the San Bernardino Medical Group to see my
Cardiologist. (Dr. Estes). When he saw my condition, he settled down with my Primary
A doctor (Dr. Avan) to take me to St. Bernardine hospital for treatment.
Dr. Avan appointed Mestinon (as directed by the neurology department) to partially contain it.
and I was released. At that time, my speech was slurred, my eye was weakened, and my
The swallowing was limited, but I managed to get through. It was a long wait for my appointed day with
Dr. Jordan November 27, 2006.
My three main areas of concern are swallowing, speech and vision, and Mestinon
partially restored functions in these areas during this wait, which was much better
than to be completely dysfunctional, and it was during this period that I really became
purchased with the help of "Monster". It never, never let me forget that it was controlled.
Ingestion: Often it took two or three or more requests to swallow a little saliva.
(because I could not spit), and in other cases it might be easier. Then I discovered that “Boost
Plus ", very tasty, nutritious and easy to swallow food.
Couple of weeks.
Speech: From time to time I started speaking clearly and in the middle of a sentence,
then my speech will be cut off again, and I will need to finish with a pencil, paper and
Clipboard. I wore them with me always and had a stack of notes that I wrote on
their.
Vision: Before the attack, I spent hours on the computer every day. I have developed 3 websites
and used the Internet to gather information for various educational projects, but for 3 or 4
A few weeks after the attack, I didn’t turn on the computer at all. There was no point I could not see
The monitor is clear enough, and I am having trouble concentrating on even the simplest projects. I had
with great difficulty controlling one eye, but there were some troubles that I could not avoid,
no one else could do this:
Go to the store. The only thing I need is “Boost Plus”, soups, paper towels,
fabrics and bathroom items, but they were necessary.
Post office - I still used the post office for all my & # 39; mail.
Pharmacy for prescriptions and other support items for CVS pharmacies have proven
to be what they claimed was in their television commercials, and I relied on them a lot.
So I put the patch on top of my right eye, slipped on a pair of sunglasses, and drove very, very
careful to my appointments.
The rest of the time I stayed attached as much as possible. My 15 year old son and his
Mom used to come to me once a week, but I felt just like a freak I felt like
uncomfortable with them, as with a stranger.
I also discovered something else, I had so much gas that I always felt
maybe that's why I never felt hungry, although I ate very little. (I lost 21
pounds in 40 days). I never understood how precious these vile little belching are.
until I could make it a few weeks. The therapist at the hospital told me to try
carbonated drink, so one day I made and VIOILA! I had to hurry to the bathroom and get rid of
monthly gas supply - from both ends. It was heavenly, and my appetite returned.
And then came the big day - my appointment with Dr. Jordan. I expected a lot and got a lot
more than i expected.
November 27, 2006- Dr. Jordan
I was taken by my secretary to the room where Dr. Jordan met me. He was very
busy man. I waited about 15 minutes, then he stuck his head in the door and said that he
had an emergency and will soon be with me. About ten minutes later he stuck his head
at the door again and said that he has another emergency and it will be some more
minutes, and he added: “But I know what your problem is, and we will fix it.”
I said, "Well, take care of your emergency."
Finally, he came with a clipboard and a stack of papers (all my accumulated
tests). It was obvious that he very well analyzed all the collected test data.
He began with "The consensus is that you have Myasthenia Gravis & # 39; and I tend to agree
but we must first admit you to St. Louis Bernardines Hospital for further diagnostic testing.
It will take six or seven days. You will receive an IV intravenous immune globulin
within 5 days to reduce the regulation of anti-bodies against ACHR, and the introduction
Anti-idiotype Anti-body "(All, to improve the effects of drugs that follow).
St Bernadinsk hospital diagnostic testing:
He recognized me that day, and testing began. Diagnostic testing in st. John. Bernardine
should be ranked first. It was the accuracy, and the plan of Dr. Jordans. There was a lot of blood
samples, multiple x-rays, ECG, Catscan and Sonogram, and then my doctor wanted
to perform iodine scanning. I had many years ago to find a kidney stone, and this
near tore me. I thought this was the end. A few years later I visited a friend in
a hospital that was in a room with an elderly gentleman who conducted an annual checkup.
He had just returned from iodine research, and his doctor told him that he was in shape.
He was very talkative and cheerful, and when we talked, he began to squirm and gasp.
He had a massive heart attack. I have always believed that the study of iodine caused
It. I was scared to think about having it, but I told Dr. Jordan that if I needed it, I would do it.
He decided that he could do the same with an MRI, and I was pleased with that.
About the second day in the hospital I was the sickest thing I could ever remember
my whole life, and these were not my commands. I wrote 3 doctors. A note telling them how
I appreciated what they were doing, but I did not tell them that I was losing hope.
the monster literally had a shot, and he tightened it. I wrote 15
year old son and his mother. A note telling them how to handle their scarce estate and
then said to God: “If you want me to make the transition now, I am ready.” And I calmed down.
It must have been around the same time that the drugs were kicked out, because the next day
I began to receive new hope, and from that moment I thank God for the progress that has been
and testing continued.
7th the day the testing was over and they let me go home. Tests were carried out
He proved that I had an Acute Myasthenia Gravis, and a recovery plan was prepared. I
will spend it at home.
Then I messed up - great time ,
There were periods of time when, without provocation, I was beginning to make me drool.
When this happens, my upper denture will disappear and fall. I never wanted to be
so to avoid this, I bought a popular glue brand to keep it in
a place. This brand has helped millions of people look and feel better over the years, so
my subsequent problem was not the product, but my misuse of the product. Two or three
Once a day I will need to add it to my denture to keep it in place. What i don't understand
was that part of it was blurry and covered the inner lining of my throat and because of
constant need to swallow. (My tongue hung so far that it touched my
tongue, and it caused the feeling that there is something to swallow. then
swallowing made the dissolved glue penetrate and cover the lining of my throat. This is true
bad that I could not swallow. When I realized what was happening, I switched
toilet chair and tried to push it out. Pink substance oozed out during the first 5 minutes
(adhesive) and phlegm and mucus spilled out over the next 15 minutes. Did not have
vomiting. By that time my throat was raw and swollen, and the subsequent attack was
grotesque. My mouth opened wide, I could not close it. My tongue is very hard and
paralyzed. I borrowed heavily and could not spit it out or swallow it. I had to fill the paper
towels in my mouth to absorb saliva.This lasted about 5 or 6 minutes and then
subsided.
I walked across the street and asked my neighbor (writing on the clipboard) to go to
my place and call my doctor. My doctor called quickly and told me to meet him in ST.
Bernadins. There they immediately wave me two shots, one on
reduce the swelling of the throat, and the other is a medicine that I usually took orally, but
now could not. Then he told me to sit down and wait until I could swallow the water. In about an hour i
could swallow the water, so my doctor was called. He came quickly.
The doctor recommended that I be placed in a convalescent hospital until I could
manage independently.
Conv. Hospital:
I will not mention the name of the hospital because it is a dark chapter in all my
but I will say this:
Every day when I was there, I became weaker and more depressed.
I did not get a single three-hour period of rest or sleep while I was there.
On the night shift, the staff had many “canoes” (staff), but a critical shortage.
(direction). For the staff, it sounded like “Happy Hour” lasted all night.
Only one funny incident happened 7 days when I was there:
One evening a rather attractive nurse came up to my bed with a stethoscope and
asked: "Are you Gerald Schroeder?" I said yes. "She said," I am your nurse, and I
here to take your vitality. "I said," Good. "Then she asked," Are you going to the bathroom? "
I said yes. ”She pulled a notebook out of her pocket, wrote“ Yes ”and left.
(End of life statistical verification). It was like how the whole operation went.
7th The day I had a meeting with Dr. Jordan. I asked him to free me from
conclusion I told him that I could do much better myself, and he agreed. He released
me that day It was the 13th. December I got home around 4:30 PM The first 4 pm
home I slept 10 1/2 hours. Interrupted only to take my dose. It was so quiet that it was
heavenly I could quickly sleep somewhere, wherever I lowered my head. I was all alone for a while
be and love him. The positive changes since that time have been dramatic. (Prednisone had
was added to my medications).
Christmas
1 2 days after my release from the hospital, it was Christmas. What a glorious day! I
returned to the planet, I felt whole again. I could sip (through a straw), I could
spit, chew, swallow, watch 2 o'clock news plus “Danger” without sharing vision or
Drops of eyelids, and I could read my email without glasses. I was alone most of the day and
not at all against. All the new gifts I received from God made him one of the best
Christmas.
December 26, 2006
I I had my second post-hospital appointment with Dr. Jordan. He was pleased with our
results, and he had good news. He said that after six months of treatment with MG
usually goes into remission and that doses can be reduced. (I originally
it was said that it would take 6-8 months to gain control).
I feel right at this moment (56 days after the first attack) that I am 2/3 of the way
general recovery.
I have a wonderful team of 4 on my side, my primary doctor, my cardiologist,
my neurologist and god.
The progress I am making now is predictable and sustainable. I expect that
(of course, I wish God), and I hope that I can help encourage and inspire
others who may face similar crises in their lives.
I
