Myasthenia Gravis

Yesterday I had two doctors' appointments -- a follow-up with Dr. Witham, the surgeon who did my diskectomy, and a consultation with Dr. Collea, a high-risk ob-gyn at Georgetown to whom I was referred by my ob-gyn. The surgeon said that, with respect to those symptoms I have that are related to my spinal cord injury, he would have liked to see more improvement. He sees three possibilities: (1) it might simply take longer for the injury to heal -- he said it can take up to one year sometimes; (2) some of it might never heal -- especially numbness in the hand; or (3) the surgery did not sufficiently reduce the pressure on my spinal cord, and additional surgery might be needed to continue my recovery. Another MRI would be needed in order to determine if the spinal cord is still under pressure. D and I are currently of the opinion that we should forego another MRI until the baby is born. Even if additional spine surgery is needed, we would not do it until then, anyway, now that I am out of imminent danger. So, our current plan is to wait and see a while longer -- and hope for continued healing. The good news? My left tricep is stronger. :)

The obstetrician had a couple of recommendations. First, he strongly suggested (as in, beat me over the head with it) that I not continue my efforts to wean myself away from using the walker (which he kept calling a "stroller" - kinda funny). He said that to do so is very dangerous, and that especially as the baby gets bigger and my balance is thrown further off, it will become even more so. He said that eventually I might even want to use a wheelchair any time I'm outside the house. He also said I must be very careful on the stairs. Finally, he said that I most likely would not have the strength or stamina for labor and therefore he would recommend a planned C-section.

In other words, Dr. Collea was full of information, but he was not overly insightful about how his pronouncements might affect me psychologically. I'm still processing what he had to say-- i was pretty surprised. I hadn't even considered the possibility of a C-section, for example, and I was disappointed at the thought that somebody might cut me open again. Sigh. I decided, in the end, that it's a long time til delivery, so I won't worry about that yet.

So, myasthenia gravis -- is that what I have? There is very good information, if you're interested, at the web site of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, www.myasthenia.org. Again, I don't seem to have any intuition about it. It certainly seems to explain my double vision -- and maybe my walking -- but why isn't the mestinon helping? Dr. Collea, the obstetrician, said something that I found oddly comforting. He said, "You know, whatever is wrong with you -- it's either going to go away, or, if it's something serious, it will manifest itself such that everyone will know what it is and how to treat it. You won't be in this undiagnose-able limbo forever."

Naomi and Ruth

I keep thinking about Naomi and Ruth, the Biblical standard of mother-in-law relationships. What a powerful example. I really lucked out in the in-law arena, but would I follow Dottie anywhere if David and Jim were both gone? I think I would, actually. Or if not follow, at least team up for support. Your people shall be my people.

There's Cockfighting on TV There!

Well, folks, here I am in New Market, MD, at the home of Jim and Dottie. I managed to find a nice girl to cat-sit for Oscar at home, so although I miss him at least I'm not worried about him. We've set up a stool and hand-held showerhead here, AND Jim had another walker left over from back surgery he had a few years ago, so I have a walker at the top of the stairs and another at the bottom, which greatly increases my mobility and independence. I've been eating like a (pregnant) queen -- Dottie is a great cook -- and aside from replays of fruitless discussions about childcare options for the new baby, I think I am going to be completely comfortable here. [These discussions -- a generous term for lectures which boil down to Dottie's strong dislike for day care centers and her preference that I stay home -- are fruitless not because I disagree with her, but because I have to make this decision with my husband, not with his mother, and his opinions are very different.]

I've been feeling pretty strong lately; I still walk in that stumbly, cripply way that one associates with MS (or MG, I guess), but I feel less weak in the leg muscles. One unfortunate new thing is a powerful headache I've had off and on for three days. I thought I was suffering caffeine withdrawal because I'd been allowing myself sweet tea, but now I'm not so sure. It actually woke me up in the middle of the night -- that's a pretty serious headache.

Dave has phoned a couple of times from Manila. (I don't know if I mentioned here that the CEO and COO added Manila to his trip -- since he'd ''be in the area.'') E*Trade set up a VOIP for his computer, so he can call me (or I, him) anywhere around the world and it doesn't cost any more than calling to or from his office in Arlington. It works very well -- clear reception, etc. The only down side is a slight time-delay, maybe 1 or 2 seconds, but that just makes us feel like Katie Couric and Matt Lauer. It is very good to talk to him -- makes me feel like I'm with him. Lord, am I always going to be this way about his long business trips? I hope not, because I feel a bit ridiculous. I'm chalking it up to a combination of pregnancy emotions and recuperation vulnerability. And with any luck, those two factors will never combine in my life again.