February 4, 2008

I arrived at the West Pavilion building of the Methodist Hospital in Houston at 6:45 A.M., having fasted since midnight. I was checked in and my vitals were taken. After the nurse took blood, I was brought my breakfast. It was a 'mechanical soft' breakfast with everything soft or cut into very small pieces and all the fluids were thickened. After breakfast I had an EMG performed by Dr. Rosenberg. He told me that the results were abnormal and that it looked to him like ALS. Then three medical students and a resident came and gave me a neurological exam and went over my medical history. A few minutes later, Dr. Appel and his team came in. He told me at this point, with what tests are in, it is looking like ALS. But he was hoping something would show up and prove him wrong. And he encouraged me that if it is ALS, so far my symptoms are mild and it doesn't seem to be progressing fast. The man in the room next door is in his early 50's and started having symptoms in July, about the same time as me, and his speech can hardly be understood. I then had lung testing and the NCV. The technician said that I have the same first name as his baby sister. He also said that I am young for the people who come through the unit. The NCV was different this time than the one I had in Tulsa. There were repetitive jolts to my wrist and my deltoids, and the wrists were the worst part. After the NCV, I went back to my room and Dr. Gonzales, the pulmonologist gave me the results of my test. My lungs were strong, my diaphram is weakened, but is not a problem at this time. Everyone else the rest of the day marveled that Dr. Gonzales came on Monday and my results were in. Most people have to wait on Wednesday to see him before they can leave. Then at 4 P.M. I had a spinal tap. Several people said, 'Oh, it's just like having an epidural,' assuming that every women who has children has had an epidural. I guess that's what I get for going natural, but it wasn't very bad. The injections for the local was worse than the spinal needle. But they did have to poke me four times to get enough fluid. Then I had to lie flat on my back for 1 1/2 hours and then could go back to the hotel, but had to lay flat for the rest of the evening.

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