dkcarl62
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2014
- Messages
- 220
- Reason
- DX UMND/PLS
- Diagnosis
- 03/2015
- Country
- US
- State
- mi
- City
- Novi
Hi all,
I'm new to the group and "most likely" (neuros best guess) have PLS. Last year at this time I was still working full time. I was going to the gym on my lunch hour. My office was on the second floor so I was going up and down a flight of stairs twice a day. I was walking around the office and the house without assistance. Now, a year later, I can't walk anywhere without my walker. I always have to hold onto to something to move, even shift my weight. My balance sucks and I've had 4 falls over the last year. My stiffness is increasing. My breathing gets "weird" a almost like my diaphragm is spazzing. I have an increased startle response. I have to choke back an emotional response for little things in life that wouldn't have caused a response in the past. Baclofen dosage has quadrupled over the last year. I can't walk very far without fatiguing and having to sit and rest. I can't cook very well anymore, my hand doesn't grasp a knife and I'm losing fine motor control of my fingers. I'm seeing a personal trainer and can still manage a few reps on the leg press machine, but overall the decline seems huge to me.
I am purchasing a Go Go scooter and will give up driving this winter and use senior citizen transportation. Reassess in the spring if I will ever drive again. Can I expect to continue to progress at this rate? I need to save money for a motorized wheelchair and home care for next year if I keep declining at this speed.
Thanks for your input.
Debbie
I'm new to the group and "most likely" (neuros best guess) have PLS. Last year at this time I was still working full time. I was going to the gym on my lunch hour. My office was on the second floor so I was going up and down a flight of stairs twice a day. I was walking around the office and the house without assistance. Now, a year later, I can't walk anywhere without my walker. I always have to hold onto to something to move, even shift my weight. My balance sucks and I've had 4 falls over the last year. My stiffness is increasing. My breathing gets "weird" a almost like my diaphragm is spazzing. I have an increased startle response. I have to choke back an emotional response for little things in life that wouldn't have caused a response in the past. Baclofen dosage has quadrupled over the last year. I can't walk very far without fatiguing and having to sit and rest. I can't cook very well anymore, my hand doesn't grasp a knife and I'm losing fine motor control of my fingers. I'm seeing a personal trainer and can still manage a few reps on the leg press machine, but overall the decline seems huge to me.
I am purchasing a Go Go scooter and will give up driving this winter and use senior citizen transportation. Reassess in the spring if I will ever drive again. Can I expect to continue to progress at this rate? I need to save money for a motorized wheelchair and home care for next year if I keep declining at this speed.
Thanks for your input.
Debbie