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I believe my PLS started in 1991. I had problems with wheezing in March so I
went to my primary care doctor Dr. Edinger. My voice began to get hoarse
with shortness of breath. I had a round with the flu and thought that was
the cause of the hoarseness. Dr. Edinger game me a breathing treatment (nebulizer)
and prescribed Prednisone. During the first couple of days I developed a
small node on the sumaxillary gland on the left side of jaw. The node was
hard to the touch but not sore. Dr. Edinger said that it was a reaction to
the Prednisone. He referred me an ENT doctor.
April - 1991
ENT - Dr. Gall performed a larynogoscopy and nothing was found.
Jan. to April 1992
Dr. Linda Stark noticed my
reflexes were a bit sharp and blood work indicated that I had anemia. She
prescribed iron tablets. I still had the hoarseness. Dr. Stark thought that
maybe stomach acids were causing it and told me to take antacids. I also
developed tingling on my right side of my face. She could not say why I had
tingling.
October, 1992
Still frustrated with my voice, I went to my father-in-law's vascular
doctor, Dr. Tiegman. He sent me for thyroid images tests. Had Echograph
Thyroid uptake-test and it showed cysts on the right side. Dr. Tiegman
wanted to wait three months to see if the cysts would be changed. After
three months, there was no change. He then sent me to another ENT doctor,
Dr. Michael Diamond.
October, 1992
Dr. Diamond performed fiberoptic-widely fluctuating vocal quality with
aphonia. I indicated that I had asthma for three years and had been given
presidsone and had gone through allergy injections. He also indicated that I
had extraordinary gag reflex. He was not able to do the nasopharynoscope. I
was given a prescription for Valium and told to come back in a week for a
retest. One week later he was able to do the nasopharynoscope. It showed
there might be a viral neurtis of the laryngeal nerve on the right side of,
and early sign of arthritis of the thyroarytenoid joint or maybe some more
sinister disease. The left side was normal. I had an MRI brain scan at
Bayfront Hospital Novermber, 1992. The scan was normal. Dr. Diamond referred
me to a neurologist at Suncoast Medcial Center, Dr. Scott.
December, 1992
I saw Dr. Scott (neurologist). He performed routine tests on me and had me
walk on toes, heels bend down, etc. He could not find anything wrong.
October, 1993
My voice was continuing to get worse. Finally went to Tampa at USF Medical
Center to Dr. Ridley, ENT. He examined the MRI and indicated that I had
Spasmodic Dystonia and recommended Botox Injections into the vocal cords. I
had vocal test done...a vocal recording. In December, 1993, I received my
first botox injection. The results were wonderful and I was able to talk
without any stress. This shot last until November, 1994.
November, 1994
Dr. Holiday in Tampa, ENT. Dr. Holiday gave me my second botox injection. He
was able to do only one side after eight tries. I could not go on. There was
some success but did not last long.
May, 1995
In May, 1995, I slipped and fell on our ceramic floor. The fall broke my
left wrist in two places. I went to Dr. Davidson. He set my wrist (in a
temporary sling) to see if it would heal and then went on vacation, leaving
another doctor to put the plaster cast on. The cast was put on, but after a
few days, my hand was put into a uncomfortable position. I went back to the
doctor's office and an assistant removed the cast and opened my palm a
little more and put on another plastic cast. Dr. Davidson came back from
vacation and the wrist was x-rayed to see if it was healing. The bone had
shifted so he had to reset the bone and a new cast was put on. He was a
little upset because he said he didn't set the wrist in this position. He
was informed that the original cast was replaced.
During these visits, I began
to notice that my right leg would stiffen up during pain and stress but
would disappear after I calmed down. I didn't think too much about it and
just thought it was all stress induced. After several weeks, the cast was
removed. During physical therapy for the wrist, the leg was getting worse
and also my balance was affected. I decided to see a neurologist.
October, 1995
Dr. Greenwood gave me an EMG. He indicated that I should see someone who was
more knowledgeable in muscle disorders. Finally in January, 1996, I found
Dr. Michael Franklin.
December/January 1995
Dr. Franklin performed an EMG
on all limbs, back, face and tongues. I went to have blood work done to
eliminate any rare diseases or deficiencies. All were negative. A deep
muscle biopsy was done at St. Pete Clinic and results were negative. An MRS
was done and an MRI of brain. A spinal tap.
The recovery from the spinal
tap was terrible. For four days, I remained in bed with nausea and migraine
headaches that I had never experienced. I should have been given a blood
patch. Blood work. MRI of the spine. Heart tests, echocardiograph, doppler,
echo, doppler color, flow vel map, B-12.
The MRI's showed a hot spot on the brain and I was referred to Dr. Busnell
Clarke (brain surgeon). After several months and several other MRI's he
indicated that the hot spot had not grown and he and Dr. Franklin thought it
could be one spot of MS placate or a group of blood vessels. I had to go
back and have another MRI in six months and then one year.
December 6, 1996 - PLS
Diagnosis
I got a second opinion by Dr.
Weiss. They both agreed that it was not ALS but PLS because after one year
my condition had not changed drastically.
February/March 1997
I saw a pulmonary doctor, Dr.
Thacker. He had several tests done PFT Bronchospasm Evaluation. My lungs
showed that they were not working at full capacity but that is because of
PLS. MRI of the brain. Started physical therapy for balance control.
Multiple Sclerosis evaluation with Dr. Dunn. Threw my back out and went to
emergency room. Hearing test. MRI of brain.
January, 1998
Dr. Franklin and Dr. Coundortios give me my third botox injection. Given a
small does because of no records of previous shots.
April, 1998
Given 4th shot at a larger dosage
October, 1998
MRI to update hot spot...no change reported.
April 30, 1999
Botox shot
My present condition has basically stayed the same. I use a four-wheel
walker with hand brakes and the electric scooter for all day events. I get
fatigued if I over do housework or all day outings. I have extreme startle
reflex and brisk reflexes. I drag my right foot and my ankles turn inward
making my feet hurt at the end of the day. Stiffness in the early morning
upon waking up, but as soon as I start moving, I will loosen up. Not much
muscle cramping or fasciculation. Have urine urgency and inappropriate
laughing and crying. I am told by Dr. Franklin that I had a great deal of
strength which is unusual for PLS. I am unable to catch myself if I begin to
fall, but able to get down on the ground and with the help of a chair or
walker, I can get up with little problem.
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