My Life turned upside down for me yesterday..

[matt&jakesmom]

About 2 weeks ago now I felt a twinge in my neck nothing painful just a weird feeling. Three days later I was getting pins and needles sensation down my right shoulder,arm and fingers. Went to doctor last Tuesday who ran exrays and noticed C 5 and 6 were indifferent. Went for nerve test and MRI. Received results yesterday and not good. I have a herniated disc on C 5 and 6 which is what is causing the tingles and numbness, which has gotten better. I have it now only in my right hand and fingers. According to the rest of the report C 2 is showing a neoplasm (tumor). Yes it caused panic for me and thank god my DH was with me. My doctor is acting quickly on this since he wants to find out exactly what it is. I go for another MRI Tuesday this time on my head and then my spine. He also wants a spinal tap done. I wasn't too keen on that but I have to have it in order to rule out other things. He kept asking me if there was a case history of MS in the family. There is none. All family has on either side is arthritis.

We have a trip planned for WDW the end of August and I pray to God that I'll be fine so we can go. Of course believe it or not this is the first time I did not take travel insurance for the trip or even the airline tickets.

I am not going to lie-I am scared. I am 39 and have a husband and 2 DS's ages 11 & 9 who need me. I am I may be jumping the gun since we don't have all the facts as of yet, but the part we do is scary for me.

Please keep me in your thoughts. I will keep you all updated as I know more.

Thanks. Tamra

[safetymom]

I will keep you in my prayers. Dealing with the unknown and doctors can be scary. Keep posting here, it helps.

[annie1995]

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers:hug:

[mommasita]

Prayers said :grouphug:

[CarolAnnC]

Hang in there and I am hoping that you will get to go on your WDW trip. Having fractured my L5 vertebrae this past winter after a fall on ice, I sympathize with your uncertainty. Hopefully, the herniation may be the worst of it, instead of a tumor. I will pray that is the case for you..

You are young and strong, with a great will to recuperate so keep the faith. Let us know how your appts go...hugs..

[frdeb1999]

You'll be in my thoughts and prayers. :hug:

[zalansky]

Tamra - I am the same age as you and can't imagine what you're feeling right now, with two kids. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that there is nothing seriously wrong and that you can heal quickly. Please keep us posted.
Hug & much love to you!

[kimis]

I will pray for you.

I know exactly what you are going through. I had the same symptoms a couple of years ago. I let them go. Then on this past Christmas day the symptoms came full force. I had tingling in my feet, legs, arms and hands. My hands were numb as well as my face. I had severe pain (I have a high tolerence for pain) in my thighs. I was dropping everything I picked up. I had a couple of episodes were I couldn't move my hands and one foot. I thought I was having strokes.

I finally went to my gp who thought I had MS.
He ordered a a brain MRI which I toke to the neurologist. She said it could be MS, lupus, scleraderma or a few other things. She ordered a thoric and spinal MRI. She also ordered a lot of blood work.

The tests came back that I had herniated C5 and C6 which pushed into the spinal cord. It actually moved my spinal cord. Because I had waited to long the only fix was surgery. The neruologist isn't ruling out the other diseases until I have my neck fixed. By the way i also had a problem with C2.

I met with a neurosurgeon (that was scarey) who I found out was one of the best. He said surgery was needed and would probably make a huge difference but he left it up to me. I had the surgery and immediately several of the symptoms left. The dr said it could take a few months for the rest of the symptoms to cease. I wish I would have had it fixed a long time ago.
I am praying that all the symptoms go away because if they don't than it I could still have one of the other diseases. I am thinking positive and i feel great.

Good luck. I am praying for you.

Oh yeah I forgot to mention. WHen I talked to the neurosurgeon the first time I asked him about the rides at disney because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to ride them anymore. He said in six months i could ride them but I will use some discretion. I am so glad that I can still walk (it was getting pretty bad before my surgery), enjoy my family and ride the rides I love at disney. I have always told my family whenever they would go through something "it can always be worse". That is so true it can always be worse.

Take it one visit at a time and one day at a time. Know that others are praying for you.

[matt&jakesmom]

Just an Update. I did have the second MRI done on my brain and the rest of my spine today. I have a doctors appt. scheduled for Monday. I will keep you all informed.

THANK YOU for all your thoughts and prayers for myself and my family.

Tamra

[Angel16]

You are in my prayers and thoughts. :grouphug:

[zalansky]

Continued thoughts and prayers for you Tamra. Hang in there. :grouphug:

[Punchy]

Tamra, I am sorry you are going through this.

I have MS myself and am all to familiar with the fear and uncertainty.
I will say however that your scans do not sound like typical MS to me. If they found abnormalities and a small tumor in your spine, I wonder why the doctor still wants to test for MS? MS manifests as small lesions in white matter of the brain and the spinal cord - no tumors.

I know it is difficult but please try not to despair. It could be so many things and the odds are in your favor that it isn't anything serious.

[matt&jakesmom]

Punchy: Thanks for your thoughts. I think my doctor is testing everything so he can start ruling things out. I have not heard back from him in regards to the blood work taken last Thursday nor about the MRI done on Tuesday. Friends keep telling me that is good news because if something would have shown up in the blood work or something more serious on the MRI, I should have gotten a call from my doctor. I hope that is true. I go Monday at 1:00 to find out the rest of the results.

My family and I have have been talking about our upcoming trip to WDW on the 25th, so it's helping to keep me distracted. Today I planned on making the "do not forget to bring" list.

Tamra

[matt&jakesmom]

Angel16 and zalansky: Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. My family and I do appreciate it. Just a few more days and hopefully I'll know some more information. Funny thing is I feel great. No pain or nothing. My tingling in my right arm and shoulder have been gone for over a week now. I just have some slight numbness left in my fingertips.

Tamra

[Angel16]

Tamra, :goodvibes Thank you for keeping us posted, you are so sweet. We all were put on this earth to help one another. :flower3: Try to keep your thoughts on Disney, your family and Praising God. (Not necessarily in that order :goodvibes ) I have been through 4 very major scares and surgeries with my DH. The fact the doctors have not contacted you in indeed a good thing. When there was a problem with my DH scans or tests they ALWAYS called us ASAP. I am so very glad to hear that you do not have any pain and your symptoms have left. You and your family are in our prayers. :hug:

Keep planning that great trip for August 25th :cheer2: :yay: Woo Hoo

Have a great week end.

Angel16

[Mrs. Pookie]

Sweetie, I will keep you in my prayers and I hope you hear good news from the doctor. Just keep thinking about your trip whenever you feel upset!:wizard:

[Rustysmom]

I hope you get good news.

[kimis]

Hi Tamra I hoping good thoughts for you today. Sending lots of prayers and pixie dust.

[matt&jakesmom]

Thanks so much for all your thoughts. I will be leaving work shortly to meet DH at doctor's to get the results of the blood work and MRI. I will let you all know later.

Tamra

[Puccaw]

Thoughts and prayers to you and your family

[Mackey Mouse]

Tamra, please know that we are thinking of you today and hopefully will have news that is not too difficult to handle... take care and let us know, please.

[matt&jakesmom]

Hello to all my family of Diser's:

Last weeks MRI of brain and rest of spinal came back normal. That sure was GREAT news!!! However, we still don't know what is on C2 yet. The blood work came back with low Iron, thryroid is off, and an elevated antibody. He was asking if I had a rash anywhere etc. , he is trying to rule out Lupus. More blood was taken, I had an EKG and chest xrays. My next step is now the neurologist. I go on September 8 at 9 a.m. The doctor will have handed him all the tests that we have done and then it's up to him on how he wants to handle from there.

The other good news was that I am allowed to go on a plane and head to Disney on the 25th. Of course I have to watch rides on because he doesn't want me on anything that is going to whip me around. I don't go on those anyway so I am good.

Thank you to all of you who have kept me in their prayers. God Bless to all of you and your family.

I will continue to keep you all informed when I know more information at a later date.

Tamra

[kimis]

Tamra great news! I thought you were already going to a neurologist. I am glad you are going to one only because that is their speciality. We will keep you in our prayers. HAve a great time at Disney!!!!

[annie1995]

That is terrific news!!! Still keeping you in my prayers!!!

[zalansky]

WONDERFUL news, enjoy that trip! :cool1:

[Mackey Mouse]

Tamra....good news.. have a great trip..

Just one thought and only because I am going through this... did they check for shingles? For some reason when you said elevated antibodies that is what the doctor said to me yesterday....those words.. I have elevated antibodies. I did have the rash, probably the reason he asked you, but you can get internal ones too and although people think it is an age thing, you can get them at any age. Chicken pox is around now and when you have had chicken pox before as an adult when you come in contact with chicken pox or are run down, you can get shingles.. Off my shingled soapbox, this is for everyone here as well as Tamra.

Also, how off was your thyroid, enough to take thyroid medication because if you need that, you should be taking it.. Another one of my things that I tend to harp on as that little thyroid regulates everything in your body and if it is off it can cause headaches, leg aches etc..

Anyway, take your time and smell the roses during your trip...

[kimis]

Tamra I agree with Mackey Mouse. I have also had shingles and I forgot about the antibodies. I have also had two blood transfusions that the dr told me could cause higher or more antibodies.
I take synthryroid for my thyroid. When forever what reason I forget a couple of days I can sure tell. I hope the dr put you on meds if your thyroid is off. Good thoughts Mackey mouse.

[matt&jakesmom]

Macky Mouse and Kimis: I am going to rule out the shingles myself. I have no rash and no pain, fever, etc. or any symptons that would be shingles. Thanks for your thoughts on all of this. I think my doctor is just as stumped as us and is trying still to weed thru it all by process of elimination.

As for the thyroid. I have been taking thyroid medication for about 9 years now. I can't remember now how off it was. More blood was taken to test for that as well.

At some point yesterday's discussion has become somewhat of a blur. There was so much information being told to my DH and I as you can imagine. I was happy for the good news that the brain and rest of spine was good. Today, however, is a different day. I woke up thinking "yeah all is good but we still don't know what the spot is on C2" My DH and I talked about it and he is all positive that all is good and will continue to be good. My boss does have past medical background. He read the latest MRI report and said that this was good news and if it was more serious I would be going to the neurologist a lot sooner. He told me to go and have a good cry and let it all out. He said that for 2 weeks I have been trying to be strong for the family and myself and now with the good news from yesterday my body is wanting a release. He does have a point.

Thanks again to all who have been thinking of me and continue to do so. Thanks also for listening to me. This does help in writing all this down. Just another form of getting it out.

Tamra

[matt&jakesmom]

That is terrific news!!! Still keeping you in my prayers!!!

Thanks for your continued prayers. I see you you and the family will be in disney on the 29th. Where are you staying at? We will be there from the 25th to the 1st and staying at POFQ.

Tamra

[kimis]

Hi Tamra!

I was wondering how you are doing? Have you gone on your trip yet? I hope if you did you have an awesome time (I know you did). If you didn't go yet than I know you will have a great time. WOW that is profound. LOL
Just thinking about you and keeping you in my prayers!

[matt&jakesmom]

Kimis: Thanks so much for keeping me in your thoughts. I did end up pushing up the neuro appt and had it before I left for vacation. I had the appt. moved up from the 8th because all the blood work was coming back okay. He looked at the disc of the MRI and said that the “thing” on C2 is a lesion-white matter, it is not a mass or a tumor. The best news I could have had. He did some resistance testing with me and I apparently passed. He said that that the numbness and pins and needles sensation was caused by C2. I do go back for another MRI in mid October and he said that the lesion will be smaller than the 1st MRI. I asked how he would know that and he said because I have had no other symptoms. I guess we will wait and see. If it is the same size or bigger he will then do the spinal tap. He kept saying I was fine and to go enjoy my trip. I am still somewhat nervous even with the great news. I think I will feel better after October when it shows that it is smaller and is healing.

We did just come back from the "world" last night and I am back at work. We had a great time. All was good. I did meet 2 other diser's from the boards when we shared the Illuminations and met another in the hottub at the resort. Wonderful people!

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Tamra

[HappyDisneyMemories]

Tamra, I'm late coming to your thread but glad to see you had a great trip and the medical issues are looking better!!