 |
 |
CHARLIE WROTE: >JAY, > >I have swallowed the can worms hook line and can. > >What did you claim was disabling you? Did you have a diagnosis when you >went into the exam or just symptoms? You reported that they sent you to >a psychologist. Was there any claim of any other disorder in addition >to or instead of PD? > >It sounds like there is some important information missing. Were you >previously diagnosed with a disabling condition of any kind? You baited >the hook with the issue of why you had not sought help- now reel me in. >Can you fill us in?? > >Charlie > >CHARLES T. MEYER, M.D. >Middleton, WI >[log in to unmask] Charlie, Short of composing my autobiography, I will attempt to illuminate the facts as to what transpired. To impart a convincing rationale for same is where the challange lies. First, a little history is in order. My first symptom appeared in the Fall of 1980. I remember this date because I had just opened a consulting business in Honolulu. Because I was a faster typist than my secretary, I would often just "bang" things out instead of trying to explain what I needed. Ever so slightly, I noticed a loss of dexterity in my right hand when typing. I would assume, at least for the majority of souls, a gradual loss of dexterity would be perplexing at minimum. However, not so for me. Why? Well, it's quite simple to explain. Also that same Fall of 1980, I was "introduced" to a lady friends Maytag clothes dryer rather abruptly! (you know, the dependability people) As I was reaching over the dryer in an attempt to recover an article of clothing that had fallen behind it, I became "one" with this machine as 220 volts entered via my left arm and exited out the top of my right foot. Many people claim to experience the "tunnel" with white lights etc. as part of their near-death experience. Not me, however, I had July 4th in September. A personal "light show" with compliments from Maytag! I was "stuck" to the dryer for approximately 10 to 15 seconds while my brain produced this light show in protest. I was finally thrown off to join the living once again. The only tunnel that I ever experienced as a result of that happening was the inside of a CT Scan. Coincidence or cause? Is there life on other planets? As years progressed, so did my symptoms. It never occured to me that my symptoms may be the manifestation of a diseased brain. Up until 1993, my symptoms were confined to my right side/upper torso. The progrssion was so slow that I just learned to compensate with my left side. But now the symptoms were resembling a palsy. If this wasn't caused by the Maytag Man, maybe when I flipped my 280Z in 1977 or when I fell 100+ ft. on the Oregon coast back in 1978. Chiropractic? Acute stress? Because I never considered the possibility of disease verses injury, drug therapy was never a conscious option. Early in 1995, almost overnight, I began to drag my right leg, gait problems, equilibrium, slower than slow, drooling, more depression, fatigue, etc., etc. All these additional symptoms became part of my life within a six month period. By this time I had sufficient debilitating manifestations of Mr. PD that I no longer could function adequately in making money so I stopped! Because of the very limited knowledge I had of Parkinsons, it became suspect but not yet obvious to me. At that time, I still had not seen a physician partly because I no longer had insurance as well as being apprehensive and choosing denial/avoidance over a formal diagnosis. During the next couple of months and 100+ hours of learning nearly everything I could about Parkinsons, I SELF-DIAGNOSED being totally confident of having the disease or some atypical symptomatic variation of same. Also early in 1995, I applied to SS for disability. After having gone through 80% of the application process, my moderate depression went to the severe mode. I just dropped the ball and SS rejected me on that basis. During the Spring of 1996, I re-applied to SS going through exactly the same process as in 1995. At this point, I still had not seen any physician. In October of 1996, my SSDI was approved immediately upon their receipt of my examination results. On my SSDI application, I stated that I was disabled from symptoms of Parkinsons Disease. At the time that I went in for my medical examination for SS, I had not been previously diagnosed. I reason that I was sent to a psychologist was because I listed depression which SS differentiates from other physiological manifestations. Other than being diagnosed as having moderate depression by a psychiatrist in 1992, I have never had any disabling conditions. FYI-Desipramine & Klonopin (take me up then bring me down) I don't know Charlie, you tell me! Jay Pray for a cure & each other!