Adjusting to diagnosis
Moderator: gloria
Adjusting to diagnosis
Hello. My name is Patricia. I am newly diagnosed as of ten days ago. Started four months ago with unsteady gait and loss of balance. Saw my neurologist who first ordered physical therapy for six weeks. I flunked that badly. Then we went to blood tests which would explain these symptoms. Those are negative. I am by then walking with a cane. Next came the spinal tap to rule out multiple sclerosis...this too was negative. Then my neurologist did research for my symptoms and told me I had Orthostatic tremors. My son did a lot of reach on this and found this forum. I'm very grateful to Jane V. Who I emailed , who offered her phone number. WWWWe had a very good conversation yesterday. Mornings are the worst for me. Very wobbly tremors. As evening approaches it seems to improve some. I have read that many of you are using wheel chairs or scooters. I'm doing well with cane so far. I have my groceries delivered which is great help. I live alone. Grown children living out of state are very supportive. Have had one fall at home and very fearful of it happening again. Driving a car still scares me , although the doctor has said it is fine. I am 65. Retired as Nurse Practioner last year. I live in Milford , CT which is very close to New Haven. Anyone with helpful hints , I' love to here from you. Thank you for your support. Patricia Milford , Ct
Re: Adjusting to diagnosis
Hi Patricia....what a good name for a thread ....Adjusting to diagnosis !..... it really does take some ajusting too , for me acceptance was the big thing , for a while there I thought OT would go away...I would wake up one day and all would be back to so called normal ..
Then there was going through a sort of grief , of how life use to be ,before OT........and that things will never be like that again ......Now I believe I have sorted all that in my head, ..... now am not enjoying [as such ] but finding the challages of OT in my daily life just that and often congratulate myself when I do achieve something with little interferance from OT.......this is usually because there has been alot of pre planning , so guess it has interfered ?
Am learning to say NO to things and not feel guilty ... that is quite liberating , after years of doing many things because I felt duty bound ,
feel normal driving , [though remember much cramp in pre diagnose days] and when in a pool , use a cane when ever out , often dont need it as such , but it gives other people arround a clue and when my tremors do trigger I have my trusted cane at the ready .
do read up everyone elses threads ...I gleam so much from them ...also good to know there is others out there who understand .................best wishes ...take care ....Didi NZ
Then there was going through a sort of grief , of how life use to be ,before OT........and that things will never be like that again ......Now I believe I have sorted all that in my head, ..... now am not enjoying [as such ] but finding the challages of OT in my daily life just that and often congratulate myself when I do achieve something with little interferance from OT.......this is usually because there has been alot of pre planning , so guess it has interfered ?
Am learning to say NO to things and not feel guilty ... that is quite liberating , after years of doing many things because I felt duty bound ,
feel normal driving , [though remember much cramp in pre diagnose days] and when in a pool , use a cane when ever out , often dont need it as such , but it gives other people arround a clue and when my tremors do trigger I have my trusted cane at the ready .
do read up everyone elses threads ...I gleam so much from them ...also good to know there is others out there who understand .................best wishes ...take care ....Didi NZ