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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Wednesday, September 01, 2004 - 9:28 am
My big brother is in the hospital after having a very severe headache Saturday as well as experiencing weakness and tingling in his body from his elbows-to-hands and his hips-to-knees. He saw his regular doctor Monday afternoon. By yesterday the weakness had become very pronounced. He was walking very strangely, leaning to one side, and he had trouble writing. His index finger would droop if he held his hand up and he couldn't click the top of a ballpoint pen. It was on both sides but was more noticable on the left. A neurologist saw him about 11PM last night and concurred with his regular doc that it was probably a virus. His cat scan does not indicate a stroke nor do his symptoms match MS, Guillame-Barre or other such diseases. He feels better today and the dexterity in his fingers has improved. But now the nerve and muscle problems are moving from where they were to his elbows-to-shoulders and his knees-to-feet. So the neurologist's main concern is his head and neck since it's moving that way. They took blood tests at 6:30 this morning but the results aren't back yet. His regular doctor saw him again this morning and confirmed he is better even though the problem is spreading. Apparently that is the pattern. All indications are none of his vital organs have been affected. One thing they are checking for is West Nile virus. My mom says they were speculating he may have contracted whatever virus it was (if it is a virus and they're almost positive that's the case) weeks ago and it attacked his muscles, causing him to lose a lot of muscle tissue. A physical therapist saw him this morning too btw. He's 37 years old, trim, and has always been physically fit. He's never had any serious health issues before. If anyone has any advice or suggestions of questions we should ask the doctors, my family would appreciate it very much. Thanks in advance.
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Sillycalimomma
Member
11-13-2003
| Wednesday, September 01, 2004 - 1:01 pm
Hi Calamity-Well, I don't know if I have any suggestions, but my brother went through something similar to this about a year and a half ago. He is not a drinker-never has been but all of a sudden one day he was having a hard time walking (bumping into the walls in our hallway) and couldn't concentrate either. We couldn't hold a conversation with him because he couldn't even get a complete sentence out. We made him go to the Dr. right away, but after weeks of tests (and various medications) they still couldn't come up with what was wrong with him. In the end they decided to call it a virus that was attacking his brain. I watched my brother go on like this for 2 months and then just as soon as it had started it seemed to stop. The Dr. still have no clear answer as to what was wrong, but thankfully he seems to be fine now. I sometimes question if it was due to the stress he was under at the time (he was going through a divorce) but who knows. It was very scary for our family though.-just a reminder I guess that we still don't have all of the answers out there when it comes to medicine. Please keep us posted on his condition and let us know what turns up-I am very curious. Your brother and family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
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Sillycalimomma
Member
11-13-2003
| Wednesday, September 01, 2004 - 1:40 pm
I should add-the reason I mentioned that he was not a drinker was because the things he was doing-the stumbling, slurring of words, not completing full sentences etc... reminded me of someone who was drunk and at first we had thought that was what was going on-but it wasn't. Anyway, good luck to you and your family and I hope everything turns out ok!
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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 10:49 am
Sillycalimomma: Oh I'm glad your brother seems to be okay now. What a frightening experience for your family. My brother was discharged from the hospital yesterday. There isn't anything they can really do for him right now and the doctors said he may as well rest at home as at the hospital. They still don't have a diagnosis - just some blood test results that showed that his CPK levels (an enzyme found in the brain, heart, and muscles) were extremely elevated - about 8 times above normal. They were falling though so the docs said he could check out. He has an appointment with his family practitioner tomorrow. Yesterday he said it felt like an all over muscle ache. I just talked to him and he said he's very tired (he kept yawning while he was talking to me) and his legs feel really heavy. But he has moved around a bit today. As far as I know he hasn't experienced any sensory or cognitive problems. He doesn't drink other than having an occasional yuppie beer. One thing that occurred to me last night was his trip to Nevada about a month ago (he's never been there before). It's possible he picked up something there. After all, when that Hanta virus outbreak struck out West a few years ago, it really caught health officials off guard. Not that I think it's Hanta virus - that's a respiratory disorder - but there's so much development going on out there and in such formally remote places there's bound to be all sorts of things about which we know very little. On the phone last night my mom mentioned to me that she had worried it could have been a biological agent he was infected with in Vegas. "You mean terrorism?", I asked in a mix of complete surprise and skepticism. And she goes on about how it could have an incubation period and after being released in Vegas, unsuspecting carriers from all over would bring it with them. I told her that was the tv show 24 and she got a little defensive. *Sigh* Anyway, she seems to be over that concern now, thank goodness. I know she's just stressed since this happened so suddenly. It's scary. Thank you so much for taking the time to post. I really appreciate it.
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Hermione69
Member
07-24-2002
| Monday, September 13, 2004 - 5:41 am
Calamity, how is your brother doing? I haven't seen you much lately and have been worried. Sure hope everything is okay.
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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Monday, September 13, 2004 - 11:26 am
He's doing better, Hermione, but they still don't know what the problem is. They drew blood again this past Friday because for some reason they still hadn't checked for West Nile. But even if he tests positive for that, it doesn't necessarily mean that's what caused his symptoms because they've discovered that most people in this area have been exposed to WN - it's just the unlucky few who are actually affected by it. He sees the neurologist again next week to schedule an MRI - I guess they can't completely rule out some neuromuscular diseases without one. Strange thing is, a few days after my brother was discharged from the hospital, his regular MD reported that another man came in with his exact same symptoms. They supposedly contacted the CDC and some other agency because they could have an epidemic on their hands and not even know it. Thanks for asking. We're having a rough time in my family and it seems like the bad news just keeps coming. Hope things brighten soon. (Sorry to be so downbeat.)
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Sillycalimomma
Member
11-13-2003
| Monday, September 13, 2004 - 12:03 pm
Calmity-please keep us posted. I know how scary this must be for all of you. When my brother was going thru his illness it was awful-not only because something was wrong but mainly because the "professionals" couldn't find a cause. The odd thing is he came over last night and was acting a bit odd and he said that he was worried because he was starting to feel some of those symptoms again and he was worried whatever it was was coming back. I really hope not. Things like this worry me-they make me start questioning the things that we are exposed to every day or the things we were exposed to years ago that we didn't know were harmful. I hope they find the answers for you and your family soon-you will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers. 
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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 1:10 pm
Thanks for the kind thoughts, Sillycalimomma. And I share your questions and concerns about how we might be affecting our health without even knowing it. I really hope that your brother isn't feeling any of those symptoms still. My best to you and your family!
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 1:20 pm
Yikes, Calamity. I am so sorry your brother is going through this. How anxious and frustrated you all must feel! I guess they have checked him for Lyme Disease, right? (I know that can affect all your organs eventually.) What about MS? Have they looked into that? Sorry I missed this posting. I am praying for your brother, hon, and am thinking of you.
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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 1:50 pm
Thank you, HercklePerckle. I guess the docs quickly dismissed Lyme disease as a possible diagnosis but I don't know if they actually tested him for it. We're still waiting on the latest lab results for West Nile. MS was my first thought when I heard about the situation. But my mom told me they had ruled it out. They did a Cat scan and it didn't show any of the brain lesions that would indicate MS. But I don't know if that's necessarily definitive. The uncertainty does make it trying. Thank you again for the kind words. And I hope you and Ed are doing okay!
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Hermione69
Member
07-24-2002
| Friday, September 17, 2004 - 7:31 am
I was wondering about MS, as my SiL has it. And his symptoms sound similar to some of hers. I'm glad they seem to have ruled it out. This must be very scary. I am continuing to send good vibes your family's way.
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Sia
Member
03-11-2002
| Friday, September 17, 2004 - 3:08 pm
Calamity, I have no medical background, so I cannot offer any advice or expertise, but I wanted you to know that you and your brother have my support and prayers. I do hope that the cause of his mysterious illness is found quickly--and cured! Hate to ask this, but his symptoms sound like poisoning: is there any reason at all to suspect that he could have been poisoned in any way? Accidentally or deliberately, either way? Hugs and prayers for you and your brother. (Is he married? Or does he have a girlfriend who's helping to take care of him, or is it pretty much all on you, Calamity?)
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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Friday, September 17, 2004 - 4:14 pm
Thank you for the prayers and support, Sia. Btw, it's so nice to see you posting here again. Wow, I never thought of possible poisoning. I'll have to ask him if that was considered at all. He is married and has two small children. In fact, it was when he went to pick up his 2-year old daughter and nearly dropped her that he knew something serious was going on. He's actually moving around pretty well now and has gone back to work. He does have to take physical therapy. Well, my friend that I've been waiting for has finally arrived so I can leave the office! Bye and thanks again.
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 7:07 am
Actually MS is a very tricky disease to diagnose. Sometimes it can be misdiagnosed for years. It can be ruled out, but then later it is found to actually be there. I do a lot of work for the MS Society. I have 1 very close cousin and 3 good friends that have MS, all with different symptoms and all of them were misdiagnosed originally.
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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 12:02 pm
Hermione: I'm sorry I was in a hurry and forgot to also thank you before I had to leave last night. And I'm so sorry about your SiL, I didn't know about that. I hope she's doing okay. Ginger1218: Thank you for the info. It's been my unspoken fear that it could be something like MS even though they've pretty much dismissed that possibility. But according to my brother they're almost positive that it is a virus and since at least one other person from his doctor's practice came in about the same time with the same symptoms, I guess I hope that that is the case.
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 1:56 pm
Well Calamity, I hope that it is a virus that can be cured and he will be well.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 4:47 pm
I hope that they do pin this down quickly, Calamity. I am glad he is feeling well enough to go back to work. Please keep us in the loop with how things are going, dear.
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Hermione69
Member
07-24-2002
| Monday, September 27, 2004 - 8:57 pm
Hey Calamity, anything new? Thinking of you guys.
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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 11:01 am
Thanks, Hermione. My brother's doing pretty good now. He has physical therapy once a week (Tuesdays, in fact). Still hasn't had an MRI yet though. The neurologist is trying to schedule one for him.
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Hermione69
Member
07-24-2002
| Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 7:18 pm
I'm glad to hear that. Let us know when he has the MRI.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Friday, October 01, 2004 - 5:07 pm
Peeking in to let you know I am still thinking of you and your db, Calamity, and to find out the latest. Thanks for sharing, hon. Keeping you both in my prayers. 
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