"Owen Duffy" wrote in message
...
Barry,

I see I got the spelling of myelin wrong.

Don't worry, Owen. Most of the time, I put two "l's" in the word
myself!

I remember things I see, and at that time I couldn't focus on
things, never saw the word written, was paralyzed and was
distressed at drowning in my own secretions because I couldn't
swallow and couldn't cough.

About two years ago I developed phlebitis. I went to the doctor
who had Doppler ultrasound tests run. He told me that my
circulation was good and that the swelling in the left leg would
clear up by itself within a week. But one of my toes swelled up and
cracked open. Being a diabetic, I immediately returned to the
physician. He told me that I had just enough time to drop by my
home and pick up some clean underwear to take with me to the
hospital. When I got to the emergency room, admission papers were
waiting. I had no idea that septicemia could set in so fast.

They amputated two toes, then another, and finally my entire left
foot. Meanwhile I had continuous IV injections of some of the
world's strongest antibiotics. I lost weight too - from 215 to 155
pounds. Small clumps of dead blood cells were sloughing off my
heart valves and one blocked a tiny capillary in my brain causing
expressive aphasia. It only lasted about three days, but I will
forever empathize with stroke victims. I could do complex math in
my head, but I could not speak a complete sentence. Fortunately I
started recovering soon after the foot was taken.

I am posting this history here as a warning to other diabetics. My
HgA1c had been running less than 5.5; most diabetics are considered
to have good control if this number is below 7. My point is that
even with good glucose control, problems can still develop.

I too have had nerve conduction studies. As you said, they stick
little electrodes in your muscles and nerve bundles, only now they have
fancy microprocessor-controlled machines to do the tests. But the tests
are just as painful!

The worst thing I remember was the neurologist bragging to his
nurse, telling her,"Now if I turn this knob, I can make his big toe
rotate counter-clockwise."

Thanks for an interesting discussion, Owen.

--
73, Dr. Barry L. Ornitz WA4VZQ