Transverse myelitis due to viral infection in spinal cord

1. Describe your main suffering?

I fell sick very rapidly in Dec 2015 and was hospitalized for 2 months. It started with mild fever and bladder retention. There was no positive diagnosis of what caused the issue but I had an infection in the spinal cord that attacked my nervous system. I was paralyzed neck down. But my body fought back the infection and I completely regained function above the waist within 10 days. I remained in ICU for 2 months. I had to undergo acute physical rehabilitation for 2 months and after that, I am able to walk, run and do most of things normally. I still however have the following issues:
1. Reduced sensation waist below (can't feel hot/cold, less pain, tingling and needle pricking feeling in sole of the feet)
2. Neurogenic bladder. I cannot void completely and also have incontinence
3. I don't get erections when I try to, even after stimulation.
4. Stiffness in knee joints after getting up from sleep.


2. What other physical sufferings do you have in your body?



3. What mental sufferings / feelings do you have associated with your physical sufferings?
I believe I don't have any mental problems

4. What exactly do you feel when you are at your worst?
I don't have any pain except my knees feel very stiff when I get up after sitting oor laying still. The biggest problem is bladder control and erectile dysfunction.

5. When did it all start? Can you connect it to any past event or disease?
It stared in early Dec 2015. I was very healthy and active before this.


6. Which time of the day you are worst?
The problem is throughout the day and night

7. What are the things which aggravate your suffering and which are those which ameliorate the same?
No such thing I have observed


8. Do your think your sufferings have relation to any external stimuli (like, change of place) or any internal biological changes in the body, like, menses (in females)?
No


9. When do you feel better, during hot weather or cold weather, humid or dry weather?
It has been only hot since I got sick.

10. Describe your general mental set up? Are you Moody, Arrogant, Mild, Agreeable Changeable, Nervous, Suspicious, Easily offended, Quiet, Arguing, Irritating, Lazy etc.
Mild

- How do you feel before or during a thunderstorm?
No different

- Do you like being consoled during your tough times?
Maybe

- Are you sensitive to external stimuli like smell, noise, light etc?
I do have a heightened sense of smell

- Do you have any typical habit or gesture like nail biting, causeless
weeping, talking to one self etc?
No

- How do you feel about your friends, family, your children and especially your husband / wife?
Feel good

11. What are your fears and do you dream of any situation repeatedly?
No

12. What do you crave for in food items and what are your aversions?
I like sweets. No aversions

13. How is your thirst: Less, Normal or Excessive?
Normal

14. How if your hunger: Less, Normal or Excessive?
Normal

15. Is there any kind of food which your body can’t stand?
None

16. Is your sweat normal or less or more? Where does it sweat more: Head, Trunk or Limbs?
I always used to sweat a bit more than normal but after sickness I sweat excessively. Sometimes, the bed is soaked when I get up at night to go to the toilet.

17. How is your bowel movement and stool type?
1 Bowel movement but not regular. Formed. But when urgency happens, I have to go and cannot control.

18. How well do you sleep? Do you have a particular posture of sleeping?
I sleep fine. I usually sleep on the back or side

19. Do you think you are able to satisfy your sexual desires in general?
No

20. How do you think you are different from others, if at all?
Don't know

21. What medications have been taken earlier by you to treat the diseases and do you have any particular symptom surfacing after the medication?
I was given many antibiotics, antiviral drugs, pain killers at the hospital. After discharge, I was given medications to help with bladder control (to relax sphincter and also to squeeze the bladder) I do not take any medications now.

22. What major diseases are running in your family?
High blood pressure in father side and high blood sugar in mothers side. Mother doesn't have it however.

23. Describe, how do you look like? Describe your overall appearance
5' 11" relatively slim and mild built.