Scared for my son. Please help w/comments *Update 4/16*

God, and that girlfriend was a nurse as well??? What can you say about her bedside manner?? That just sucks that she would break up with him when he is sick and feeling so down. She must be a terribly self-centered person. Reminds me of the ex-wife of the marine on the Extreme Makeover Home Edition from last night (compassion-wise...)... Marine loses leg in Iraq, comes home, is going through rehab to get mobility back, and wife leaves him with the 4 kids to go off on her own. What kind of person does that??!!

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Originally Posted by jenn_librarian

What kind of person does that??!!

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A self centered one, that's what kind. I can't imagine doing that to a person. If she doesn't have feelings for him, ok, fair enough. You can't fake what ya ain't got. But her timing and her total lack of compassion is what gets me. He said that it's like she flipped a switch and just turned off. No signs, no warning, no cooling off. Just done. Period. She called him and wants to meet to talk further and he put her off until he's feeling better. This is not like my son at all. He's always been one to say if there's a dealbreaker, then so be it. He said that he's healing physically, emotionally and mentally and it's all too much for him right now. Personally, I don't trust her now. If she wants to get back together, she'll do it again. I wouldn't want to wait for the other shoe to drop. Enough about her. My son is improving and that's all I care about. This isn't his first relationship and it won't be his last. His heart will heal just as his body is healing.

Better he finds this out now, rather than get married and then she wants out - and takes him to the cleaners in the process.

He needs to ban her from his life - forever!!

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Originally Posted by Medusa

His girlfriend broke up w/him so I think that's contributing to it all. Nice, huh? She actually said "Am I going to have to take care of you for the rest of my life?" Such compassion.

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Wait a moment, isn't your son's (now ex-) girlfriend a nurse? Geesh, that stinks. I am thinking of you and your son today & praying.

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Originally Posted by Grace

Better he finds this out now, rather than get married

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Well, my son doesn't believe in marriage. He feels it's an outdated idea. (Famous last words, huh?) He could change his mind, of course, but it isn't too likely in the near future, that's for sure.

he'll want to get married as soon as he meets the ONE! :D
he'll say...mom...i think i met THE ONE! ;)

Medusa, how is your son getting along?

I spoke to him last night and he's going to call me again today. He feels that he's still at 85%. He just can't seem to get the strength back in his left arm and hand and he's concerned that he has permanent muscle damage. The drs. did tell him that it takes a while to build new muscle tissue because he did experience muscle damage. The muscle tissue actually died so it takes a while to build new. He may have done even better if his girlfriend hadn't broken up w/him during all this but, all in all, he's doing much better. I just don't want him to overdo it now. He needs rest more than anything.

Thank you so much for asking.

Mary, I'm so glad to know he's doing better.. slowly but surely is the way to go. My kitties and I are all still praying and sending our loving good wishes.

Hugs and purrs,
Pat and cats

I too am glad that he is doing better. What a strange illness :confused: .

Payers on the way for your son. I hope he is 100% soon!

My son called last night after a workout. Yes, his dr. told him that working out would be good for him, so he's taking it light. He won't go as often or work out as hard but he needs exercise. He said the same thing that he's been saying, that his grip just isn't what it should be, which is keeping him from lifting the heavy weights, so in my opinion, it's sort of a blessing in disguise because I don't want him to overwork the muscles and cause inflammation again. The stress is just unbearable for me. I can't handle stress the way I used to. And now w/my Puddy being sick again, it's been difficult to keep my spirits up for my son. Anyhow, all in all, a good report for Glenn. But when you say your prayers, please keep him in them, ok? Thanx, my wonderful PT friends. You're the best.

Mary,

That is wonderful news!! Don't forget to take care of YOU!!! Glenn sounds like he's on the road to a speedy recovery. I mean, look how far he's come so far, huh??

You and Glenn are still in my thoughts and prayers.

Love and (((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))

Donna and crew

Thanx, Donna. I don't know how I would've made it through all this w/out the help and prayers and encouragement of my PT friends. You and a few others, such as Candace and Karen, have been especially helpful, Donna, and I truly appreciate it. I'm here for all of you, too. I hope you all know that.

Maybe Glenn will learn to take it easier now, and have a bit more balance in his life. :)

Mary, was he named after the astronaut John Glenn? The double "n" isn't something that's often seen.

You take your vitamins and eat regularly (even if small meals) and feel better soon.

your *mom* ;) :D

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Originally Posted by Catty1

Mary, was he named after the astronaut John Glenn? The double "n" isn't something that's often seen.

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No, actually, my (now) ex-husband and I couldn't agree on names. I wanted to name him after our fathers, either Charles Vincent or Vincent Charles but he didn't like that. He wanted to name him a typical Italian name such as Rocco or even Aloysius, if you can imagine. I didn't like those. So when I was in the hospital, a nurse came in and said "You really need to name your son" and Glen Campbell's show was on TV at that time so when I saw his face on the screen, I wrote down "Glenn Anthony", even though Campbell spells his first name w/one N. Anthony is my ex's brother's name so I figured that would placate him somewhat. I always liked the name Glenn anyhow. I know it seems I didn't put much thought into naming my son but I did. Our ideas just didn't mesh, though.

All I can think of is that it has been a long way from "there" to "here"........and the news just gets better and better about Glenn's recovery.

We won't let up on the prayers until we hear that he is 100%.

Don't you worry....Prayers are still being said for your son :)

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Originally Posted by catfamily

Don't you worry....Prayers are still being said for your son :)

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Good. He needs them. So do I. He's doing much better but, as I've mentioned, his grip just isn't as it should be. I guess that will take some time.

I'm still keeping you and your son in my thoughts and prayers. What an ordeal this has been. Bless you both. :)

Mary, I was thinking about your son this morning; how is he coming along?


Thanks,
elyse

How nice of you to ask, Elyse. I intended to post tomorrow, since it will be 30 days since he first exhibited symptoms. (I can't believe it. It feels like ages ago, not just a month.) He has an early morning appointment for a checkup and bloodwork to monitor his CPK and he goes to the MDA clinic next week (I think) for a nerve conduction test. But, to answer your question, he says he's nearly back 100%. He still doesn't quite have the grip in his left hand that he used to and, during his last exam, the dr. was somewhat concerned about the reflexes in his legs. But he feels that's because he was still recuperating and it does take some time for muscle to build new tissue. A lot of his muscle tissue died and so he has to be patient. But his outlook is so much better and he tells me nearly every time we talk on the phone that, whenever he gets stuck in L.A. traffic (which is every day), that he's just grateful to be able to push the button on his power windows. When he was so sick w/the paralysis, he couldn't even do that. He promised to call me tomorrow after his checkup and I'll be sure to post the results as soon as possible. Thank you again for asking. It means so much. :)

Thanks for the update. I'll be waiting to hear what he says after his check up.


So, are you going to go out and visit him? ;)

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Originally Posted by jenluckenbach

So, are you going to go out and visit him? ;)

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Boy, I would love to, for a host of reasons, to see him, of course, and to escape this OH weather. But w/Puddy in such an iffy state of health, I'm afraid to chance it. She's back on daily subQ's and my cat sitter begged me not to make her do that. Plus her father is dying of pancreatic cancer and isn't expected to live much longer, so I'd only ask her to cat sit if I had an emergency. I even considered putting Puddy in the vet hospital so she could get her treatments but my vet feels it would stress her too much. Soooo, I guess I wait until he can come home for a visit. He usually comes in April for my birthday or May for his or Mothers' Day, so I don't have too much longer to wait.

I am so glad to read this great report on your son. Goodness, what a frightening experience for both of you.

HUGS. I was thinking of Glenn today when you posted that story about him when he was little - and Elyse beat me to it.

Glad to hear he is almost 100%. :)

You might want to tell him that he is growing BRAND NEW muscles! ;)

Great news!

Wonderful news! I'm so glad he's doing so much better. Best wishes to him with the checkup.

Love, hugs, and purrs,
Pat and cats

Glad to see he is doing so much better - long may it continue!

I spoke to my son a little while ago and he said that his checkup went ok. They still don't like how his reflexes in his legs are responding and when they asked him to follow the pen light w/his eyes, his right eye had problems. He told them that he worked late last night and only got 5 hours of sleep and that he was tired, so they said "Ok, we'll note that and not worry about it and we'll check it again when you come back". He goes in again on the 19th for the EMG and more blood tests. He said "Yeah, great. The bruises on my arm are finally gone so that I don't look like a heroin addict any more from all the blood work. Now I'll get bruised again". But considering how sick he was, he really isn't complaining. So, I guess we'll know more on the 19th. Thanx for asking about him, everyone.

That poor kid.
geez...well,he certainly has many people here praying for him.myself and husband included.
i never believed in prayers to much until these last few years.
i find that they work.
i'm so glad i'm into it now :)
sometimes it takes a while for some of us to believe.
i really hope he gets 100% recovery.hoping he gets more sleep also.
he needs it to get better.rest.

Medusa, you mentioned your son in another post but I thought I would ask in this thread -- how is he coming along? I hope he is recovering well.


Thanks,
Elyse

Thanx for asking, Elyse. He's doing well. He goes in tomorrow, I think, for an EMG to determine if he's had nerve damage from the illness. His reflexes aren't exactly as good as the drs. had hoped but my son is optimistic that they'll improve w/time. As soon as I know the results of his test, I'll let everyone know.

I just spoke to my son and he told me that his EMG results showed that all is normal. He said that he worked out today, a good one, and that he feels he's back 100%. I guess the test itself was no fun. They put needles underneath the skin and send shocks and you have to flex your muscle where the needle is. He said it went from mildly uncomfortable to "OMG, I'm gonna pee my pants it hurts so bad!" If there hadn't been women in the lobby, he said he would've sworn up a storm. :eek: He said that every place that the dr. put the needle is sore now, as though he had blood drawn from each place. He was laughing when he told me about it, though, so he came through it ok. They want to see him again in June (Glenn said that he's getting drunk first) and he said that, if he's on the road, he won't be able to go. The dr. told him that, as long as he isn't having any problems, not to worry about it but, if he is, to get in there immediately. Glenn asked him what his chances are of getting myositis again and the dr. said "The same as I told you before: no more or less of a chance than when you got it the first time". Some people have this condition their entire lives with flares but the dr. feels that, since my son recovered so quickly (most people take 6 - 8 weeks initially), that he won't get it again. He's relieved and so am I.

Thank you all so much for your kind words of support and encouragement. It meant so much to me when I was so worried and it still means a lot to me now.

Excellent news! :D

Thanks for the update.:) This is wonderful news!!!:D

What a relief! :)
I know how happy you must be now.What a scare he had as well as you.
Life is so precious.I hope you can get some rest now yourself.
It's been a tough road for both of you.
Positive thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

Mary that is WONDERFUL news!!!! See? PT Prayers do work!

((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))) to you girlfriend. You can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

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Originally Posted by moosmom

See? PT Prayers do work!

((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))

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I never doubted that for a second! :)

What wonderful news, Mary! What a relief for you and Glenn!

The kitties are going to have a catnip party to celebrate in your honor!

I too, am very glad to hear a GREAT update!