As far as being a female w/ MD, I guess it's pretty much as it is for a male
except when it comes to using the bathroom. I used to have what I called
"potty buddies" at work who could pick me up and transfer me to the commode.
My doctor refused to catheterize me because I am continent. It was a
situation that caused a lot of stress for me. I worried what I would do if
all 4 of them happened to be gone on the same day, etc. Since I was put on
the vent, though, now I have 16 hours of LVN services per day. They go to
work with me and take me whenever I need to go (instead of me waiting for one
of my friends to become available). I drive myself to work, they follow me
in their car. I work 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. M-F and so I have a nurse that
works from 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. (because my husband leaves for work at 6:30).
Then I have a pm nurse that works from 2 p.m. -10 p.m. She follows me home
from work and helps with my showers and laundry, etc. I have limb-girdle
muscular dystrophy, diagnosed at 14 years of age. I've had 20+ years to
adapt to the gradual wasting but I can still remember little things, like
running, laying on the floor, riding a bike, etc., but not as well as I used
to remember.
Don't know what else you would like to know. You can e-mail me privately if
you want at BonzyJonzy(AT)aol.com.
Karen in California