Re: Another "Country" Heard From
Jeff Gray (nirusers(AT)ptdprolog.net)
Wed, 22 Oct 1997 21:51:31 -0400
>Jeff,
>
>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
I guess I wondered how it affects your personal relatioships. It appears as
if it has little effect. What, you being married. I guess your MD doesn't
result in severe disability of your hands and arm. I would refer to myself
as a quadraplegic without the nerve damage. This has affected my personal
relatioships. The only relatioships I currently have are with people who
work or have worked with me. I don't have any romantic relations with
women. Heck, close female friends are far and few between. How have you
kept your disability from affecting your personal relatioships, or has it?
Jeff in New Jersey