Welcome, SculptorPete!

• By SculptorPete
• Posted September 30, 2009 at 3:06 am
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Hello Group, I am a two-time survivor of Encephalitis. I got it from the Mumps at 5 yo in 1957 and was in a coma for 8 days. Penicillin saved my life only to fall victim to it again at 17 yo in 1969 from the Hong Kong flu.

I can't tell you if there were any long-term effects from the early experience except that it seem like the world was at my feet before I was sick and after it was not. The latter was much more devastating. I lost most of the motor control on the right side. It took about 2 years for me to regain 70% of strength and control.

As the years passed I realized that I was slipping backward until 2 years ago when my symptoms were full blown again. For someone that had a photographic memory for numbers and couldn't remember 2 was very scary, not to mention remembering if I washed my hair in the shower.

Back to the Neurologist for an MRI. I guess it was fortunate that my anxiety was non existent, that when the Doc said I didn't have a brain tumor it didn't register, but it did confirm the damage from encephalitis. The conversation turned to what was happening in my stress-wrecked life and it was explained that stress is poison and that I had to lead as stress free as possible.

I made major changes in my life and cut off anyone that caused me any stress. I have rebuilt most of my memory and seem as "Normal" as ever. My future has become living a day at a time. I have been involved with the internet since it's beginning, but I never though about they’re being a community of affected people and maybe some information may have come to light.

I found this site from a link that had some good info. One very interesting thing that I have to report is taking fish oil capsules. I read that it helps rebuild the Myelin on the nerves. It may be only a placebo effect, but I have taken 1000mg for 2 days and today I noticed I am walking normal. I have had days in the past when my symptoms seemed to be gone, so I will reserve excitement for a bit and see how this goes, but just typing this would usually cause tremors in my right foot and it is quiet and that is not "normal", but I could get used to it.

I was told by my Doc at 17 to avoid stress, but my family life was total stress and I thought I had a bulletproof vest against stress. My life as a stone sculptor was a delicious combination of physical and emotional stress. Add that to my father dying of a brain tumor, a myriad of bad relationships and 10 years of Board meetings to redevelop part of the city that I lived in and having all that work and my property rendered worthless by a commuter train project that came out of nowhere..then at the last minute when all seemed lost, they blinked.

I really don't know what life the Doc had in mind, but I didn't listen or forgot. Well that is a bit of who I am and it is nice to be here.

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• By MichelleN
• Posted September 30, 2009 at 9:30 am
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I'm glad that you found this site Sculptor Pete. I take the fist oil and I've found that it helps to the point that I can tell if I haven't taken it. It helps me think & helps my joint pain.

Michelle

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• By SculptorPete
• Posted September 30, 2009 at 10:55 pm
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Hi Michelle,
Did you have a positive response quickly?

Sculptor Pete

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• By MichelleN
• Posted October 1, 2009 at 9:45 am
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I'm not exactly sure because I started taking a new vitamen for joint pain at the same time, but I know the fish oil helps because I can move my ankle more & I don't have as many headaches.

Michelle

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