Freezing What Disorder?
by Joe Hickman,
editor, HaLife.com
It's not been the
most positive of weeks so far.
The Dallas
Cowboys' season ended when Tony Romo fumbled a field goal snap.
President Bush is
sending more troops to Iraq.
And I fell again.
I felt sorry for
Tony, but he'll survive. The President's latest effort, hopefully,
will succeed, but there's lots of doubt.
I fell during my
daily mile walk. Bruised a shoulder and a chin and my ribs are sore.
I started falling
a couple months ago, stutter-stepping, and having trouble backing
up. Fell mowing the yard, fell in the kitchen, fell getting up from
the computer.
I told my
internist about it, but I refused to worry unless it got worse. Fret
not, that's my motto.
It got worse.
Last week I saw a
neurologist and had an MRI on my head and neck. Both are good, and I
liked that.
I got the
preliminary diagnosis yesterday. I may have "primary freezing gait
disorder."
Sounds like
something to write jokes about.
The neurologist
said it is very rare; he'd only seen two other cases; and there were
maybe 20 others in the U.S.
I told him, "Mr.
Rogers always said I was special."
He's setting me
up with another neurologist for a second opinion, and I started
taking some pills this morning.
I googled primary
freezing gate disorder and got nothing -- until I learned to spell
"gait."
That didn't help
much. Nine patients have been followed 6 to 16 years. They usually
fall until they can no longer walk.
The neurologist
said he really hopes the pills work, because that would mean I have
Parkinson's Disease. They can treat that.
I like to stay
positive, but hoping I have Parkinson's Disease is kind of a stretch
for me.
In fact, I was
getting a little down when I looked into the backyard and saw 100
sparrows, 25 mourning doves, and a couple of cardinals having
breakfast. You just can't watch birds and not feel good.
I've prayed that
I can continue walking without falling. And my prayer record is
pretty good, so staying positive really isn't so difficult.
I just pray the
troops at Fort Hood who are headed back to Iraq .. again .. can also
stay positive.
I have no doubts
at all about Tony Romo.
Feedback
