When Illness Makes a Spouse a Stranger Part II...I saw the specialist today

[Omaha Steve]

Original post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026641619

Marta took me in this morning. I have been dreading this visit. Cut to the chase.

I DO NOT have ALS.

Some other things going on besides my FTD. But this was great news to me. Funny when somebody has a fatal disease thinks something is good news. Thank you all for the support the DU community has shown me since I made my diagnosis known.

Recommended watching is the documentary on Roger Ebert's fight for life: http://www.ebertmovie.com/

OS

[Starry Messenger]

1. k&r

I'm glad for your good news today, Steve.

[livetohike]

2. Great news! Hang in there. So glad you are still posting.

Grateful for each day and that's the best any of us can do .

[renate]

3. wow!

Isn't it the best to get good news out of the blue?!

This whole process of tests and diagnoses and doctors' visits, and all these ups and downs, must be utterly exhausting but I'm so happy that you got good news today! Congratulations!

[gwheezie]

4. That is good news

One day at a time Steve

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

5. Good news indeed. nt

[malaise]

6. That is good news Omaha Steve

One more truth - life is a fatal disease - we are all going to die.

[femmocrat]

7. Good news indeed.

Such a relief! Count every blessing.

[babylonsister]

8. Fantastic news!

[Lisa D]

9. That is wonderful news

[jwirr]

10. Best news today. So happy for you.

[malthaussen]

11. Well, hoorah!

I know what you mean, funny what we think is good news, but hey, I'll take it.

-- Mal

[SoapBox]

12. OS...good news.

Thank you for keeping us updated.

Have GREAT day.

[rurallib]

13. thank goodness for that

[Phentex]

14. Glad to hear it!

Good news is good news.

Thanks for the doc recommendation too.

[thesquanderer]

15. You may have seen this...?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1016123735

[Omaha Steve]

16. I did and gave it an R

Unfortunately there is no way to replace the damage I already have. No idea how long it might take them to figure out how to stop FTD from getting worse. Probably not soon enough to help me.

[Samantha]

17. I am so happy for you and Marta

and especially happy we still see you posting here most days.

Keep up the good fight.

Sam

[elleng]

18. GREAT

and great it's great news to you, Steve!

[olddots]

19. again thank you for being you Steve

this news brightens my day and your posts make DU great .

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Well, Certainly Some Relief There Steve

The unknown might still be little scary, but good for you, Steve.

[d_legendary1]

21. Awesome news!

Seems like I won't have to take the ice bucket challenge (again) after all! Keep kicking ass!

[daleanime]

22. Thank goodness.....

take any good news we can get.

[roguevalley]

23. OMG! I am so happy for you. There are no words. Now you're

stuck here with the rest of us.

I suppose, Steve, that there is some reason for this but I am unable to fathom it. I suppose you could say it prioritized your life and everything from this point forward will taste like ripe peaches. You are awesome. You have all my love and relief. All of you and yours.

[AtomicKitten]

24. Good news! Glad to hear it.

[Hekate]

25. {{{{{{Steve and Marta}}}}}}

[Wellstone ruled]

26. Yes!!!!!!!!

Way to go!!!!

[Faux pas]

27. Great news

Omaha Steve! Will keep the healing/soothing vibes heading your way!

[Warpy]

28. Good, ALS really, really sucks.

I lost a cousin and good friend to it. Her last email to me was a week before her death, "I am miserable." It must have taken her all day to put that together.

I hope they've considered NPH. Progression of that one can be halted by a simple surgery.

[underpants]

29. Good news

[tblue37]

30. KnR. nt

[peacebird]

31. Fantastic news!!!

[Duppers]

32. Wow.

[C Moon]

33. Glad to hear!!

[magical thyme]

34. Relieved, but not surprised...

I had read that some ftd symptoms are similar to als. So I was guessing (hoping) that was your situation.

Thank you for the happy update, OS!

[Omaha Steve]

59. Exactly

I meant to reply sooner. My memory isn't what it used to be.

[WillyT]

35. Great News !!!

& Rec !!!

[passiveporcupine]

36. That is good news Steve!

So glad to hear this.

[Enthusiast]

37. ...

[Sheepshank]

38. What a huge relief. Your remaining days will be ALS free

thank goodness for small mercies.

Hugs to you and hoping your remaining time on this planet have joy.

[JDPriestly]

39. Remember. We on DU love you. Thanks for your posts.

[valerief]

40. Good to hear. nt

[sheshe2]

41. KnR

[Paka]

42. No matter what they finally diagnose,

you are right to be grateful that you don't have ALS. That is a reason to celebrate. My sister passed in January this year from ALS and I was there to help with her care. It's brutal beyond brutal.

I wish you all the best in the coming months. I appreciate that you continue to post when dealing with complex changes in your life. Your posts are always so good.

[catrose]

43. Very glad!

take all the reasons for celebration that come your way

[stage left]

44. I'm glad

you got good news.

[cui bono]

45. Well that's a relief, I'm sure!

Stay strong Steve.

[Liberal_in_LA]

46. good news

[calimary]

47. YAAAAYYYY!!!!! Another one for the good guys! So glad to hear this, Omaha Steve!

That is GREAT news! Thanks for sharing it. This is such an intimate personal issue - serious illness. That you would invite us along on this road is very humbling. Knowing you, you've gained a Fort Knox of wisdom and perspective on the really big stuff in/of life. We following along with you may be able to get a small sense of that. You truly have a generous heart.

Actually, in one sense, we ALL have a fatal disease. It's called living. You only get so much of it on this plane and in this time. I saw a quote in one of the sig lines in a Daily Kos column today that really hit home.

So if you get hit by a bus tonight, would you be satisfied with how you spent today, your last day on earth? Live like tomorrow is never guaranteed, because it's not. -- Me.
From
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/02/1389997/-Rick-Santorum-to-Pope-Francis-Leave-science-to-the-scientist?detail=email

Love to you and your family, OS.

[beac]

48. Very glad to hear this news!

[DesertFlower]

49. good news. i didn't know you were

ill. haven't been around here much lately.

[sabrina 1]

50. Great news. And thank you for that link, I was just talking about that documentary yesterday

as I have not seen it, but wanted to.

Take care!

[Iwillnevergiveup]

51. Very, very welcome news, OS

We continue to be with you and Marta 110%.

[Lifelong Protester]

52. That's a big "hoorah"!!

Glad you are still posting here (feel like posting here-not always easy).

[Person 2713]

53. One less diagnosis is a good thing

[CaliforniaPeggy]

54. I'm so relieved that you don't have ALS, dear Steve!

Oh gawd, I'm so glad!

[Gloria]

55. Whew, great relief!!!

eom

[3catwoman3]

56. any day I see a new post from you, it makes...

...me happy. Especially this one.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

57. Hugs!!!

For good news!!!!

[marym625]

58. I'm so glad to hear this

I know that it does nothing to stop what is happening to you. But I am sure this worry being lifted has to have helped ease your mind a bit

[freshwest]

60. Good!