Decision

This week was largely spent driving (or being driven) back and forth to Boston to see two neurosurgeons on two consecutive days . The second surgeon told me that some of my symptoms may be related to degenerative disk disease, which I appear to have.  Clearly, the DDD doesn't explain all of the symptoms, such as the fatigue and the muscle fasciculations (spasms) that are now almost constant in my left leg, but it might be contributing to the weakness of my left leg, and  my fingers.

The neurosurgeon is recommending disk surgery, which I am considering. At first, I felt very negative about surgery, but I was coming from a "should" position. I was thinking in terms that I shouldn't have to have this complication along with the ALS diagnosis, but  that that sort of thinking isn't very productive and I have to move away from the "shoulds" and to accept what is. And "what is" is that if I don't get this surgery, my symptoms will worsen. If I get the surgery, they could worsen as well, but then I will never know if it might have helped. So if Peace Corps agrees to pay for the surgery I will most likely go for it. 

One positive is it could be done here in Maine. The surgeon said that he can refer me to a couple of neurosurgeons at Maine Medical Center, which would be preferable to going back to Boston. He suggested that it will probably involve a 3-day hospital stay and then some time in a skilled nursing facility or rehab hospital. 

Today, I will speak with my Peace Corps medical case manager, and make sure that my medical records from Maine Medical and Tufts are in order. And I will also take a break--all that going back and forth, even when I am not driving and am getting pushed around in a wheelchair is exhausting!