introduction

[Guest guest]

Hi Barb and to all,I am new to the group and also live in south

Florida. My mother and I both have CMT (as well as my younger sister

and her son who live inCanada. I am 51 years old and am an

artist/Art professor ,teaching sculpture,painting. and art history.

I was diagnosed at the age of 42 at the university of miami and

then sent my mother, who was never diagnosed except

under the general category of famila neuropathy. Dr. Shebert made

the " call " within 2 minutes of looking at my gait and feet.

He has been our doctor ever since, though he hasn't been able to

help me( I am relatively in the earlier stages, numbness, flapping

feet, muscle loss, foot drop and the occassional tumble, occassional

2 week bouts of pain in my thighs...cold weather brings it on), and

hand weakness)he helped my mom. it seem that my mom had been taking

the same doage of pain medication,not wanting to increase it was in

a constant state of withdrawl. She stopped cold turkey( although he

wanted her to go into detox) and then was put on a new drug routine

(I'll ask her what if any one wants to know) and now has more good

days than bad. He really helped her pain, though her walk and

strength have continued to deteriorate. It good to hear from you

all. I thought I was alone out here, thanks for your words and

encourgement.

The whole thing scares me...my career, travel,teaching... but this

group has given me the strength to start to face it. Up until this

point I've done my best to ignore it. My first action was to ask for

a rail to be put in the art hstory lecture room, so I could walk up

and down the steps to the slide projector. Now, I've actually told a

few people about my CMT. I quess I was afraid that if I acknowledged

it that it would become my focus. well, enough rambling on back to

living. thanks. catherine