Re: My Brother-in-law

[Guest guest]

Hi Liz

Walt was put on it 37 yrs ago for Colits. The Dr he had didnt realize it would be bad to keep him on it.

Was kind of Walts fault too as he felt so much better when he was on it and never thought of going off it.

Now after being on it so long he is having a heck of a time getting off it. He has lost his adrenial glands also.

Thanks for your prays. You hang in there too.

[Guest guest]

Carol,

You and your bil will be in my thoughts.

> Hi everyone! I thought this would be easier than calling you all

personally.

> There's yet another problem in Walt's life. He had an MRI scan

done on his

> neck on Monday. Monday night his doctor called and said he is a

mess and

> wants him to see a doctor which he would arrange. Yesterday the

orthopedic

> doctor called and wanted to see him at 6:15 last night. I went

with him and

> the prognosis is not good. He has 6 discs that are compressed in

his upper

> spine causing the extreme pain and muscle immobility he's been

having over

> the past few weeks. Due to the fact he's cut way back on

prednisone over the

> past few months, the lowest he's been in 37 years, 7mgs. instead of

15-20

> mgs., all sorts of problems are now erupting. The prednisone had

been

> covering this cervical condition for probably some time now. His

doctor says

> he needs to get off the prednisone which is no easy thing to do

because he

> feels that by continuing to take it it will probably cause more

Strep A

> infections. Now he has a huge decision to make. In order to

relieve the

> pain and stop the progression of the problem he needs front and

back neck

> fusion surgery. That is a long and hard surgery with a long

recovery time.

> They aren't sure if he'd even make it through it in his weakened

condition.

> If he doesn't have the surgery done this will progress and

eventually his

> mobility will be worse and could end up in a wheelchair besides

still having

> all the pain he has every day and night. The doctors will be

discussing this

> today as well as giving Walt time to decide what he wants to do. I

told him

> to pray hard about it and now I am asking you all to do the same.

Prayer has

> gotten him through everything he's had to this point and I know it

will get

> him through this too. GOD IS IN CONTROL AND LOVES HIM!!!!

>

> I dont want to scare you but I thought you should all know what

can happen

> if you stay on predisone too long. So try and talk to your Dr's

about this so

> they dont keep you on it if you dont have to be.

>

> Carol Applin