Cory's Fight Against Brain Disorder
Donazione protetta
In May 2014 while at work as a carpenter Cory's hands started to shake uncontrollably, then his arms started to shake. He went to the hospital's emergency room where they gave him valium to stop the shaking. They couldn't explain why the shaking started, all his lab work looked good so they dismissed him with a prescription for valium in case the shaking returned - they called the shaking "muscle tremors".
The tremors returned in 2 weeks and Cory took the valium to stop them. He then had a neck MRI which showed 2 bulging discs but the orthopedic Dr didn't feel that they were bad enough to cause the tremors so did a brain MRI which showed everything to be normal. Two weeks later the tremors returned and the valium stopped them. But the tremors were moving into his neck, chest and abdomen cutting off his breathing and also lasting longer. Then the tremors started returning every week. We scheduled an appointment with a neurologist who prescribed muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory med and seizure med. After 3 days on new meds Cory had a bad attack and was on valium all day. Two days later he had another bad attack and was on valium all day. The next day was the same. On Monday July 28 we called the neurologist and went for an examination. While in the exam room Cory had a bad attack and couldn't breathe so they wheeled him over to the ER where they gave him meds that stopped the attack and did an EKG, chest x-ray and EEG all came back ok. As soon as meds wore off he had another bad attack and couldn't breathe so they admitted him into ICU. Every time the meds wore off he would have another attack. On Tuesday July 29 at 1030pm Cory was transferred to a hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Routine was the same, meds wore off and he'd have another attack. On Wednesday July 30 one of his attacks lasted 1 1/2 hours with meds, this was his worst one cutting off his breathing several times. We saw many doctors who couldn't explain why this was happening. After a 1 1/2 week hospital stay, EKG, EEG, Video EEG, EMG, metals test, and numerous blood tests he was released from the hospital because they couldn't find anyting wrong. We asked for a second opinion from Mayo Clinic and were released from the hospital that afternoon. On the drive home, crying all the way with an extremely drugged up husband who could barely walk, I prayed and prayed for strength and faith. Half way home my cell phone rang. It was Mayo Clinic saying they had accepted Cory as a patient and they could see him the following week due to a cancellation! Then I cried even harder, except these were tears of joy!
After several tests, the Neurologist at Mayo Clinic diagnosed Cory with Functional Movement Disorder and Functional Dystonia. This is a rare brain disorder affecting the frontal lobe of the brain causing it to send wrong signals through the nervous system, causing the uncontrollable muscle tremors. Unfortunately following one of the tests, Cory started having facial and head spasms. His facial muscles would twist and grimmace, especially after a sudden noise like the chime in the elevator when the doors would open/close. His tollerance for noise lessened as he started having facial spasms when the microwave beeped, oven timer beeped, car horn honked, music played loudly, bells ringing, etc. So he started wearing ear plugs and we tried to eliminate noises that caused him to react this way, but with those noises eliminated his body picked up on other sounds in his environment causing his eyes to roll back and close, jaw to clench and lock, neck to spasm, chest and stomach to spasm. It seemed as though everything we tried just didn't help, and his condition was worsening.
In January 2015 Cory went back to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, for a physical therapy program. The physical therapists had him work through his tremors/spasms during the therapy, trying to retrain his brain to over-ride the signals. We saw some improvement within the first few days, Cory could ride in an elevator without having facial spasms. Some of the other noises that caused the spasms weren't affecting him as much. The physical therapists gave Cory exercises to continue at home and told us that it would be a slow process to get him back into doing the things he used to do. We were very hopeful that over time, by doing the physical therapy at home every day, Cory would eventually be able to go back to work part-time. Cory did well at home for a few weeks, then he started fainting. The neurologist doesn't feel this is part of his neurological condition. We saw our local physican who conducted an orthostatic blood pressure test which showd Cory's blood pressure increases when he moves from lying position to sitting, and rises even more when moving from sitting to standing position. We are scheduled to see a cardiologist this week to hopefully figure out why he is so light-headed and fainting.
Cory applied for disability benifits but was denied. We have appealed the denial and are now waiting for their decision. Unfortunately we don't have disability insurance and Cory hasn't been able to work since July 2014. Any donations to help us pay medical bills and living expenses would be grately appreciated. Freinds and family are also holding a local benefit meal and auction at the Huron Elks (Huron, SD) on April 11, 2015 starting at 4pm with a pulled pork sandwich meal and 6:30pm auction. We want to thank everyone for their continued support and prayers which have gotten us through many tough months.
We will also continue to keep everyone updated through Cory's CaringBridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/corysterrett
The tremors returned in 2 weeks and Cory took the valium to stop them. He then had a neck MRI which showed 2 bulging discs but the orthopedic Dr didn't feel that they were bad enough to cause the tremors so did a brain MRI which showed everything to be normal. Two weeks later the tremors returned and the valium stopped them. But the tremors were moving into his neck, chest and abdomen cutting off his breathing and also lasting longer. Then the tremors started returning every week. We scheduled an appointment with a neurologist who prescribed muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory med and seizure med. After 3 days on new meds Cory had a bad attack and was on valium all day. Two days later he had another bad attack and was on valium all day. The next day was the same. On Monday July 28 we called the neurologist and went for an examination. While in the exam room Cory had a bad attack and couldn't breathe so they wheeled him over to the ER where they gave him meds that stopped the attack and did an EKG, chest x-ray and EEG all came back ok. As soon as meds wore off he had another bad attack and couldn't breathe so they admitted him into ICU. Every time the meds wore off he would have another attack. On Tuesday July 29 at 1030pm Cory was transferred to a hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Routine was the same, meds wore off and he'd have another attack. On Wednesday July 30 one of his attacks lasted 1 1/2 hours with meds, this was his worst one cutting off his breathing several times. We saw many doctors who couldn't explain why this was happening. After a 1 1/2 week hospital stay, EKG, EEG, Video EEG, EMG, metals test, and numerous blood tests he was released from the hospital because they couldn't find anyting wrong. We asked for a second opinion from Mayo Clinic and were released from the hospital that afternoon. On the drive home, crying all the way with an extremely drugged up husband who could barely walk, I prayed and prayed for strength and faith. Half way home my cell phone rang. It was Mayo Clinic saying they had accepted Cory as a patient and they could see him the following week due to a cancellation! Then I cried even harder, except these were tears of joy!
After several tests, the Neurologist at Mayo Clinic diagnosed Cory with Functional Movement Disorder and Functional Dystonia. This is a rare brain disorder affecting the frontal lobe of the brain causing it to send wrong signals through the nervous system, causing the uncontrollable muscle tremors. Unfortunately following one of the tests, Cory started having facial and head spasms. His facial muscles would twist and grimmace, especially after a sudden noise like the chime in the elevator when the doors would open/close. His tollerance for noise lessened as he started having facial spasms when the microwave beeped, oven timer beeped, car horn honked, music played loudly, bells ringing, etc. So he started wearing ear plugs and we tried to eliminate noises that caused him to react this way, but with those noises eliminated his body picked up on other sounds in his environment causing his eyes to roll back and close, jaw to clench and lock, neck to spasm, chest and stomach to spasm. It seemed as though everything we tried just didn't help, and his condition was worsening.
In January 2015 Cory went back to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, for a physical therapy program. The physical therapists had him work through his tremors/spasms during the therapy, trying to retrain his brain to over-ride the signals. We saw some improvement within the first few days, Cory could ride in an elevator without having facial spasms. Some of the other noises that caused the spasms weren't affecting him as much. The physical therapists gave Cory exercises to continue at home and told us that it would be a slow process to get him back into doing the things he used to do. We were very hopeful that over time, by doing the physical therapy at home every day, Cory would eventually be able to go back to work part-time. Cory did well at home for a few weeks, then he started fainting. The neurologist doesn't feel this is part of his neurological condition. We saw our local physican who conducted an orthostatic blood pressure test which showd Cory's blood pressure increases when he moves from lying position to sitting, and rises even more when moving from sitting to standing position. We are scheduled to see a cardiologist this week to hopefully figure out why he is so light-headed and fainting.
Cory applied for disability benifits but was denied. We have appealed the denial and are now waiting for their decision. Unfortunately we don't have disability insurance and Cory hasn't been able to work since July 2014. Any donations to help us pay medical bills and living expenses would be grately appreciated. Freinds and family are also holding a local benefit meal and auction at the Huron Elks (Huron, SD) on April 11, 2015 starting at 4pm with a pulled pork sandwich meal and 6:30pm auction. We want to thank everyone for their continued support and prayers which have gotten us through many tough months.
We will also continue to keep everyone updated through Cory's CaringBridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/corysterrett
Organizzatore
Cory Sterrett
Organizzatore
Huron, SD