MY HANDI-CAPABLE REPORTER AUGUST 2003
Changing Pessimism to Optimism VOL. 8 ISS. 8
We'd like to introduce you to our real phenom, who was brought to us by Roger and Suzi Hermans, and tells us his story.
My name is George Geithner, and I would like to share my story with you about how and when I started getting Multiple Sclerosis symptoms.
In 1961 I joined the Army. The very first day that I had the opportunity to get on the rifle range and fire my rifle I couldn't. All of a sudden my knees swelled up and I got very dizzy and weak. I was taken to sick bay where a doctor could examine me. He said that he thought I had the measles and put me in the hospital for three days. My symptoms disappeared and I was sent back to my unit and my life returned to normal.
Before I was discharged from the Army in 1964 I made up my mind to move to California because I couldn't take the cold winters in New Jersey anymore I went back home to New Jersey and I worked there for four months then I moved to California, where I got my first job at Max Factor.
I also wanted to learn how to use machinery, so I enrolled in a machine tool technology school. During the last two weeks of school, when we were doing finals, I was studying very hard and not getting much sleep. One day I started
After the finals finished I decided to go to the VA Hospital and get checked out. The doctor said he thought the dizziness was from all of the stress I was going through with the school finals. He told me not to worry, that it probably wouldn't happen again, that I was working too hard.
In 1969 I got married and had two children. Life was good at this time.
In 1973 - 1974 my MS symptoms started up again while I was going to a plastic technology school. During a course I got sick for three weeks. I couldn't walk very well. My balance was bad; I had to hold onto things so I wouldn't fall. I decided to go back to the VA Hospital for another exam. This doctor said that I was stressed out from school, the same thing the last doctor told me. Then, just like before, I got better.
During this time period, I started my own business providing waterproofing services for buildings and structures.
In 1976 while I was waterproofing the roof on Space Mountain at Disneyland my feet started tingling, burning, and felt numbness. I started loosing my balance again and had to hold onto things so I wouldn't fall down. I also started loosing my bladder and bowl functions.
I went to see a chiropractor. He said working on the steep roof pinched nerves in my back which was causing these symptoms in my legs and feet.
After being treated by him for four years, I wasn't getting any better, only worse.
He sent me to UCLA in 1980 where they diagnosed me with Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.
By the end of 1980 I was using a cane and walker.
At the beginning of 1981 I was in an electric wheelchair. I had no strength or muscle control left in my arms and hands.
In 1982 I was so bad that I had to have hand controls and an automatic lift installed in my van.
In 1986 I lost use of my hands completely. I have to drive my electric wheelchair with my right elbow. I was progressively getting worse.
In 1995 my hand got so bad that I had to apply a weight to my wrist to prevent my hand from coming up and choking me. My tendons were shrinking. It has become harder to control my wheelchair with my elbow. I use a mouth stick to turn pages, dial the phone, and use the TV remote control.
My wife and children had left me so I have to rely on live in attendants to care for me as I am unable to do anything for myself.
I try not to let my MS get me down. I find things to do everyday to keep myself busy.
The medications that I take on a daily basis are:
Baclofen (For Spasms)
Amantadine ( Heat Tolerance) Heat makes me weak and very sick
From 1995 to present my condition is about the same.
My doctor is amazed that I am as healthy as I am. I've never really been sick except in the winter when I get a cold. For this, I feel very lucky.