I am Doing Okay Many Days

---

Suffered with extreme stabbing pains, from lau_g_hing, couching and straining - pains that almost knocked me down.  Lips became numb, throat also became numb and my vision in my right eye was failing.  Body aches and pains and shortage of breathe until I realized that I wasn't breathing automatically - I had to think about breathing.  Neuro's were too busy asking me why I didn't like work and why I was coming up with thse odd sythoms to really investigate.  Same old, same old - "it is in your head" was all that the doctors and specialist could tell me.  Finally a Google search and I had my answer - ACM.  I told this to my doctor who never heard of it but he referred me again to a Neuro doctor.  He said ACM is to rare but after much pleading, he put me on a long list for the MRI scan.  Ten months latrer my self diagnose was confirmed and I was operated on with a few weeks.  Very rough after the surgery but finally I was fine and sythim free for about 4 - 5 years.  Many problems started creep[ing back and soon I retired a few months early after using all of my vacation, sick and comp leave as I was unwell most days.  I took a 1% penalaty so it was so bad.  However I wasn't strong enough to work part-time to sublement my pension but bit by bit I got a little better after retirement so that I still have bad days and sometimes weeks but I am doing okay.