Jay "The Birdman" Stumpff - My Story

As you know I have a tumor on my pituitary gland and the new alone leads down a scary path (see Story). Finding out about what the tumor does and how it affects my body can be overwhelming. The effects closely resemble diabetes yet my blood sugar remains normal. Now a new aspect that I have read about but had not been confirmed until yesterday.

I went back to the doctor, again, yesterday after having a bone scan done last week. I found out that I have lost over 25% of bone density. I have what is called osteopenia, which is the beginning sign of osteoporosis. That is the thinning of bones making them brittle. That is why the doctor thinks I broke my leg in January (see Broke). My doctor said that this is the first for him. He has never seen anyone as young as me (33-years old) have osteopenia.

Here is the fun part of all of that. I also have CMT, Charcot Marie Tooth disease which is a neural muscular disease that attacks the nerves and leads to muscle loss. Now I have my muscles atrophying and my bones starting to thin. My legs are turning to pudding. I guess I am what I eat. My doctors have always said that if I exercise that I should do non-weight bearing exercises. Now with osteopenia part of the treatment calls for weight bearing exercises.

I mailed off the prescription today for Dostinex, the medicine to treat and shrink the tumor. I am scared about the side effects and I don’t like taking even aspirin to help my headaches. I don’t like the toxic chemicals that the drugs have in them. I don’t want to introduce that junk to my body. But I do not have a choice.

I need prayer. I need prayer for courage to face all of these mounting symptoms. I need prayers to stand as problems flood around me. I need prayers to ease my anxiety about the medication. I need prayers for immediate relief of the symptoms once I start taking the medication.

(see also Mein Kamph)

~Bird~

Wow Jay. I have read these words and sat and thought about them, but what words can be said? Just know that you and your family are in my prayers every night. Ryan wants you to know the same goes for him.

Posted by: Jason at April 21, 2005 09:03 PM

Thanks Jason...That means alot to us and hopefully one of these days we can get up to see you in KC. Maybe catch a Baseball game or something.
Take care,
Dianne

Posted by: Dianne at April 25, 2005 04:22 PM