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Jello
Social climber
No Ut
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Oct 16, 2006 - 08:06pm PT
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Several people on here have mentioned they have had Bell's Palsey. Seems like a high percentage of such a small group. I also had Bell's Palsy, when I was 18. I was going to school, such as it was, at a tiny place called Tahoe Paradise College, that had just been established in an old motel in South Lake Tahoe. The school folded after three years, ending my academic career. but that's another story. Anyway, the left side of my face went completely numb, I was drooling out of the left side of my mouth like a labrador retriever, and I couldn't close the eye. The doc had nothing of substance to offer, except eye-drops and a patch, so, not too happy with the idea of attending school in this condition, I hitched down to Yosemite and spent a couple weeks hanging out in the snow in Camp 4 (it was February or March). I got a few climbs in with the few climbers who weren't completely wierded out by my appearance. Things gradually improved, and after about a month my face was pretty much back to normal, but to this day the left side of my mouth is a bit lower than the right side, and I have little ticks and twinges on the left side, too. I've been looking into a possible connection with MS, which appeared more than three decades later in my life.
Tim, I hope you're continuing to improve. These neurological problems are tricky.
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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Oct 16, 2006 - 08:24pm PT
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My mom had Bells Palsey when she was about 45, it went away after a few weeks (2 months?) but changed the 'drape' of her face, though you wouldn't think of it (Jello, would) if you met her. She, however (83, now) is always outing people on Tv, ("I'll bet he had Bells!") and I've gotten an idea what she looks for. No family history of MS or anything neurological, otherwise, though she did have a pituitary (goiter) opp prior, and has been on supplemental, iodine? or whatever you need when you remove your pituitary gland , ever since.
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jstan
climber
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Oct 16, 2006 - 08:44pm PT
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You know I look at people too wondering if they have had Bell's Palsy. Matt Damon for one. Does not seem to have held him back. If you don't get physical therapy and are paralyzed for too long I think you end up with just skin over bone on one side of the face. But then like leg muscles after a broken leg, maybe they can come back. If they did not, you could get roles in monster movies. I missed my calling.
Cheers,
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TradIsGood
Fun-loving climber
the Gunks end of the country
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Oct 17, 2006 - 09:40pm PT
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Hmmm.
SammyLee called him on his cell phone.
Anybody ever actually call him at the hospital?
What is his room number?
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Zander
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Oct 17, 2006 - 11:44pm PT
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Tim,
Best wishes to you, man. I'm in your corner.
My brother had Bells Palsy. It took a couple of years but he had a complete recovery.
See ya,
Zander
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TradIsGood
Fun-loving climber
the Gunks end of the country
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Oct 18, 2006 - 06:48am PT
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http://www.neamedicalcenter.com/patientinfo.htm#wha
FOR YOUR SAFETY
One of our prime concerns if the safety of our patients, visitors, and employees. You can help us to ensure safety be observing the following regulations.
• Leave all medications at home. Your physician and pharmacy will tend to your medication needs during your hospital stay.
• Please do not bring electrical appliances to the hospital. Any electric equipment you bring such as an electric razor, curling iron, etc., must be checked in by the Engineering Department prior to use in the hospital. A nurse on your unit will contact Engineering to provide this service to you.
• Please call a nurse and ask for help. This can help prevent an accidental fall.
• Please do not attempt getting in or out of a wheelchair without assistance.
• Use of cellular phones is prohibited in the hospital due to interference with sensitive equipment.
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immanti
climber
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Oct 18, 2006 - 04:14pm PT
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Hey Tim, I'm sorry to hear about this, hope you're doing well. We're all pulling for you and hope you get better very soon. Let us know if we can help in any way.
Dario
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G_Gnome
Boulder climber
Sick Midget Land
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Oct 18, 2006 - 04:49pm PT
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Jaybro, a goiter grows on your thyroid gland in your neck, not your pituitary which is in the middle of your brain. And she takes 'synthroid' which is T4 to make up for the loss. The loss of the thyroid is relatively minor compared to the loss of your pituitary which actually drives all the other parts of your endocrine system to make the chemicals that your body needs.
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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Oct 18, 2006 - 05:08pm PT
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Correcto, I said pit when i meant thyroid. My bad.
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TGreene
Trad climber
Jonesboro, Arkansas
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Oct 18, 2006 - 07:31pm PT
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John has written the following letter, and asked me to post it on all of our behalf...
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Hello everyone! I felt I needed to say something at this juncture because I've been so overwhelmed by all your responses to helping me out after the tragic accident that took our good friend Steve Karafa and left me with a little broken neck. I haven't been too talkative lately since this whole thing still seems like a bad dream, but I want you all to know I am extremely grateful and moved by all your assistance and well wishes during the last couple of months. I don't know how to ever repay all your kindness but I will certainly try my hardest.
As you may know, I want to set up a Steve Karafa Memorial Fund with any extra money that has been collected and to use it in his honor to help out other climbers who find themselves in severe trouble. Unfortunately, the need for this help has happened all too rapidly. Our friend Tim Greene called me from the hospital the other day and asked for financial assistance from the very fund he had been organizing to help me out. I of course told him to use whatever funds he needed as his situation was and still is extremely dangerous. I know any of us would have done the same thing under the circumstances and I know Steve Karafa would too. I know these funds were meant by you to go to help me, but I’m asking everyone to understand why I gave some to help Tim Greene out. I myself will be OK, I hope that Tim will be OK as well but he still needs the help of neurological specialists and is having a very difficult time finding any.
Anyway, I want to say thanks again for all your support and generosity – I’ll never be able to repay it but hopefully we can start an enduring means to benefit unfortunate climbers through the Steve Karafa Memorial Fund. Hopefully I’ll see you at the crags soon!
Cheers, John Bachar
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Since I'm not sure what the future holds for me in regards to climbing at this point, due to the neurological mess I'm dealing with, I will be going through my gear in order to itemize and sell most of it in order to replenish the fund for the next person(s) in need.
-Tim
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up2top
Big Wall climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Oct 18, 2006 - 08:07pm PT
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Are you freakin serious? I have given money to this cause and spoken up on your behalf to ask others to do the same, and now it turns out some of this is going back to you?! Tim, I don't know what to say, but this looks very bad and extremely shady. I'm not calling you a liar, but you're setting yourself up for some SERIOUS scrutiny if you do this.
Keep this legit and hold a separate fund raiser.
Ed
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Jello
Social climber
No Ut
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Oct 18, 2006 - 08:37pm PT
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up-
Why don't you look at this as an opportunity to help out two friends at the same time. There is quite obviously nothing shady going on here. Just a couple of unfortunate circumstances for a couple of good people. I, for one, would not wish to deprive John of this opportunity to offer help to a fellow climber (human being). Please don't turn this sequence of events into something negative.
With all respect,
Jeff Lowe
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crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Oct 18, 2006 - 08:41pm PT
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Is there currently any kind of organization or fund or non profit or....anything that helps folks in need financially for life threatening things (illness, accident) that is geared towards climbing or outdoor sports in general?
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Indianclimber
climber
Las Vegas
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Oct 18, 2006 - 09:13pm PT
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I dont feel Tim did all this work for John with the intention to benefit himself ,however its a cruel world we
live in and Tim and his family are now is in a desperate situation.
With Johns blessing to help out Tim I feel the right thing for me to do is to match my previous donation to help out both in need.
It touches me to see someone in a situation where they have to sell
there gear to pay bills , taking away from themselves the
light at the end of the tunnel for them to climb again when they need goals the most to get through their situation.
Our thoughts are with both of you and your family's
http://bachar.gr-outdoors.net
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Oct 18, 2006 - 09:25pm PT
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Easy Kate, I don't see anything wrong/shady going on here. Tim helped out John, now he needs help. Good luck Tim.
Robert
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maldaly
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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Oct 18, 2006 - 10:04pm PT
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I talked to John today and he was totally psyched that he could forward some of the money that had been donated to his fund to help Tim out. Once it became clear to him that his insurance would cover him pretty well. John, Anastasia, Lisa Karafa and others began talking about setting up the Steve Karafa Fund to be there to help out other climbers who face staggering medical bills.
That Tim Greene, who went to all the effort to organize the raffle was the next guy in line to have some serious medical problems, was also the first recipient of a grant from the Steve Karafa Fund, can ony be considered a closing of the karmic circle.
We all wish we had had more time to set up the fund officially before hand, but we didn't. This has been yet another great example of the climbing community rallying to help itself.
Thanks to all,
Mal
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G_Gnome
Boulder climber
Sick Midget Land
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Oct 18, 2006 - 10:13pm PT
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Nice. John, thanks from all of us. It sucks that Tim and you are both going thru bad times but maybe with everyone's help you will both come out of this well. And Ana, thanks for helping.
Jan McCollum
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TradIsGood
Fun-loving climber
the Gunks end of the country
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Oct 18, 2006 - 11:09pm PT
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I am not a doctor. I do have two brothers who are.
What about MS or multiple sclerosis would be confused with aural migraines?
I know there are some medical types on here. LEB, others?
Something about this just does not seem right. The ethics of asking for contributions for one thing, and using the proceeds for something else aside...
I am getting the same feeling I had about that Marine in Colorado.
Is it just me? I am hearing music. I think it is Elvis.
"We're caught in a trap
I can't walk out..."
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Jello
Social climber
No Ut
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Oct 18, 2006 - 11:19pm PT
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TIG-
No one has suggested any connection between aural migraines and MS. As an aside on this thread, Golson and jstan mentioned that they had had Bell's Palsy, the only connection being that it, too, is a neurological disorder. Then in response to their postings, I mentioned that I also had had BP a long time ago, and I'm currently looking into any possible connection with MS, which I have developed more recently. So no connection or link between MS and Tim's problem has been alleged.
I think you might be looking through the wrong end of the binoculars, in this case.
-Jeff Lowe
EDIT: Just looked again at the earlier postings, TIG, and in fact Tim did say at one point the docs were considering MS. Doesn't change my message, though, MS is not ruled out in a lot of neurological symptomology, until another diagnosis is confirmed. I know this from experience.
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WBraun
climber
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Oct 18, 2006 - 11:36pm PT
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Thus we can conclude from our understanding of this thread that the body is the source of all misery .......
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