Hello all.

Some of you here might have noticed that I haven't been around in the forums for quite a long time; and I can't even remember when my last post was...

About four or five moths ago, I started feeling some numbness that comes and goes in my left hand. First I thought I had sprained it somehow, or maybe slept over it. But numbness continued and my left hand became always numb, day and night that is that I couldn't play the piano and stopped going to my lessons. I was still convinced that it was something that will go by itself.
But it didn't go, so then I had an appointment with a neurologist who asked for electromyography and nerve conduction tests as start.. I will not bore you details, but as if Pandora's box has been opened; I haven't stopped having tests since then. From MRIs to different lab works to a spinal tap and the latest was a painful nerve biopsy. The spinal tap and some other blood tests indicated an inflammation because of a high level CSF total protein, and then the nerve biopsy said that there is evidence of demyelination and remyelination taking place in the myelin sheath. In other words - nerves are getting weaker. Basically I have been diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Demyeliniating Neuropathy, and now not only my left hand is numb, but also my right hand, in addition to difficuly in walking and currently using a stick to move.

So you see, with all this, leaving piano, I thought being on a music forum is pointless... It just reminds me of being unable to play one octave of the C major scale. I have started medication, and my doctor told me that it is very treatble albeit we can never guarantee when a relapse might happen. It made me feel so sad as I was really looking forward to taking music as what I would do for a living in the future- but now, apparently, it is quite impossible.

And then I find out that the favourite recording award goes to me.. You have no idea how this cheered me up and made me finally smile. I just want to thank you all, and very well done to everybody else.

There there... I will stop now, and I'm sorry for giving you a migrane with all this talking and whining.


( To DaisyChain - I was just reading your thread as well.. I hope everything is sorted out and get well soon)

Who says you cant be on the forum just because you can no longer play the piano. You can still hide in the forums cafe...

~Wobby~

Aww, Dina, how truly awful for you . I wondered why you hadn't been around for a while...

You sound as if you are being very brave and stoic about this and I have everything crossed that you respond well to the treatment and will be able to start playing again.

There seem to be so many forum members well and truly going through the mill with health problems at the moment...

hello la chopiniste.. (nice 2 meet u)

really sorry to hear that

i hope u get better and can enjoy what u want to enjoy!

My heart goes out to you. What a difficult time you must have had.....at least the neurologists have managed to establish a diagnosis and there is therapy available. Only time will tell what sort of course the condition will take.

Your recording was by far the best on the website - I was completely bowled over by it and nothing else touched it as far as I was concerned. Don't give up on music - you have vast experience even though your playing may be limited from now on. And don't be disheartened - neurological science is the next 'big thing' in research......

You'll always be warmly welcomed in the Forums....

All the best,

xxx

Good to hear from you, Dina, and good to hear that you can smile thorough what must be a horrendous experience. Words seem a bit ineffectual, in fact, when something like this can happen to such a talented person.

Thinking of you - and please do stay on the forums. I missed you!

The forum really is dropping like flies I do hope your condition improves soon , you have my every sympathy - I've been unable to play for more than a few minutes at a time without pain for months.

Et tu.....

I didn't know...all the best as well.

xxx

Hi Chopiniste. Hopefully a permanent solution will be found and you will be able to do a little piano playing. Take care. All the best.

Hello Chopiniste!

Since I've joined the forums I don't think you have posted, but I just wanted to add my good wishes to the rest. It must have been a big blow to have to stop playing, and I do hope they can treat your condition so that you can enjoy your music-making once again, even if it's no longer a potential career.

Do keep looking in on the forums - they usually cheer me up!

Hey Dina

I'm so sorry to hear this, and really do hope that you start to improve soon

Please stick around on the forums, you can always just come and lounge in the café Oooh, and well done for the award, it really was an amazing recording

xxxxx

Very sad to hear this, Dina, and you as well, YAP.

Very well done indeed for the award, Dina.

That must be awful.. I have no idea what it must be like to be able to play like that and then not....

Very sorry to hear that -wishing you all the best Dina. Your recording was rather special

....and best wishes for a speedy recovery too YAP.

Thanks a million for all your thoughful replies. I'm so sorry to hear that other forumites aren't feeling well in the mean time too, and I'm praying for a speedy recovery to everyone...
I really did miss forum-ing, and I will try to catch what I've been missing and get to know people who have joined the forums and I haven't had the chance to blab with them yet.

Dina - your recordings are magical, never forget that.

I am going to write a letter to you now x

Hi La Chopiniste/Dina

I think i probably joined since you were last here, so i thought i'd say hi, and get well soon.

Sarah