Jessica Slechter Sheahan is with Tim Sheahan.
October 3 at 8:04 AM ·
Well look here....Someone walked with the walker to kitchen table. Goal for the day met by 8:00am. Tim woke up and said, "I think I'm going to walk to the kitchen." I said, "Um, ok. I'm going to put some shoes on!" This is the third day he has been able to stand up. He celebrated with a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats at the table. Second round of IV steroids was yesterday and things are slowly and steadily improving. The mascot for CIDP and GBS is the turtle. He is embracing that!
After his second trip (10 days this time) to Johns Hopkins Hospital, we are happy to say that Dr. Sheahan is back at home and hopefully on the road to recovery. This stay involved multiple tests (MRI’s, CT’s, PET scan, numerous blood tests) and he had 5 treatments of plasmapheresis, to hopefully stop and reverse the progression of CIDP (an autoimmune neuromuscular disease). Since his third treatment, he has noticed some return of leg strength, which is the first positive sign since his illness began 12 weeks ago. Dr. Sheahan thanks everyone for their prayers and support as well as the many cards and messages of well wishes. He feels truly blessed and touched by the show of support he has received. We will keep you posted of his progress.
Well here goes round #2. Had an appointment at Hopkins today, and Neuro Team was very worried about my continued decline with my CIDP. So tomorrow I'll check in to the hospital for 10 days to receive 5 rounds of plasmapheresis treatment. It's going to be hard being alone again in the hospital, but I can't continue to decline like this. Hoping this round works. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes. I feel very fortunate knowing I won't truly be alone (just isolated).
Thank you so much for your thoughts an prayers. I'm home after my stay at "Hotel Johns Hopkins". I had 5 rounds of IVIG treatment and more testing than I can recall. Looks like we were able to begin my CIDP treatment before it caused any permanent nerve damage. I'm hopeful that we're heading down recovery road, even if it has the potential to be a long and twisting one. Thankfully, I have a great support team lead by my wife, Jessica.
If you were in the office the past few weeks, you might have noticed Dr. Sheahan was walking with more and more difficulty with each passing day. After several weeks of consultations, exams and testing, Dr. Sheahan is currently at Johns Hopkins Hospital where he has begun treatment for a neurological condition called CIDP. He will be out of the office until after Labor Day, as he begins his road to recovery.
Dr. Sheahan’s update from his personal FB page.
Tim Sheahan is with Jessica Slechter Sheahan at Michaux State Forest.
October 10 at 6:47 PM · Fayetteville, PA ·
Slowly getting some leg strength back. Yay! I'm able to walk a few times each day with a walker now, but the wheelchair is still my main mode of transportation (due to fatigue). Hands and feet still have some numbness but hopefully they will start to improve soon. Made it to my Happy Place in the woods (yes, I cried). This is where Jess and I run often, so it was mostly happy but also a bit sad to be there. Celebrated by standing for a bit, making it a great day. Earlier had a friend stop by and give me a hair cut (my usual summer cut) and I'm keeping the "Santa Beard", just because it makes me happy. Thanks for the prayers, letters, texts, messages and well wishes. It's a long slow road but I'm attacking it with confidence and a positive attitude. #CIDP
Tim Sheahan is with Emily Sheahan and Jessica Slechter Sheahan at Caledonia State Park.
November 14 at 5:48 PM · Fayetteville, PA ·
Went for short walk with Emily and Jess along one of my favorite creeks. Very slow recovery with a few bad days sprinkled in, but just trying to focus on the positives. I fatigue easily, so mornings are my best time of day and with the beautiful sunshine this morning was a good day. I have had several letters and texts asking how I can stay so positive. I've always been an optimist and I've always been able to see a problem and make a plan. This has greatly helped me to stay positive and remain "oh so pleasant", especially on the bad days when I feel like I've had a set back (I added my favorite quote from "Harvey", which I feel the whole world would do well to follow). I've also been asked if I had, or if this is COVID related, and NO it is not. This disease is CIDP and is an autoimmune disease where my body decided to attack the myelin covering my peripheral nerves. As I've said before, it's treatable but not curable, but I'm focused on the treatable part. Thanks for your continued support and prayers. At times I feel like George Bailey (I know, a second Jimmy Stewart reference) , and it truly is humbling. Here's a short video link explaining CIDP.
https://youtu.be/oDSWrMkvnn0
Tim Sheahan is with Jessica Slechter Sheahan in Ocean City, Maryland.
October 30 at 4:28 PM · Ocean City, MD ·
What do Lance Armstrong and I have in common. We've both done triathlons, ultra marathons and use(d) steroids. Today I'm getting my weekly 1000mg dose of methylprednisolone. Lance got his own cocktail. Feeling stronger week by week but some days have set backs. Able to walk a bit with a cane, but I do tend to look like Frankenstein's monster. Hands and feet still feel a little numb, but hoping that too will improve. Sunday Jessica Slechter Sheahan and I got away to Ocean City for a few days for a change in scenery. Made our usual stops for OC's gustatory requirements. Thanks for the continued support and prayers. Baby steps are still signs of progress.
Great news, I’ll be back to work soon. I’ll start with part time and increase hours as my legs tolerate. I’ve missed you guys!
Tim Sheahan is with Jessica Slechter Sheahan.
January 30 at 4:08 AM ·
Guess I haven’t updated in a few weeks. My progression has continued on its own desired schedule (not my schedule) and I’m moving easier and now (mostly) without any ambulation aid at all (that means I’m cane free). Learning to walk again has been a chore to say the least. I’ve had a few hikes in Michaux Forest and Jess and I took a break this week and went to Ocean City for a few days, at $60 per night ocean front, we couldn’t pass that up. As I walk I need to concentrate on what my legs are doing (or trying to do). It’s a bit strange, but it’s been working. Fatigue still sets in and then I’m pretty much done for the day, but I’m able to do much more than a month ago. I have a long way to go. Treatment wise, I’m currently taking 25% of the inhuman amount of steroids that I started at. My dose is still 15 times the normal daily high dose, but I take it all one time (luckily just one a week). Even at 300mg every Friday, I’m still up most of the night, but on the plus side I think I’ve read every British Historical Detective series available on Kindle (that’s no joke, I think it stems from my love of Dickens). Now the big news, I’m hoping to make it back to work soon and have a few short days scheduled. I miss work and I’m at the physical stage where I need the mental stimulation to help push forward with recovery. Jess continues to be my Rock. Our trip away was my plan to get her out for a break from work for a short bit, since with COVID and my CIDP, we missed all of our usual getaways for 2020. On the COVID note, I’ve had round #1 of the vaccine and next week get round #2. I take the steroids to suppress my immune system (to treat the autoimmune damage from CIDP) so getting vaccinated was essential to getting me back to work. Thanks again for all the messages, cards, notes and texts. This has been a long tunnel, but I can see the light. So I’ll finish with wise words from Amanda Gorman - “For there is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” #CIDP
Tim Sheahan is with Patricia Gladmon Sheahan and 2 others at Michaux State Forest.
December 10, 2020 at 8:23 PM · Fayetteville, PA ·
Week by week I am slowly, slowly, slowly showing signs of improvement. (I know now why the Sea Turtle is the CIDP mascot.) I've settled into my weekly routine, consisting of PT sessions (where I usually get scolded for doing too much), daily exercise sessions (where I usually do too much), daily naps (love my new chair), lots of reading (Kindle Unlimited is my friend), some TV (daytime TV is horrible), giving Jess a back rub (the least I can do for all her work helping me), and the highlight of the week is my Friday date with a nurse (for an inhuman amount of steroids delivered via IV). The steroids have not made me into the Incredible Hulk, but do make me want to eat myself into the Incredible Bulk. My hope of being back to work by early January looks too optimistic, so I'll shoot for February now. Reevaluate, adapt, repeat, is the new normal. I'm walking better but fatigue sets in rapidly and I still have that pesky numbness in my hands and feet. Today was a beautiful day so I invited Mom and Debbie for a scenic drive and picnic lunch to see some places where Jess and I used to run (and where I will run again). One positive from being off work on disability is you get a lot of free lunches and I never pass up a free lunch (thanks, Mom). Thanks for your continued thoughts, prayers and support. I can stay strong knowing I have so many pulling for me. It does help. I didn't choose to get CIDP, but I can choose how I respond to this challenge. If I can be positive, so can you. Love to all. #CIDP