Age: 47.0
Sex: M
Vaccine: UNK
Symptoms: Mood swings, Neurological symptom, Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, Pain in extremity, Personality change
Clinical narrative: March 31, 2000: Patient removed from apartment by emergency personnel after family could not reach him. Patient was taken to medical center, where he regained consciousness later that day. Patient had suffered rhabdomyolysis of left lower back area due to prolonged period of unconsciousness; patient was also delirious, confused, and unable to walk. However, no formal neurological diagnosis was made at this time, and after ten days of hospitalization (including three days in intensive care) patient was discharged to a rehabilitation facility, and then discharged to home on or about April 12, 2000 where he self-administered intravenous antibiotics (upon doctor's orders) with the assistance of a visiting nurse. May 4, 2000: Patient became severely confused (after a week or so of progressive mental instability) and was re-admitted by ambulance to medical center with apparent neurological symptoms. Following diagnosis by MD, and a brain biopsy performed by MD on or about May 20, 2000, patient was diagnosed as suffering from acute demyelinating leukoencephalopathy. He was given approximately seven treatments of plasma aphaeresis, all of which required insertion of catheters into arteries in his neck which remained in place from the administration of the second treatment until the last. After first two treatments, patient's condition improved, and patient was transferred for rehabilitation in early June, 2000. Patient was transported to and from the hospital for the remainder of the plasma aphaeresis treatments. Patient was discharged in early July, 2000, and received approximately a month of outpatient therapy, including physical therapy and occupational therapy. Patient returned home in early August, 2000. Beginning in August , 2000 (until late December, 2003) patient was under the care of MD, an internal medicine specialist who followed patient's case generally and addressed the multiple pain issues that remained following hospitalization. February, 2002: Patient again became severely confused and showed impaired mental ability and loss of function (apparently following a brief cold or flu). Patient was hospitalized, under the care of MD and MD. Following three days of hospitalization, patient had to recuperate for four to six weeks before he could resume work or other normal activities. November, 2002: Patient suffered apparent neurological relapse and had to be taken to medical center by ambulance. Patient hospitalized for approximately three days, seen by both MD, and discharged to recuperate at home. Patient was unable to resume normal activities until early January, 2003. August, 2004: Patient suffered apparent neurological relapse. Patient recalls being hospitalized briefly, and was seen by his new primary care physician, MD, and MD. Patient required approximately four weeks of recuperation before resuming normal activities. June, 2006: Patient hospitalized for two to three days following another neurological relapse. Patient was unable to work during the month of June, 2006. During this time, patient consulted another neurologist, MD. After receiving all hospital records and a new MRI exam, doctor offered a diagnosis of disseminating encephalomyelitis, but indicated that the disease appeared to be the same as that which patient had suffered from since March of 2000. July 14, 2006: Patient suffered a seizure, stopped breathing, and was brought to hospital by ambulance. The diagnosis of seizure was confirmed by MD, who indicated that patient may have also suffered a seizure just prior to the June, 2006 hospitalization. Patient required a recuperation period of the remainder of July through the end of August, 2000 until he was able to resume normal activities. Patient continued to suffer physical as well as psychological symptoms on a daily basis. Physical symptoms included but are not limited to fatigue, severe pain in both feet and lower extremities, irregular sleep patterns; psychological symptoms included but are not limited to depression, anxiety, low tolerance for stress, mood swings, and demonstrations of certain personality changes, most notably, a shorter temper, lack of patience, and generally lowered threshold for frustration. Patient's right to operate a motor vehicle has been revoked twice due to ongoing and persistent neurological symptoms.