| I too was relieved when I was finally diagnosed with OT in Marshfield WI by Dr. Roulak approx 2 yrs ago. I have had the symtoms of this disease since I was in my 20s and being a barber I had attributed it to standing most of the day and just a general tiredness in my legs from that, but in reality I was doing more leaning into the barber chair than than standing. I dealt with these symtoms until about 2 yrs ago when all of a sudden I couldnt stand for even a minute. Even though I leaned against the chair and clenched my toes. When I went to Dr Roulak and he said I had a condition known as OT and that I was going to take Clonazepam 5mg 3 times a day. I thought it was a waste of a Dr appt. as I couldnt believe that this medication was going to relieve my symtoms. However I remember taking the first pill at approx 10 am and I got back to my Barbershop at 2 pm and I had to sit on a stool for my first haircut and then I started my second haircut and I couldnt believe that I didnt need that stool and I didnt need to lean against the barber chair to do my work. I took my second pill of the day at that time and from that time, to this day I have never had a problem. I had all the other problems in malls and stores where I would have to lean on something or have something nearby that I could grab on to like others with OT. I dreaded meeting someone I knew who wanted to stop and talk as I knew that it had to be a very short coversation. Up until that time, I had never fell down but there were times that another second or two and I was going down. An embarassment that I would have a hard time handling. I am Catholic and I remember how I dreaded going to communion just for the fear of falling. My wife and children were always asked to walk in front of me and there were times that I grab them on the shoulders as a sign of closeness, but the real reason was that I felt I was going down. Anyway, I read where one OT patients had TB, I also had TB when I was 5 yrs old and I was treated with the medication they used at that time. I remember one of the treatments was an injection in the butt for a period of months each day.I dont know what that medication was. I also want to add that I was in my early 20s when these OT symtoms started and it was at that time that while playing basketball the rim broke off and struck me in the head. I suffered a severe concussion at that time which gave me a headache for 3 days. Whether this is related to OT I dont know and I forgot to mention that to my Dr. I am in my 50s and I do most everything that any other normal 50 yr old would do, in fact I still jog about 31/2 miles a day which I had been doing prior to treatment for OT the only thing is when I was done jogging it felt like I was going down so I had to keep walking. Gloria thanks for this web page and it sure help me realize that I wasnt alone with this disease. I like so many, am happy just to know what my problem was and that I can deal with it. Thanks for listening George.WI USA |