I was 26 years old when I was diagnosed. I’m 46 now. It’s been 20 years. It’s hard to remember what life was like before it. It becomes a blur because I also had my daughter at 27. When I had my first attack, my entire left side went numb with muscle atrophy and they needed to rule out stroke. Due to this fact they made me come off birth control. They just forgot to tell me I was clear…
It’s official, today I renewed my blog’s domain name for another two years. This also renewed my iPage contract that my blog is hosted through. I made my commitment to my blog, to my readers and to myself. That means I’m going to be around every day for another two years. I have to admit, I’ve been a little lazy with this blog. I haven’t put much effort in lately. It wasn’t done on purpose, it was just a tough…
It wasn’t always a battle. I remember at 40 I was still walking pretty good. I’d have a limp every now and then, when my legs were tired, but an outsider would never know. I’d have occasional bathroom accidents that I used to hide, but back then it was easier. Most of my symptoms were invisible. My balance was never great and I wasn’t running any marathons. Hell, I wasn’t walking any marathons either but I was nothing like I…
I wanted to clear something up about the wheelchairs. I actually have three wheelchairs. One is the manual one that someone would have to push, one is a travel scooter that breaks down and fits in my car, and my other one is an electric wheelchair with the motor on the armrest. That one is the main heavy duty wheelchair. The travel and scooter is always in my car. It fits in my little civic without a problem. The problem…
I have to admit, I’m getting tired. Those walks to get from my car inside a building are taking longer and longer. Each step is getting harder and harder to make. I don’t know why, I saw my mom for like three seconds the other day and I said I think the next car has to be equipped for a wheelchair. Since this was such a fast visit she said does this have to be a discussion now. Who could…
One thing I can say for myself, is I never let MS dictate what I can or can’t do. When I was married I bought a treadmill. I’m sure you can guess, it wasn’t long before that treadmill became an extension of my closet. Clothes ended up being tossed over it more often than the treadmill was ever turned on. After my divorce I made the decision to buy an elliptical. In that decision I also made a deal, I…
My mother sent me a text yesterday to write down the questions I have for the neurologist. It’s been 20 years, what questions do I still have for the neurologist? I know the research, I know what’s out there and I know what I’m on. Unfortunately, there is nothing for secondary progressive and therefore there is nothing that will stop the MS progression at this point. I’m very positive, but I’m also a realist. I’m not gonna run around with…
My poor Marshy was sick all night. When my dog is up sick, I’m up. It was a long night but he finally got whatever was in his belly out. Unfortunately it came out all over my blanket that now needs to be cleaned. After that final incident, he was finally able to sleep. It’s a crazy coincidence, but I too woke up sick this morning. Today I normally go to physical therapy. I woke up I got dressed and…
Does rain ever affect your multiple sclerosis? I find lately that the moisture in the air does have a small impact on my day. It’s certainly plays a role with my migraines. I’ve had headaches basically all week. However today they are expecting a nor’easter. New York State agencies are gearing up for a Thursday-to-Saturday nor’easter that could drench and blast Long Island with rain and high winds and envelop upstate with snow, officials said. From the moment I woke…
When I first was diagnosed, maybe in the first 10 years, I have to admit any little thing I felt I used to think immediately it was the multiple sclerosis. It took me a while to kind of know how MS showed in my body, really what MS was, and how it was going to affect me. Now that it’s been 20 years, I think what I find amazing is when other doctors don’t have an answer so they blame…
