I was thinking this weekend about when I worked. I’ve read a few MS blogs where people discussed when, if ever, do they disclose their disease to their employer? If you are new to my blog, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when I was 26. I’m 50 years old now. I became disabled when I was 44. That left a lot of years when I worked. I held my last position for 13 years with the same company but…
Ok a new MS research blog brought to my attention by my dad yesterday. It has to do with the Vagus Nerve (pronounced like Las Vegas). The vagus is a major nerve that runs throughout the body and controls crucial functions, like heart function and blood pressure, digestion, breathing and immune response. It also conveys sensory information to the brain about the current status of internal organs; a process termed interoception. The vagus nerve is a major therapeutic target for…
I had a really good final physical therapy session on Monday. I walked further than I walked all this year. Where I am walking to, I don’t know. I have come a long way since coming home from the hospital. Still not where I was. I think some of the disability changes I can live with easily. Some are demoralizing and as an 50 year old woman, they came to fast. Multiple sclerosis is not an easy disease. I’m not…
I took a nap yesterday. First time I did that in ages. I didn’t sleep well the night before. I knew I needed more sleep. I kept my pajamas on and stayed under my blanket. I spoke to everyone I wanted to talk. I text my daughter and mom to let them know that I was going to sleep. I even put my phone on do not disturb. Thankfully, the house phone didn’t ring through out the afternoon. I appreciate…
Friday again. It was a week ago I wrote about weather changes once again affecting MS symptoms. https://multipleexperiences.org/2022/06/17/mentally-strong/. I had changed PT from Monday to Wednesday because I was having a rough day Monday. Well I guess I was having a rough day Wednesday too. I couldn’t walk five steps. So much for my goal of walking the hallway and back to my condo door. It wasn’t even close. I honestly couldn’t walk a few feet out my door. I…
I am still running on empty this week. It is very strange, I walked the furthest I walked on Monday. Wednesday and Thursday I’ve had difficulty standing up and transferring. When I say difficulty, I mean it’s been harder than it’s had been over the previous weeks. It is requiring more energy to get myself up into the standing position. It is more laborious moving my feet. Good MS days and bad days. I have had some pretty intense workouts…
Some days are better than others. I walked the hallway again yesterday and it was so hard. Ok, it was hard the first time I did it but it was so much harder yesterday. My right leg, which is normally the leg that gives less issues, was very difficult to move. It was difficult from the hip flexor. I had problems moving the leg forward. My left leg, which normally drags, has difficulty clearing a step without my foot impeding…
It has taken me almost 6 months but I finally did it. I GOT UP FROM MY COMFY CHAIR. I got up by myself. I actually started standing up when my therapist was a few feet away from me. I didn’t want anyone to touch me. I knew I could get up. I didn’t want to have that hand on me for guidance. I wanted my victory. I deserved my victory. I know the walking was the biggest thing to…
I was sitting up at the end of the bed when he got there. I popped right up to stand. My PT therapist said try to take a step. I was standing up with one of those silver walkers. Well, I took a step. It was my first step since the end of December. I then took another and another. I was going forward and back in the small space of my room. I was getting tripped up having to…
I’m actually writing this on Thursday evening. I had a long day. Since the change in my aides shifts, I am up at 7am. This morning I was up at 5. I had one of those MS symptoms that plague me whenever it is a inconvenient time. My feet were in pain. More like my heels. I felt like pins were simultaneously sticking into both my heels at the same time. Neuropathy. I know it well, but this time it…
