I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis in December 2008. This is my blog about my life living with the roller-coaster world of MS with a little humor and advice thrown in!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Cold Snap

I just came home from sunny warm Florida this weekend to an unexpected cold snap in the old Tennessee Valley.   Brrrrrr.  Not a fan.

I know heat aggravates most MS'ers but cold weather is my personal nemesis. It makes my muscles tighten and makes my body hurt.  Like brittle snap hurt.

So, fall/winter are not my fav seasons physically.  Luckily with my shiny new attitude this week (I'm sure will be gone by Friday)  I am taking a couple of hot yoga classes which really make my muscles smile and then it's couch/resty time (curse you fatigue) with my favorite heating blanket and Netflix.

I know this is only the beginning of cold weather but I will do everything not to let it touch me.  And if I look like a layered bag lady then so be it.            

After my diagnosis 5 years ago  MS has been a re-learning of my own body. MY body. My own body that I knew so well.  And now I don't.  

But that's ok.  I'm getting the hang of the "new" me.  I don't try and push through the pain, fatigue, numbness.  It will only bite me in the ass and put me in bed for days.   I store up my energy.  Use it when it is most important.




Saturday, October 12, 2013

Pain In My Neck

  Does anyone have that one MS symptom that keeps coming back over and over that sends you over the edge??  This week for me it is the pain (literally) that starts in my neck and radiates up the side of my face to my cheek and down my left arm to the tip of my thumb.   And while most symptoms are annoying to me this one absolutely kills me.   It's a burning, stinging pain in the neck with numbness and shock waves that go to my hand.   Such a pain.   I never know if ice or heat is better.  Heat feels better but who knows which is better.

Wrapping my hand with a elastic bandage feels good too.  Since my arm and hand are numb they feel cold.  And the compression helps with the tingling and jarring shock waves. 

Well, that's my whining for the week.  :)

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Just Be Nice

My boys school has a new slogan called Just Be Nice.  JBN is posted everywhere.   I think it's one of the better slogans in life to teach and pass on to our kids.  In fact,  I felt like I should incorporate some JBN in my life. 

Does it seem like everytime you turn around someone is telling you about their sister-in-law just got diagnosed with MS. Or someone thinks they have MS and corners you with all their symptoms to see what you think.  Does every 3rd person have MS now???   Or think they do???

As a peer for the National MS Society I actually get a lot of emails from people who think they have MS.  I understand if you have scary ailments and the internet suggests MS.  But please go see a Dr and get a firm diagnosis of what you have.  Don't try and diagnose your self. 

Who on earth would want to go through the stress and anxiety of NOT KNOWING what is wrong with them.   I know testing can take a while and their are A LOT of diseases and problems out there.  

Getting a firm MS diagnosis can give you the determination to start taking disease modifying meds and taking care of your self while moving forward.

With so many people asking me if I think they have MS or someone they know maybe has it I have really had to pull out my Just Be Nice card.