Blog

I'm still here, and I'm still fighting. I use my cane more often these days. Don't get me wrong, I'm still fighting...I'm just picking my battles more carefully. When I have my cane, I've got one more thing to help me avoid falling when I go off balance. And since my husband listened when I told him I want a cool cane, it's a touch of style. Ordinary canes can look sterile, but my multicolored … [Read more...] about Struggling With Mobility

FUMS. That's my new mantra. I've realized that I've been too nice when it comes to MS. I haven't complained, and I haven't taken charge. MS doesn't play by the rules. It doesn't take turns, it cuts in line, and it will eat the last chocolate chip cookie on the plate. In the early days of MS treatment, patients were expected to rest, to play the waiting game while MS stole what little … [Read more...] about Keeping the Fight

It's been over a year since my last post. Out of sight, out of mind. At least, I wish that was the way MS worked. The biggest thing I've learned is that I can pretend that I don't have MS, I can ignore it, but it's going to make its presence knowne whether I want to acknowledge it or not. Living through a period with no exacerbations is not necessarily a sign that the disease isn't having an … [Read more...] about Health Update

I'm watching the NCAA Tournament, and I'm watching a feature on Siena's Kenny Hansbrouck and his dad, who has MS. I was glad when they won their first round game, and I am going to be cheering like crazy for them in round 2. … [Read more...] about NCAA

Even though I'm doing a lot better than many people with MS, I still have to deal with the ugliness of this disease. Today's word is constipation. I warned you folks, this disease ain't pretty. It presents a cruel dilemma: on the one hand, drinking plenty of fluids can help you prevent dealing with constipation. But MS also likes to play with your bladder, too, which can make you hesistant to keep … [Read more...] about Not-So-Pleasant Symptom

Having MS can make routine tests turn into a double-edged sword. I had a colonoscopy last week, and while one of the doctors was explaining the procedure to me, he mentioned that it could lead to a flare-up of my symptoms. I didn't think much about it at the time, but I did remember those words a few days later as I was dealing with some major fatigue. I had wondered why my right leg had been … [Read more...] about Health Update