“Happiness is not the absence of problems, it’s the ability to deal with them.” ~ Steve Maraboli
I’m feeling a little nostalgic today. It’s been 15 years since I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. That’s 5,475 days. I remember day one like it was yesterday. I was so upset when the doctor gave me the prognosis. But I was also relieved because I finally knew why I was always so tired. I also learned about my treatment options and was given a very scary introduction to injections. Boy, how I hated those needles. I remember asking the neurologist, “So I have to take a shot everyday for the rest of my life?”
I couldn’t believe I had MS. I trusted my situation wouldn’t get any worse. But unfortunately, in recent years, I have experienced some real terrifying incidents. They include one major month long hospital inpatient rehab, five EMS ambulance rides, three face first falls, one weeklong hospital stay, and countless emergency room visits.
But overall, other than an occasional minor exacerbation, most days were uneventful. Just plain old MS ordinary days and I’m so thankful for that.
Thinking back, I never thought I would be in this position. Who does?
And the hardest part is trying not to highlight the bad memories. But the unpleasant times are so embedded in my psyche; I can’t help but focus on them.
I must remember I have had far more good moments than bad. Like the way my family and old friends stepped up to help me when I needed them the most. Having a husband who has supported me from the day I was diagnosed. And how I have made some fantastic new friends by way of the Internet.
So while it can be intriguing to think back to the past, I can’t get stuck reminiscing. My main focus has to be how to handle the next 5,475 days. And hopefully each one of those days will be equally MS ordinary.
Linda i relate to your comments,I’ve had ms since i was 38. So for 26yrs ( 20of it with secondary progressive) ive been swimming thru this on my own. My Irish caused me to plow straight forward····Into a brick wall. After repeatedly being knocked back from said wall, it occurred to me to look around the wall to see if there was a different way lol. My thought then was, ok my world is smaller now but it’s my job to make it the biggest little world I could.So here is my little rap ditty I came up with. Grandma’s got it going on,Grandma’s getting strong,Grandma’s hair is long but grandma doesn’t wear a thong! Now if I can figure out how to get jiggy with it with my walker!!! Thank you, Sherry
Sherry,
This is Nicole. I’m also secondary progressive.
Hi Nicole, Hope yours progresses slow like mine. Good to hear from another one of us !
I admire your positive attitude despite adversity. I shared your blog on my Facebook page which has 10,000+ followers. I invite you to visit;
http://www.facebook.com/fixmsnow
That photo made my day!
Jo, thanks.
Nicole, I have had MS 32 years and there were no shots at the time developed to address MS…I think I was lucky. I also had a neurologist who thought it was better to tell me I had a viral infection and would get my eyesight back in two weeks to two months…and didn’t notice I was having an allergic reaction to the steroids. Again, I think I was lucky because it made me question for the first time when a doctor gave me advice. After passing out while riding a bicycle up a slight hill and having my leg start dragging when I walked that I went to see an internist to put all my symptoms together and he told me I most likely had MS. I fired my Neurologist when I got a copy of my records which indicated he had diagnosed MS…and didn’t tell me because he had patients who quit their jobs or divorced their husbands when getting the MS diagnosis. I explained it was my life and if I wanted to divorce my husband or quit my job…it was my decision, not his. I have never taken any of the shots as I decided to watch how others did when they took the drugs. I found I could manage better by getting plenty of rest and avoiding heat and sun. I worked for 23 years as a stock broker, 20 years after my diagnosis. I found focusing on what I could do, not what I couldn’t do when experiencing an episode and it all seemed to pass even without steroids. I have now been in secondary progression for 12 years and I definitely have challenges. I have mentioned before that three years ago I was losing my eyesight and had to give up driving. I needed a cane to walk and used a scooter for longer distances. I had chronic constipation and bladder infections due to no feeling in my abdomen and a neurogenic bladder. That is when I joined the MS study with Dr. Damadian and Dr. Rosa. After being scanned and treated non invasively, I got my eyesight back. I also got the feeling back in my abdomen, no longer get bladder infections and can feel the urgency to urinate. The eyesight came back quickly and it took a year or so to get the other things back. There is a book that was just published discussing what Dr. Damadian and Dr. Rosa and other research doctors have been doing, “The Craniocervical Syndrome and MRI.” It is available on Amazon and is expensive, but it describes what I experienced and accomplished even though in secondary progression. If you have a chance to read it, I would love to discuss it with you.
Your friend,
Linda
Nicole,
I love the quote about adversity as everyone is dealing with something! You exude happiness and so it becomes one day at a time!
Vivian
Another great post Nicole. And you are looking gorgeous my friend!
Yvonne, thanks my friend.
it does take extra effort to focus on being appreciative of all the safe landings when the plane crashes are so much more vivid/attention grabbing. Keep on keepin’ on girlfriend! { hugs}
I love your post! Seems like you have some optimism back. You are stronger than you know. ☺
Your blog is a source of inspiration to all MS sufferers. I read it to get the strength of mind with which you have been dealing with situations. Thank you.