tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74059708701855356152024-03-13T03:15:50.311-07:00It Can Only Happen To MeI am a 37 year old wife and mother living with a chronic disease, Multiple Sclerosis. Even though I have a disease that can be very disabling at times, I still think of the glass as half full and find the humor in just about everything.JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-85892829903806158512012-04-09T05:02:00.002-07:002012-04-09T05:04:08.479-07:00No e-mail for new topics?I didn't get an updated e-mail about the topics we health activists were suppose to write this week, so I'll just share a few things.<br />
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This week end was Easter week end and a busy one. I haven't been at 100% these last few days. I am not relapsing with my MS, but my symptoms have been in full swing (come and go, but don't stay; which tells me no true relapse). I think the crazy Indiana weather is definitely playing a big role in this. One day it will be 80 degrees, the next day 58 and raining. This week we are dropping back into the mid 50s with the lows in the 30s; go figure. It's no wonder my MS symptoms are all over the place.<br />
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I'd love to take a survey of other MSers and see if the drastic changes in weather affect their MS as well. Would be interesting to know for sure. I know in the past when I have relapsed (which it will be two years next month since I've had a relapse...woohoo!), it has been during seasonal changes. When I would call my neurologists office, his nurse would tell me it has been a very busy week/month of MSers relapsing. Based on that, I'd say the weather does play a big role.<br />
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Today is the first day in almost two weeks I have woke up and didn't feel the need to go back to bed, which is a good sign. I have been burning the candle at both ends again, so truly it is my own fault for feeling crummy. I need to listen to my body and rest when it says to; otherwise I know I will bring on a relapse and I'm sure it will be a doozy since I truly haven't had one in almost two years.<br />
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So starting today, I will do my best to listen to my body and rest when it is telling me to. One day at a time....JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-49459165986717132512012-04-06T05:18:00.000-07:002012-04-06T05:18:12.178-07:00Day 6Todays challenge:<br />
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Health haiku. Write a haiku about your health focus.<br />
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MS, just two little letters<br />
Meaning much more<br />
Without great research, oh my!JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-46637903276678716392012-04-05T09:40:00.000-07:002012-04-05T09:40:54.108-07:00Day 5Ekphrasis Post. Go to flickr.com/explore and write a post inspired by the image. Can you link it to your health focus? Don’t forget to post the image!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LUiDWepmFc/T33FLchYorI/AAAAAAAAAIU/taTySWJ8sc8/s1600/MS%2BVisual.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="210" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LUiDWepmFc/T33FLchYorI/AAAAAAAAAIU/taTySWJ8sc8/s320/MS%2BVisual.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I chose this image because it is the artists version of what MS is doing to her on the inside that we cannot always see from the outside. It is very inspiring to me because of how the artist has captured what probably a lot of us MSers feel; wanting to show what MS can do to our inner self that we try so hard to hide on the outside. <br />
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For me, I hide a lot of my daily symptoms because I don't want that "look". Only those that have ever gotten that "look" know what I am talking about. I don't like to explain to people why I am walking funny, why I can't always get my hands to cooperate, or why I am holding a certain area of my body due to MS symptoms. Yes, I have multiple sclerosis, but this disease DOES NOT define me. If I could express myself in a way to show others how I truly feel about this disease, it would be like the artist did in the painting above. This is what my MS looks like on the inside and how it has taken over my body, but I am still me despite the disease.JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-63818219650259257632012-04-05T08:57:00.001-07:002012-04-05T08:58:11.768-07:00Day Four - a day lateI was having a "bad MS day" yesterday, so I didn't get around to writing Day 4 of the health activist blog challenge. But here is the day 4 challenge topic:<br />
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I write about my health because… Reflect on why you write about your health for 15-20 minutes without stopping. <br />
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No 15-20 minutes of writing about a topic I don't tend to write about. I suppose I don't write much about my health because I don't like to dwell on the negative things about MS. Yes, I have a horrible debilitating disease that can and has taken a lot from me, but I also am very grateful for being able to mostly recover from those MS attacks and being able to adjust to the "new" me after what those MS attacks have taken away. I am grateful for a drug company making a therapy that works by keeping my disease under control - FINALLY!JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-8699572179249305662012-04-03T18:48:00.000-07:002012-04-03T18:48:58.957-07:00Super PowersDay 3: Superpower Day. If you had a superpower – what would it be? How would you use it?<br />
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For the life of me, I can't recall any cool superpowers that aren't cliché'. I do remember as a young girl being fascinated with wonder woman and the bionic man, but truly can't recall them having cool superpowers. Of course, wonder woman had a cool outfit and the bionic man had great stunts.<br />
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Although, if I could have one superpower I think it would be the ability to heal. Is that even a superpower? If I could heal all those who are suffering from any kind of illness, whether it is an incurable disease, depression or addiction that would be an awesome ability/superpower to have.<br />
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In the meantime, I will allow my inner wonder woman to shine.....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VnSEIv7KWSE/T3uogrGITZI/AAAAAAAAAII/snCEnTyd2ic/s1600/wonder_woman_cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="225" width="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VnSEIv7KWSE/T3uogrGITZI/AAAAAAAAAII/snCEnTyd2ic/s320/wonder_woman_cartoon.jpg" /></a></div>JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-49430229577971005542012-04-02T11:17:00.000-07:002012-04-02T11:17:11.064-07:00Favorite QuoteDay two of the health activist month. This truly was a tough one for me, because I actually keep a journal of quotes I read that truly inspire me. Here is the challenge today:<br />
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Quotation Inspiration: Find a quote that inspires you (either positively or negatively) and free write about it for 15 minutes. <br />
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I finally decided on this quote:<br />
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"Everyday is a choice. Your attitude decides your day, and nobody can decide your attitude but you". ~ Ryan Moran<br />
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Really soak in those words and if you were like me, you truly get that "aha" moment. How true is that quote? If I am having a bad day and choose not to change my outlook/attitude then my entire day will revolve around that bad day. Unfortunately, others around me may succumb to my crappy attitude as well. We all will be handed a curve ball from time to time and some of us may get more curve balls then we'd like, but it is what we choose to do with it. Do we say, "screw you curve ball, I'm going to smack the shit out of you" or do we allow ourselves to get hit with it and let it smack the shit out of us instead? It is all about free will and choice.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, there are days when I have allowed that curve ball to smack the shit out me; I feel that is just human nature. However, the majority of the time, I will allow myself to have my little five minute pity party and then get up smack that curve ball way out to left field and make the most of my day. In other words, get on with the day at hand. I am grateful that I am up and moving, have an able body and mind, because I know how quickly it can be taken from me.<br />
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So next time you are having one of those curve ball days, what are you going to do? Remember it is YOU that decides your attitude and YOU alone.JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-73350761411877274772012-04-01T18:45:00.000-07:002012-04-01T18:45:27.371-07:00Health Activists Writer's Month-ChallengeI decided to sign up for the WEGO Health Activists Writer's Month to try and jump start my blog again, but also because I am an advocate for my own disease; Multiple Sclerosis. I actually go around parts of the USA and tell my story to other MSers or their family members and how a little tiny pill has made such a difference in my life (but we'll talk more about that at another time). I have been given a topic for each day this week and they will follow for the entire month of April. I am not a very good writer, but will do my best. So here goes the first topic:<br />
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Health Time Capsule. Pretend you’re making a time capsule of you & your health focus that won’t be opened until 2112. What’s in it? What would people think of it when they found it?<br />
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Of course, I could truly dive so far into this because not only have I been affected by my own chronic disease, but I am also a very passionate advocate for cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. I lost two very important men in my life to those diseases; my father to cancer and my great grandfather to Alzheimer’s disease.<br />
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My time capsule would consist of a flash drive (which they'd probably have to track down a device to actually open it up) of what my life was like living with a chronic disease. Pictures of me before my diagnosis, after my diagnosis and in chronological order of what the disease can do; along with publications about the disease and all the research and dedication put in to find a cure. When the time capsule is opened, I hope the person/people who find it is in awe and fascinated that millions of people use to actually live with this horrid disease and be grateful that it no longer exists. (Naturally, I'd love for this to be true for all incurable diseases, but I'd have to start out with the one I deal with day to day).<br />
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Of course, it wouldn't be my true blog unless I add a little funny to the "it can only happen to me category". I did our taxes through a computer program way back in early February and indicated I'd like our tiny refund direct deposited into our bank account. After about a month and still no deposit I thought to myself, "hmmm, I wonder why our refund hasn't been deposited yet?". I went on-line to check the "where's my refund" site and typed in all the information; which indicated it could not find our information. I went back into the program on our computer and after going through the ENTIRE process again, discovered I had forgotten to hit submit. All I can say is....."WHEW"!! Thank goodness I decided to check that site; otherwise we would have been super late in submitting our federal taxes. I could blame it on my MS and who knows maybe the MS did play a role, but not likely....only me, only me!!!<br />
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Until tomorrow.....JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-41884333566977546732011-08-07T10:54:00.000-07:002011-08-07T10:54:32.059-07:00!?Seriously?!August already, holy cow! What a week....but I'll get around to that later. First off, I had a wonderful experience doing my first speaking event in Orlando, FL for Gilenya on Wednesday, August 3, 2011. I thought I was going to Kissimmee, but turns out, nope it was in Orlando. I did my talk at a Uno Chicago Bar and Grill. I must say, it wasn't the greatest set up due to the overwhelming echoing of noise and hard to talk that loud over the noise, but I managed. I had about 20-25 people or so that came to the event, which I was truly happy about. I'm sure I forgot a lot of speaking points, but did the best I could considering I had an attendee interrupt me right in the middle of my speech. Yup, you read correctly, totally interrupted me in the middle of my speech. I very politely told the lady, "I have MS and with MS one tends to lose their train of thought very easily; therefore, I am going to continue with my story and will answer questions when I'm done." Other than that, I think I did well for my first time.<br />
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The Monday before I flew down to Orlando, our family went up to Turkey Run State Park and hiked the entire day on some very rugged trails. I timed our hiking adventure to be approximately five hours, with a lunch break and a few tiny breaks in-between. I figured we hiked at least 4 1/2 hours straight. Seriously don't know how many miles we put on our poor feet, but let’s just say when we were finally back to our destination I was D-O-N-E! I am so very proud to have been able to participate in such a wonderful experience with my family though. My husband and kids couldn't believe how well I held up. Heck, I couldn't believe how well I held up. Here are a few photos from that day:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o66d6O8XY1M/Tj7Itmy7iRI/AAAAAAAAAFE/ER4LJJQeWeY/s1600/HPIM1285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o66d6O8XY1M/Tj7Itmy7iRI/AAAAAAAAAFE/ER4LJJQeWeY/s320/HPIM1285.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B98rfcGXHho/Tj7I1J08UjI/AAAAAAAAAFM/RDRv4d-8ZKk/s1600/HPIM1304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B98rfcGXHho/Tj7I1J08UjI/AAAAAAAAAFM/RDRv4d-8ZKk/s320/HPIM1304.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AdjnZervIfA/Tj7I9u_wHZI/AAAAAAAAAFU/me73-wusby4/s1600/HPIM1306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AdjnZervIfA/Tj7I9u_wHZI/AAAAAAAAAFU/me73-wusby4/s320/HPIM1306.JPG" /></a></div>As you can see above (sorry about the sideways photo, can't figure out how to flip it), I held steady and fast and did a lot of hiking trails in a beautiful park.<br />
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Upon arriving home from our wonderful day of hiking and pure exhaustion, we discover our mailbox post has been hit by a vehicle and our mailbox post split in two and our mailbox thrown more than 14 feet from the original standing post (my son Kyle just had to measure it), luckily with the mail still inside. Of course, no one bothered to stop and leave an apology or a number where they could be reached to pay for the damage they had done. All I know, is from the tire marks left behind, I'm sure they had quite a bit of damage to their vehicle and all I can say is....I hope it cost you a lot more to fix your bleepty bleepty bleep car, than it did for us to replace and paint our post. <br />
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After the mailbox post incident, we discovered our dishwasher was leaking and left water damage to our floor and a little bit of damage on the inside cabinets where the diswasher sat in-between. We went shopping for a new dishwasher and I finally decided on one. Then after purchasing it, I find out it will be more than a week before we can pick it up. I must say, when you have to start handwashing all of your dishes, you truly appreciate that dishwasher like you never did before.<br />
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On the bright side, the mailbox post cost less than $25. Wish I could say that about the dishwasher. Ever noticed how it always seems to happen like that though? Once one major applicance goes, they all start to follow? We just replaced our washer and dryer in March. Our refridgerator is over 16 years old and I know it is just a matter of time. I'm hoping it'll last at least a few more years, because we need a little money buffer time now. <br />
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Oh, one more thing.....yes, see what happens when I don't have an "it can only happen to me category" for a while, they all seem to come at once. Although, this isn't the "me" category, it does deal with my sweet beautiful daughter. Cassie has a congenital birth defect in which she is missing her permanent top bi-lateral incisor teeth (the ones right next to your two front teeth). To have that happen, especially to my sweet girl is heartbreaking to me, but orthodontics and cosmetic dental surgery has come a long way. Long story short, she is slower than molasses when it comes to losing her baby teeth; therefore, she had to have four top baby teeth pulled to get her ready for her next phase of orthodontic work. So now, she is walking around with four missing teeth, on the top no less, and will get a retainer with four fake teeth exactly ONE day before school starts back up. Because I don't want that retainer to count towards our orthodontic deductible, I have to pay out of pocket for that sucker (really glad we have a health savings account). The orthodontist knows Cassie will be with him FOREVER, so he cut us a break. I suppose having a good long standing relationship with the orthodontist (my son is in braces as well) came in handy on this one.<br />
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I'll post pictures of my new dishwasher (got a pretty fancy one) and my daughters beautiful new smile in the next post. In the meantime, have a good few weeks and thanks for reading my rants. God Bless!JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-29443213069910199532011-07-21T08:14:00.000-07:002011-07-21T08:19:01.061-07:00What Happened to July?Holy cow, July is almost over. We have been so busy that time is truly flying by. Well, I should say that I've been so busy, time is flying by. The kids are bored out of their minds and are driving me crazy. Since starting my intern/extern at a local family practice, I can't really do much and the kids are stuck at home while I'm working. They (kids) have way too much time on their hands and I think their new favorite pastime is pestering the crap out of one another. I must say that because of their boredom they have been organizing their rooms and certain areas of the house, which to me is like hitting the lottery.<br />
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The kids’ Grandma Donna gave us her piano last week and they both are very excited about having it in the home. I am excited that they are excited, but now the noise level has increased in the home and I feel like I want to give it back. It has been neat to listen to them tinker around on it and make somewhat of a tune. Cassie has taken a few lessons and knows how to read some notes, but Kyle hasn’t taken any, but knows how to chord, so he can really play around it quite well. I will be anxious to see if they both keep up with it. The piano will be tuned next week and may need a little fixing up, but here is a picture of it:<br />
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As most know that live in the Midwest, July and August tend to be the hottest, stickiest months of the entire year and trust me, it hasn’t failed. This past week alone has broken a few records with the highs almost hitting 100 degrees. With the humidity, crappy air quality, and high temps and heat index today, Indiana may potentially reach 120 degrees. I can’t help but feel so bad for all those without air conditioning and those that work out in these elements. <br />
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Heat and Multiple Sclerosis don’t mix well at all and the humidity on top of that just makes me turn into a limp wet noodle. I am now somewhat adjusting, if one can really truly adjust to this kind of heat, but it hasn’t been an easy few weeks. The office I am working at, their air conditioning wasn’t working very well last week, so I had a fairly miserable work week. When I went in on Monday, the owner of the building had a guy there to fix it and by mid-day it was about 69 degrees in the office…….ahhhh!<br />
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I got my first speaking gig in Kissimmee, Florida to talk about my experience with MS and Gilenya (the drug I did the study for and am currently taking). I am nervous, but also very excited about telling my story. I will fly to Orlando on August 3rd and fly home August 4th. Since this is a short trip, I'll be traveling solo this time. I’ll be sure to blog about it afterwards.<br />
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I don’t really have any “it can only happen to me categories” this month so far. I can tell you that I did learn that I HAVE to get bifocals, which I’m not too happy about. I just turned 37 and already need a bifocal. (To be honest, I have needed them for a few years now, but didn’t like them). The Dr. told me I truly can’t put it off any longer. So we’ll see how a no-line bifocal goes. I haven’t ordered them yet because I cannot find any frames I really like. Just can't get use to the retro look, which by the way, doesn't look good on me! I finally did like one frame, but asked if the office could order a different color. I'll await those frames and will go from there.JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-85750623803549098662011-06-24T07:12:00.000-07:002011-06-24T10:26:54.692-07:00Really?It has been a crazy two weeks. I picked up my daughter from Girl Scout Camp on Friday June 17th that she had been away at for two weeks. It was very hard to leave her there for that long, but she had a wonderful time taking care of the horse’s everyday and can't wait to go back. I also had my sisters' two girls on Thurs, Friday, Monday and Tuesday for a few hours each of those days (the older niece, almost 13 spent the night Monday for Cassie's birthday). I am very thankful to have older children that can help out with my four year old chatter box niece that never stops for a minute. I truly had forgotten how much those little boogers wear you out. <br />
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Lots of shopping on Saturday for Father's day dinner and for Cassie's birthday dinner, the day after Father's Day (June 20th). All the cooking I did on Sunday and Monday was ridiculous I must say, although it was awesome food and an awesome chocolate, chocolate chip cheesecake, but holy cow am I ever tired. Oh did I mention that I still had classes and tests to prepare for as well? So yes, I am tired. But here is a picture of my now 11 year old who thinks she is 25 on her birthday.<br />
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Next week is finals week at school and I will start my intern/externship at a local family practice on July 5th. I did my meet and greet yesterday and it went very well, but I was disappointed in how small and confined the office is. It will be a bit of an adjustment for sure; I am a tiny bit claustrophobic, so hopefully it won't take me too long to adjust. Excited about getting started!!<br />
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Last but not least, in the it can only happen to me category: I got a random call from Kroger on Thursday about a salad recall from Dole that I had purchased from their store on Saturday. It can be (the salad) potentially contaminated with Listeria. I ate this salad on Sunday and a little more on Monday. I truly didn't think much of it because I didn't know anything about listeria. Tuesday evening I started feeling horrible. Bad headache, stomach pains, nausea and overall I truly feel like crud. I kept chalking my feeling poorly to allergies and the crazy up and down weather patterns. I decided maybe I better read up on listeria and I do have a lot of the listed symptoms. People who are at risk are pregnant women, newborns, elderly and THOSE WITH SUPPRESSED IMMUNE SYSTEMS. I'm still hoping that it is just allergies and the weather changes that have made me feel badly the last few days, but after reading up on listeria symptoms, uhhh....not so sure now. Of course this couldn't come at a worse time (not that there is any good time to be sick). I have finals on Tuesday, June 28th and of course I may potentially have been contaminated with listeria. If so, hurry up and run your course so I can get back to studying!JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-3623622289956820942011-06-12T12:47:00.000-07:002011-06-15T18:17:11.528-07:00Back To BloggingOkay, so I must admit...I'm a slacker. I feel like my time is so limited anymore, that I just don't have or better yet take the time to just sit and blog about the nonsense that goes on in my life. Is it really nonsense, chaos, or just plain bad karma or luck. Anyway you look at it, I suppose all of those things could be wrapped all together and tied neatly with a bow. Like I've said in the past though, I'd rather laugh at those crazy life circumstances, otherwise I'd either be crying all the time, in jail for killing someone or possibly in a ward somewhere for the mentally insane. Even though I do tend to get more curve balls thrown my way than the average Joe, I still feel as though I truly am a very lucky and blessed person.<br />
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To be honest I don't know when I even last blogged, so I will just start off with what has been going on new with my EVER so chaotic busy life since 2011. I am now taking the "real drug"; the newly (I still say new because late September of 2010 wasn't that long ago) approved first line of oral treatment for Multiple Sclerosis. Although I still like the name Fingolimod much better, I have to learn to like saying the brand name they gave it, which is Gilenya, especially since I may potentially be going out and about and speaking to others living with MS about my personal experience with this drug. If I do get to go out and share my story, I'll be sure to post about it.<br />
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Lets see...this year I can proudly say I have OFFICIALLY been RELAPSE FREE for an entire year since my first MS symptom in May of 1998. I cannot belive it, but it is the truth. I will be graduating this October...good Lord willing and the creek don't rise...with my Associates degree in Medical Assisting, which I am very proud of. Starting July 5th I will do my extern/intership and I am praying that I get placed somewhere I can truly learn what I went to school for and potentially get offered a job.<br />
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I have so much more I could tell, but then I would start to lose my two follower's attention so I better keep it brief..hehe! Like I've ended my posts/blogs in the past....in the it can only happen to me category this week:<br />
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I am at school this past Thursday going to the restroom. I am trying to get some toilet paper and it is one of those neverending big rolls, how did they spin all that toilet paper onto one roll kind of rolls, and it would only allow me to roll off two squares of toilet paper. (I don't know about you...but I need more than two squares of ONE-PLY toilet paper to take care of business, regardless of what business it is). So, I pull as hard as I can, while sitting on the toilet and the dang roll falls out of its container onto the floor and went fly-rolling out from under the stall into the stall across from me. Of course, wouldn't you know that NOT A SINGLE PERSON was in the bathroom, which I now must admit, kind of glad about that. I started laughing so hard at the scene, if someone had either been in the bathroom with me or just walked in and seen that, that I could hardly breath. I did manage to reach under on the other side to grab a few more squares of toilet paper, so I could go back to class without damp underpants, whew! And I'll have you know that I did pick up that neverending roll of toilet paper and managed to securely put it back in place. I sure hope the next one to use that particular stall did not have the same unfortunate circumstance happen to them.<strike></strike>JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-81542140819636104652010-03-07T16:37:00.000-08:002010-03-07T16:37:26.537-08:00Fast TrackI really don't have many followers, so doubt I've been missed on my lack of postings. Really not must of an excuse, except that I feel as though I am on some kind of fast track time that doesn't seem to slow down. I really didn't even realize how long it had been until I looked at the date. WOW! <br />
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Besides Thanksgiving and Christmas happening since October, really not much news to report. Kids are doing great, life is still moving and I'm still doing my best at staying in school.<br />
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One thing that has changed is that I sort of took a "leave of absence" from my job. Went strictly on PRN (as needed) time, so I could focus on school. This quarter I have math and medical front office skills, which the medical front office is a breeze, but I knew math would be my huge speed bump. I am actually doing very well in math, but feel slightly cheated because my teacher really doesn't teach. I only have two weeks to go and the FINAL will be the biggest hurdle yet, but I am determined. I have NEVER pulled the "MS card" since starting school, but this time I have. Our math final is 100 problems and we have to show our work with it being completed in one hour and ten minutes. There is NO WAY I will be able to complete 100 problems in that short amount of time, so I have requested more time for the test on the grounds of me living with a chronic disease/disability. It is in review, so please wish me luck that the Dean agrees.<br />
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Study trial has still been going well, I think. I had my one year visit in Sept./Oct. and my 15 month visit in Dec. I go later this month for my 18 month visit and finish it up on April 1st. It has been a very stressful three months, therefore, I haven't been doing very well with my MS. I pick up every little bug known to mankind and can't seem to fight off the URIs, which lead into sinus infections, bronchitis and pneumonia. Had antibiotics again in Feb. for a deep sinus infection, which needless to say, has not cleared it up yet. I now have a cough that I can't get rid of and will have these coughing fits that has me ghasping for air and coughing with a bark like the croup. I also keep losing my voice, super weird.<br />
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Husband hasn't been in the best of health either. He needs to have hernia surgery on March 18th, which is a Thursday, and thinks he'll be well enough to return to work on that Monday. We'll see! Can you tell its his first surgery EVER? Lucky I suppose, I've had so many my stomach looks like a tic-tac-toe pattern or maybe a connect the dots and see what it'll create...<br />
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Not much more news right now I suppose. I will try to keep up with my blogging. In the meantime, here is a photo of my kiddos out cross country skiing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5g3kOmtiysY/S5RF2yGhq4I/AAAAAAAAAC4/viFbUQvm2EE/s1600-h/HPIM0777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5g3kOmtiysY/S5RF2yGhq4I/AAAAAAAAAC4/viFbUQvm2EE/s320/HPIM0777.JPG" /></a></div>JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-46592302048400611762009-11-14T06:58:00.001-08:002009-11-14T07:13:18.052-08:00Slacker Here!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5g3kOmtiysY/Sv7IvGQcD-I/AAAAAAAAACg/O-K7sJFLqpE/s1600-h/HPIM0689.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403977314350141410" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5g3kOmtiysY/Sv7IvGQcD-I/AAAAAAAAACg/O-K7sJFLqpE/s320/HPIM0689.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>The title about sums it up. I have been a slacker when it comes to blogging. I almost feel guilty about getting on here and blogging anything when we are so busy as a family. Between school starting back up for the kids, along with their extracurricular activities, me taking on more hours at work along with going to school too, not a lot of time in between.</div><div></div><br /><div>It is November already, which I am totally in disbelief, where did the time go? I had my one year Fingo study appointment at the end of September and everything went well. I was clinically documented as being in a relapse with my MS, which I knew, but still felt fine. This little pill I am taking everyday is surely doing something because I would have had an IV in my arm with steroids dripping into my veins two years ago for that type of relapse.<br /></div><div>Halloween was a blast, the kids had great costumes and my son Kyle looked fantastic in his. He said this was his last year to go, so I had to make sure he went out with a bang. Doug and I took the kids over the the nursing home where great grandma Mona is and oh my, all the residents there just laughed and laughed at Kyle's costume. Grandma especially couldn't stop laughing. She laughed so hard that tears were streaming down her cheeks. It sure made my day to bring so much joy and laughter to these residents just by bringing my children in to see their great great grandmother and show off their costumes.</div><br /><div></div><div>Speaking of that son of mine, he turns 12 on Tuesday, November 17th. I am in such disbelief that my baby is going to be 12, just doesn't seem possible, even though I am reminded constantly that his birthday is in X amount of days. Time sure does fly by. </div><br /><div></div><div>I am sure I have a ton more to tell, but figure I'd just do a little update for now to try and jump start my blogging again. I only have two followers, so I doubt I was missed too much anyhow...hehe!</div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-70932968972053856982009-07-18T08:30:00.000-07:002009-07-18T08:49:47.655-07:00July Almost Over?I truly cannot believe July is almost over. I haven't had time to post lately, sorry. It has been a hellish month so far. My grandmother is not adjusting well to being in the nursing section and it has been very hard on me. She keeps blaming me for putting her there and has been very cruel with her words. I just have to keep reminding myself that it is not her anymore and that if she were still in her right mind, she would not be that way with me. She is refusing to eat and take her medications, therefore, that is another stress. I am at my wits end, tired of being called on a daily basis about issues with her and worried sick. <br /><br />I just turned 35 July 7th, but I feel as though I have aged ten years in the last month. I look so much older than I am, which really sucks! I try very hard to take good care of myself, eat right and exercise, but stress sure does take its toll on ones body. I am literally hanging on by a thread. Husband is still out of work and it is very difficult to be around his constant negative attitude. I am an optimistic person, but when you are around someone who is NOT optimistic it tends to wear you down. Due to the unemployment for six months and counting I have to make very tough decisions on our financial situation. I try to get his input on things, but the communication between us in the last few months has been very scant and constantly interrupted. I almost feel like I am on the verge of a breakdown and that scares me. I have way too much on my plate and DO NOT have time for a breakdown.<br /><br />School is going well so far. I didn't do very well on one of my tests in Law and Ethics, but it has been a very bad month. I have since brought my grade up, but it is disheartening when you are working so hard, but can't devote the time you need to something so important to you due to constant family chaos.<br /><br />I am working on trying to let go and have others help me, but it is a work in progress. It is also a work in progress getting others to help me, especially with my grandmother. Best advice I can give to those of you that have aging parents or grandparents; just because they may not be themselves any longer, doesn't mean they don't need you to still be a part of their lives. Please go visit them, even if it is just for fifteen minutes. They may or may not remember your visit, but for the moments you are there, they do love it. <br /><br />I suppose I could go on and on about how horrible things have been for the summer so far, but I need to also remember how blessed I am too, which isn't easy when things are so chaotic. I have great friends who are encouraging and supportive, two healthy smart kids, a home, food and a husband who love me.<br /><br />This too shall pass.........JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-21489185934721251122009-06-26T16:54:00.000-07:002009-06-26T17:36:39.771-07:00So many questions?<div><strong>Thursday, June 18th:</strong> Get a call at 6:30pm from the nurse where my grandmother lives to inform me that she is unable/unwilling to get out of bed due to horrible leg pain. She is incontinent and has a call into the on-call doc to get her some pain meds. Come find out, this was going on since 9am that morning and why I wasn't called until 6:30 that evening is beyond me and had me LIVID! I had to go straight up there and pick up some pain meds on the way. She was sleeping and comfortable by the time I got there, which made me feel better, but still very upset that I wasn't notified earlier in the day. The nurse informed me that the doc would be coming in Friday to check on her and assess her condition and decide what to do. Got home late.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Friday, June 19th:</strong> I was up pretty early and went to be with my grandma and wait on the doc to visit. She didn't get over to see grandma until 12:30pm. In the meantime, I had to try and entertain my soon to be birthday girl, while tending to my grandmother. The doc was certain she had a fracture of the femur head and sent her right away to the ER for xrays and evaluation. In the meantime, I had to drop off my daughter at home, inform some family members, go to the store to get ingredients for her birthday dinner tomorrow and still needed to make her cheesecake. Long story short, no fractures, just severe osteoarthritis and probably sciatic nerve pain as well. Because she can no longer bare weight on her leg for transferring to the bed/toilet, etc. to her wheelchair, she'll need to be admitted to skilled nursing until she gets her strength back. I had a ton of paperwork to sign, had to transfer some clothes from her apartment to the skilled nursing unit (which is in the same building, thank goodness). Didn't get home until 8pm and had to make a cheesecake so it would be set up for little miss birthday girl the next day. Didn't get to bed until midnight and knew I had to get up and at 'em early next day. Talk about symptoms creeping in....oh boy! Oh and I forgot to mention, I agreed to watch my BFFs 6 month old dachshund/chihuahua for the week while they vacationed in Florida, which to say the least wasn't a great idea considering all that is going on. She's a cutie pie though, but EXTREMELY HIGH MAINTENANCE!</div><div></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5g3kOmtiysY/SkVoT_c3dhI/AAAAAAAAABo/qM7pPa4uxLE/s1600-h/HPIM0583.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351798424859014674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5g3kOmtiysY/SkVoT_c3dhI/AAAAAAAAABo/qM7pPa4uxLE/s200/HPIM0583.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong>Saturday, June 20th...Birthday:</strong> Well, my now nine year old had a great day for her birthday. I made bacon for her that morning and then got 40 meatballs rolled, cooked and into the crockpot with marinara sauce. We went to the Indiana Art Museum and truly enjoyed looking at all the wonderful art. Afterwards, I finished up making her dinner and then company arrived. It was a nice small family birthday celebration. Despite all of the other chaos, it all worked out just fine.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>The rest of the week:</strong> Monday was spent studying like a mad woman for finals, which I pulled off getting an <strong>A</strong> on both exams and finished the quarter up with a 97 in anatomy/physiology and a 98 in medical terminology. Tuesday was spent cleaning up dog urine in the morning, which I was not too happy about since she was outside for 25 minutes and then decided to come in and pee on my carpet. Afterwards, I was off to officially sign papers to fully admit my grandma into skilled nursing per her family physicians suggestion and orders. I was told I should have plenty of time to empty out her apartment. Wasn't an hour later I get a call saying the apartment had been sold and I had to have it empty by the 30th. So much for having plenty of time. Wednesday I took the kids to swim and then my daughter, sister in law and I went to Beef & Boards and saw Annie. It was a wonderful play and a wonderful all around day, but exhausting. Thursday, was catch up around the house and Cassie had friends over for most of the day.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Friday, Fingolimod 9 month check up:</strong> All went very well. My blood pressure was a little low and it took 4 sticks to draw blood, but for the most part things are going well, except.....my neurologist says I am in a mild flare. I kind of already knew this, but just kept hoping it was just the weather changes, stress, etc.... </div><div></div><br /><div>He believes the flare is currently attacking my spinal cord due to my current symptoms. I declined a round of IV steroids because I don't feel that bad and truly don't have time for them. I am going to try and wait it out. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Upcoming:</strong> Tomorrow will be spent taking a dog back home (woohoo, happy about that) going through my grandma's apartment and trying to figure out what can be transferred over to her nursing room (not too happy about that). All the rest will probably be donated. Have no idea what to do with her furniture, will probably donate that too. Sunday will be hopefully a nice day, but a busy one. Monday will be spent taking my grandmother to get a bone scan to try and figure out why she is in so much pain. Then on Tuesday I start back up my next quarter of school. I will also be taking on more hours at work starting the month of July. Cassie will be starting drama camp M-F 9a-12p for the entire month of July. Did I mention football camp starts then too? Like I said, welcome to my chaos and if it can happen, it will definitely happen to me.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Oh, one more thing......I fell again today, makes my 7th fall in the month of June alone. Gotta love Multiple Sclerosis, summer heat, tons of stress and drop foot!</div><br /><div></div>JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-45944605248635051552009-06-18T12:14:00.000-07:002009-06-18T12:41:17.731-07:00Time Flies....<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5g3kOmtiysY/SjqYKnlpvHI/AAAAAAAAABg/_FWKoEmaIRg/s1600-h/HPIM0513.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348754815648906354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5g3kOmtiysY/SjqYKnlpvHI/AAAAAAAAABg/_FWKoEmaIRg/s320/HPIM0513.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>Birthday Girl: </strong>My baby girl turns nine on Saturday. I can't believe she will be nine! Time sure does fly by. We are just having a family party. The menu will be meatballs in marinara sauce with rotini on the side, or make meatball sub sandwiches. (Have all the good Italian cheeses to go with it as well, yum!). Instead of a regular cake like most people, she has chosen a chocolate, chocolate chip cheesecake instead. I will be very busy on Friday making a ton of meatballs and a cheesecake. And just how do you put candles into a cheesecake without messing it up? Oh well, her birthday.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Father's Day:</strong> My father has been gone five years now, so this day is sad for me since I can no longer celebrate my father. All of my grandfather's are passed away as well, so that leaves all the attention to my father in law. He is a wonderful man! Plus my husband needs to be recognized for being a wonderful father to our two children. We don't have grand plans for this day since we'll just be celebrating a birthday the day before.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Final Exams:</strong> Monday are finals for my two classes. I am absolutely terrified! I have done so well in both classes, but fear the final in one, anatomy/physiology. I have retained a ton of information in Medical Terminology course, but for some reason I cannot retain much in anatomy/physiology. It hasn't helped that we have had such drastic weather changes, which in turn screws with my MS. I am literally exhausted all the time. Makes it very difficult to study when you can't stay awake and your mind is constantly wondering all the time. I swear I think I have ADD. I cannot concentrate at all right now. Of course, it also doesn't help that I have two children that need my constant attention and refereeing all the time.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Unemployment:</strong> My husband still has not found a job. This is by far the most discouraging and stressful thing we have been through in our almost fourteen years of marriage. It has been six months now. He is over qualified for most of the positions he is applying for, therefore, he can't get a break. I know the companies are afraid of hiring someone with all his experience out of fear that if a better paying job comes along they'll lose him, which wouldn't happen, especially if he enjoyed the job. Please pray that he finds a job that he likes soon, it is getting very tough in all aspects.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Fingolimod:</strong> I have been on this drug almost nine months now and have my nine month visit next Friday. I can't say that I am feeling 100%, but I can say that without a doubt I would be in worse shape MS wise without it. With all the stresses in my life, which MS doesn't like at all, I'd be on an IV drip of steroids as we speak. I can feel the pot a boiling and it is as though I have an attack coming on, but so far it is just simmering and I hope to keep it that way. I can deal with the increasing of old symptoms, but just no new stuff.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Well, hope everyone is doing well. I'll update next week after my appointment with the neurologist and study staff. Be well!</div>JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-8670486655899877842009-06-04T12:38:00.000-07:002009-06-04T13:04:00.926-07:00Oh Boy!<div>What a week already! We have had crazy weather. One day it is almost 90 degrees and so humid you can barely breathe, the next day it is 58 degrees, damp and rainy. Today it is a cool breeze, finally some sunshine, but only 63 outside and it is June 4th in Indiana. It is no wonder my Multiple Sclerosis is going haywire on me.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I have been dragging all week and when I say dragging, I literally mean......DRAGGING! It has been a while since I have had problems being able to pick up my right foot/leg, but this week it is turned inward and dragging, which makes it hard for walking. I "could" get one of those hideous drop foot braces (see picture below, so you can get the full effect) that just really pull your outfit together, but I'd prefer not to have a leg/foot brace tan line this summer, not to mention I can't wear an open toe shoe with one of those super sexy braces either. While washing up dishes yesterday afternoon, I was leaning up against the counter and almost fell because I started sliding sideways against the counter top and didn't even realize it until I was practically leaning to one side. What's up with that? I can place that one in my odd things that happen to a person with MS file.</div><br /><div></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5g3kOmtiysY/SigodqqlwNI/AAAAAAAAABY/hcdywYUI9Lk/s1600-h/foot+drop+brace.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343565448009334994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 146px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5g3kOmtiysY/SigodqqlwNI/AAAAAAAAABY/hcdywYUI9Lk/s320/foot+drop+brace.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Last night while in class, I lost my balance and fell into the table behind me. Not a hard fall, but one that freaked the last six people left in class out. I just hit the table with my elbow and came down with such grace to my knees and then into a squatting position. Took me a little while to get up, but I did, without any assistance......taking my bow....thank you very much! On the bright side, got a 100% on my test that night...woohoo!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Well, now onto the stupid prescription sunglasses....AGAIN! I picked up yet another pair and they just didn't seem like the ones I initially ordered. A lot bigger than the ones I remember and I mean A LOT BIGGER! I put them on and felt like I had on those enormously large clown glasses without all the make up , nice colorful outfit and wig. I thought, okay, I'll give them a try and pretend like I'm in Hollywood. One day while driving, one of the lenses pops out and of course scares the crap out of me. I thought, "you've gotta be kidding me!" I have been back three times already to get sunglasses and the place can't seem to get them right. So, today, I go back again and say, "I think I have given up on trying to get a decent pair of prescription sunglasses from your company and would just like to trade them in for regular frames/lenses with clip-on sunglasses". Something that should be super simple, turned into a forty-five minute wait and come find out they'll need to specially order my lenses due to my prescription. I just looked at the newly put in charge manager and said, "Of course you will, story of my life!" You know what that means......yet ANOTHER trip back to the eyeglass place.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>One of these days, I will have some sort of simplicity, until then, I'll keep on blogging about my ongoing chaos. </div>JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-77750148301603665832009-05-24T08:20:00.000-07:002009-05-24T08:41:46.645-07:00Way BehindBeen a while since I've blogged about my crazy life. So much has happened since my last entry I don't even know where to begin, so I will try to condense it the best I can. <br /><br />I will begin by saying, as of week 7 in school I have a 4.0 and am hoping to keep that GPA, so please wish me luck, I need every ounce I can get.<br /><br /><strong>Midterm day:</strong> I studied like a madwoman of course. In the middle of my midterm, my phone keeps buzzing in my front pocket. I'm thinking to myself, "Either that person has the wrong number or there is an emergency!" I can't even look at the phone because I don't want to be accused of cheating, plus I need to keep my focus on the huge test in front of me. Twenty minutes later, test turned in, out in the hallway I check my messages. An emergency, my 99 year old grandmother, whom I am caretaker of and power attorney has fallen and the assisted living facility needed my permission to send her to the hospital. So off to the hospital they send her, all the while, I have another exam in the next class and CANNOT leave. Great timing huh? Long story short, my grandmother is fine, no broken bones, just a bad sprain and is doing fine now.<br /><br /><strong>Glasses Pickup:</strong> I'm not even 35 yet, but had to get bi-focals, WTF? Anyways, I ordered them along with new prescription sunglasses. Got my new glasses fine, but the sunglasses had white spots all through the lenses, so had to have them redone. Well, the machine is broke, so I will need to come back. Go back a few days later because they are ready. Well, still tons of white spots, so they will need to redo them again. Wait around for 20 minutes and they have ruined the frames from heating them up too much, so now I have to pick out new frames (at no cost of course). They don't have anymore of the frames I originally picked out, that would be too easy. So, I pick out a little larger frame, feeling like I need to be in Hollywood while wearing them but need new sunglasses. I am told it'll only take about 20 minutes since they have my lenses in stock to tint. Now I am there for an hour, and instead of 20 minutes later, he comes out 30 minutes later and replies, "Well, we are having problems with your lenses and will need to order special lenses to fit those frames". I just laughed and said, "Of course you are, story of my life"!<br /><br /><strong>Possible Shingles Outbreak: </strong>Well, as you can see, I have had a few stresses lately. Between exams, work, being a mother and trying to encourage my unemployed husband that he can find a job since being laid off five months ago, I am run down. I started having blurred vision and my eye hurt and felt like I had something stuck in it. A few days later I had a couple of blisters show up around my brow line and in the brow line itself. I started to freak out at the possibility of losing my vision and scarring of my face. Call my study nurse and let her know what is going on since I am part of a study that suppresses my immune system, this could potentially be life threatening, but not too worried about that. Go to the eye doc and no herpes zoster or any kind of herpes found......THANK YOU GOD FOR ANSWERED PRAYERS! What the eye doc did find was two little sand rocks in my eye that have scratched the surface of my eye. He got those out and told me to put lubricating eye drops in my eye for next few days. Also, the breakouts look more like a contact dermatitis issue (I had just changed shampoos). Whew, close call, but still feel like it was the beginning of shingles and I had tons of people praying including myself that it wasn't. Power of prayer, power of prayer, thank you!<br /><br />Hope everyone is having a good Memorial Week End and may this week end be about spending time with your loved ones and remembering the ones who have passed away with what love and joy they brought to your lives.JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-87612813426004916642009-05-12T05:18:00.000-07:002009-05-12T05:38:24.424-07:00Creeping Up...It seems like so many things in life, there is always something out there that is waiting around the corner about to creep up on you. This something for me is my Multiple Sclerosis and all the issues and symptoms that come with it.<br /><br />I have been doing very well. I have relapsing remitting MS, which means, I have relapses (worsening of symptoms over several days/weeks) and then remissions (symptoms improve or go away and back to a normal being). I don't truly recover completely from relapses any longer, I just "adjust" to the "new" normal me. For the last few days, I have been having an increase of symptoms. I keep telling myself it is just because I am tired or because I am over doing it, but as each day passes, more symptoms creep up. Since I started the study drug, Fingolimod, it is harder for me to tell if I am truly relapsing, which is great. In the past, I usually would get hit pretty hard and it was VERY obvious and I would require IV steroids to bounce me back. Time will tell.<br /><br />Okay, done complaining about the MS. I had a wonderful Mother's Day! My kids made me special cards and the DH (this can mean "damn husband" or "darling husband", depending my mood) took my daughter to the store to pick something out for me. Did I ever hit the jackpot on that one. I awoke to having coffee and the Sunday paper brought to me in bed, then after that was greeted with a center piece on the table that my daughter made for me. It was filled with all kinds of individually wrapped dark chocolates, all my favorites. My son, fairly typical 11 year old boy, made me a very simple card and a photo frame with his picture during school for a class project. At least this year he did sign his card. To end the day with being taken out for dinner, was icing on the cake. Just a lovely day!<br /><br />Lastly, to end my post in the "It can only happen to me category".........well, I must say, I don't have any true funnies yet this week. But remember, it is still the start of a new week, so I'm sure I will have something later. Or, to look on the optimistic side of things, maybe I'll have a week where nothing too out of the ordinary will happen. Hmmm...to be continued....JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-39997933394245242592009-05-06T20:18:00.000-07:002009-05-06T20:42:34.917-07:00So Forgetful....Well, I have been studying like a mad woman for the past week for tests in my anatomy/physiology and medical terminology classes. Very condensed and a ton of information to learn in a very short amount of time. I swear I read the chapters like three times in the anatomy class and ended up getting a C on one and a B on the other one. It was like I drew a complete blank when those tests were put in front of me. On the second one (B), I thought I only missed one, but ended up missing four and was in complete shock. <br /><br />Okay, so now comes the next two tests in medical term and I get a perfect score on those, go figure!! So weird how our brains can retain some things and all the other stuff just must fly out of our ears or something. <br /><br />I realize I shouldn't complain about a C and a B, but for an almost 35 year old woman going back to school, I want to be an example for my kids and when I don't get an A, I feel like a failure. I shouldn't feel that way, but can't help it. I set high standards for them, therefore, I need to set high standards for me too. I suppose maybe I am being humbled, okay I accept, now allow my brain to function again please! (Think that will work?).<br /><br />I find that as I get older, I am so much more forgetful. I want to kick my own ass for not applying myself more when I was in high school. I could cram for a test 10 minutes before the exam and ace it. Now I have to read things over and over and over and over. Heck I picked up an old magazine the other day and read an article that I thought was very good and didn't realize I had already read it until I was almost finished with it. Kind of scary eh?<br /><br />And at last for the it can only happen to me category.....I was running late this morning for work and ending up spilling coffee all over my only clean and ironed pair of pants, which happened to be light in color. I truly do not have time to change, so off I go with my stained pants to work. On the way to work I realize that I have a "tide to go" pen in the van. Once I get to work, I am desperately trying to rub this stain out with the pen. I applied too much pressure and the tip breaks off and out spills all the solution onto my pants. Of course I now have a coffee stain and a huge wet spot on my pants. Once it dries, I realize it sure did get the stain out, along with the rest of where was once a light beige color. That spot is now super white, white. So instead of having a coffee stain I have a bleach spot. Should have just left it alone. The lesson learned here is don't use too much of the "tide to go" pen on your clothing. Or is it, don't press so hard to hurry the process along and break the tip of the pen off?JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405970870185535615.post-39809863189953691182009-05-02T17:23:00.000-07:002009-05-02T17:40:58.145-07:00Always Something....I am very new to blogging, but since I completely lost ten years of journaling when I switched out systems, I figured I'd let the world wide web lose it instead, so I can blame someone else and not feel like such a moron. A little about me:<br /><br />I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 7 years ago and hate that I lost a lot of that symptom and relapse history. That would have been useful in trying to finish a book I am working on. I promised my children I would try and write a children's book for those parents who are newly diagnosed to read to their young children. When I was diagnosed, not much was out there from a kids' perspective in explaining MS. I suppose I can start from scratch, hey how about that, I can actually do something over again? How many get to do that?<br /><br />I started a drug study in October. It is a double blind placebo in which I get to literally be a guinea pig. I use to take shots and even tried monthly infusions with no success, so when this opportunity was made available to me, I took it. I thought, "heck, swallow a pill everyday instead of getting poked with sharp objects to help slow down my disease progression, count me in!" So far, I have done really well. I have had a few speed bumps that slowed me down in the beginning, but now I'm doing really well. I will probably post about that too, but mostly just the amusement I find in living out my daily life.<br /><br />All jokes aside, well not really, because I will try and use this blog to describe what it is like for someone with my disease trying to raise a family, work part time and go back to school part time, all the while trying to keep from losing what is left of her mind. I try and find the humor in everything I do, because once I've calmed down after a crazy moment in life, I tend to laugh about it anyhow, because after all........it can only happen to me!<br /><br />You will soon find out why I chose this title and I hope you will get some laughs too.JesswithMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00562415018593806099noreply@blogger.com2