First Day of Blogging...

Welcome to my blog!

It may well be the most boring blog on the planet! I'm not trying to scare you off, just a fair warning. I have Multiple Sclerosis and therefore am not having wild, crazy adventures. Just the day to day adventures of dealing with this dumb disease. I will, on occasion, do really stupid things which I will post for your enjoyment. After all, someone ought to enjoy them. I am currently enrolled in school, deciding if I should re-enter the workforce(terrified to lose my disability benefits), all while living with MS. It makes everything a little bit tougher.

Let's start at the beginning, shall we? I am currently 32 years young. I am a female. I was diagnosed at age 25 with MS. I was working full-time, going to school at night, when I woke up one morning with extreme vertigo and double vision, which led to vomiting because I felt sea sick. I thought it was the Taco Bell I ate after school the night before. Wouldn't you? Cut to a week later, I'm in the hospital having been diagnosed with relapsing/remitting MS. I won't lie. It did suck. A lot.

I spent the next 3 years focusing on getting better, all while attempting to get put on disability. My advice for anyone with MS trying to get on disability, get a lawyer. I had to before they approved me. Also make sure to get a neurologist you love. They will become a fixture in your life. You need to trust them completely. What sucks about this disease is that we can look completely normal, even though we have lesions on our brains that make it light up like a Christmas tree on our MRI. Especially when you're young, people do not believe you are as sick as you are. I think that's why I was denied for disability for so long, but a lot of people have told me they deny everyone at least three times.

Life has had its ups and downs, but I am blessed. I have loving and supportive family and friends. They always put the air conditioner vents in the car facing me (it's the small things sometimes). They are there for me in so many other ways too. I still live with my mommy. Yay! At 32! But what would I do without her? She also helps with my shots. How on Earth am I supposed to get the back of my arms by myself?

Six years after being diagnosed, I am almost feeling like I did when I was still "healthy". As healthy as I ever was, I mean. I am on medication. Three times a week I have to inject myself, my mom does help, as I mentioned. I do have many, many, many lesions for someone my age. I don't like writing that. It feels like it's not true if I don't say it. I am always tired. If you're reading this and you have MS, or know someone who does, then you know what I'm talking about. The migraines are still constant. But I am able to walk. Pretty normally too! I just trip more often than your normal 32 year old. People ask if I have "upper" or "lower" MS and I suppose I have "upper". I don't have a problem in my legs really, just my head. The double-vision comes back on occasion. I have to stay out of the heat, but my English/Irish ancestry makes me stay out of the sun anyways. I do yoga at least 4 times a week. I only miss it if I'm sick or having an "MS" week. When I have a bad day, I always just say, "It's the plaque!".  I also use that when I forget something. (Side-note: make notes for yourself. To-Do lists, Post-It notes. I find they all help me remember to do the small things like take the dog to the groomer's before the day is halfway over)

I guess I started this to chronicle for myself how I'm doing with Multiple Sclerosis and to show others out there that it's okay. It gets better. If you were just diagnosed, there are a lot more medicines then there were 20 years ago. Of course, I have depressed days too, but all in all, it could be much worse. I met a friend at an MS Walk who told me that everyone on Earth is disabled, they just don't know what they have yet. And it's true. At least we know what we're up against.

So, keep your head up and be proud of your daily accomplishments. MS is a daily battle, and every night when you go to bed, congratulate yourself on what you've accomplished. No matter how small. Doing the dishes, walking the dog, doing some yoga, or even just making it through another day. If you are walking though... keep on eye on what's ahead of you instead of keeping your head up. I don't want anyone else tripping.  :)