Learning To Live Again With Multiple Sclerosis!

WOW! Things have changed since I last posted. Have you found yourself in a slump or depressed telling yourself everyday "tomorrow I will do it" or "tomorrow will be better" but it just doesn't happen? I was there! I was stuck in what I call my funk. I woke up one day and said "NO MORE". No matter how much it hurts I will Learn To Take My Life Back. You see, I had let Multiple Sclerosis take my life from me but not anymore. It was like I was stuck inside myself screaming to get out.

It all started back in October of 2010 when I went in to my local general practitioners office just to get my pulse and blood pressure taken. After sitting for 15 minutes with no movement they came in and took them both. The poor nurse nearly fainted and did it again then ran out of the room. She came back with a wheel chair and said "your doctor wants you in the Emergency Room NOW". After lots of IV fluids and medications to get my pulse and blood pressure down they admitted me for all the wonderful testing. Thank God I wasn't having a heart attack. See we lost our father when he was just one year older than me now at 34yrs old of a massive heart attack.

After being admitted they did all the stress test. I barely started the stress test and they hurried and got me off of there b/c they just knew I was going to have a heart attack. After that hospital could not figure out why this was happening they transferred me to another, bigger hospital in the Cities. This hospital just knew I had what my fathers fate was. They then decided I had to have and angiogram to see if my artery needed to be ballooned. Come to find out my arteries were as clean as a new born baby.

During my stay in the hospital a picture was taken of me. At the time of the picture I was shocked to say at 5 "8" I weighed 290 pounds. When my mother seen me she told me "Nickey, if I didn't know it was your truck you were getting out of I would have never known it was you". She didn't even recognize her own daughter and neither did I. This picture did something to me. I didn't know the person I was looking at. I stared at myself in the mirror and had no idea who that person was anymore. I didn't recognize her. I was over medicated, over weight, depressed and ready to give up. Through my faith and looking at my little boy who needs his mommy so bad I said once and for all "NO MORE!!"

That day I started taking my life back. Without telling anyone of my plans I started my journey. I began by doing a complete lifestyle change by getting off of all those medications I didn't need to be on and eating the healthiest foods I could find. At first I couldn't add any exercise b/c I was at such a weight were just walking to the kitchen would cause me chest pains. I had also found out that one of the meds they put me on caused depression so I immediately got off of that one and OMG did the clouds clear. I could think again! I could live again! I could Love again, not just others but MYSELF!

I was so overweight that my cholesterol was off the charts. They couldn't even calculate it. My blood pressure was crazy high and my blood sugar was on the brink of me being a diabetic. Just from changing my portions and what I ate I lost 60 pounds. After the 60 pounds was off I began exercising to get my legs working again. I am happy to say that I am now down 80 pounds and weigh 210. My goal is 150-160. So I still have some work to go.

I now juice all my fruits and vegetables, which is so good. I also upped all my vitamins. I had my labs drawn again and I am happy to say that everything came back perfect. My blood pressure is perfect, my cholesterol is perfect, my sugar is in the normal range but a little high. I no longer eat meat unless it is turkey or fish and eat or drink lots of fruits and veggies.

My latest add on to my journey has been getting a recumbent bike. All those spasms I was having in my legs are now cut in half if not more. I make myself do a minimum of 30 minutes a day and if I am having a good day I do an hour. My energy is up and I am feeling better. Don't get me wrong MS'ers I still have all the wonderful pains and aches, fatigues and struggles that come with MS but life is so much better. For the first time in 4 years I feel like I am living again. You see it's all in how you look at yourself and were your mental status is.

With all this said I want you all to know that no matter your weight or if your in a wheel chair or using a cane like I was YOU CAN DO THIS. Never give up and always push yourself to do something everyday to make yourself feel good about YOU. It can be something as small as looking in the mirror and saying to yourself "I love myself and like loving myself". If you feel lost or hopeless remember you are never alone and Never Give Up. I am a spiritual person and I believe through mindful breathing, meditation and pushing ourselves past that mental block we can get our lives back. Never say Can't but always try.

To all my readers out there we may have never met or may not have even spoken with one another but please know you are not alone in this battle called life. Life is so much better when we fight for ourselves. I will be writing more about the juicing and bike riding.

With Love and Hugs NEVER GIVE UP!!

Something Happens!

Something happened to me this weekend. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was brought to my attention. I had asked how I could be a help and my friend told me about a walk coming up, right here in town. I have to admit, I did the what most people do "Oh yeah, that would be great". Then kinda hit and miss on the topic. Two days prior to the walk I felt a push to find out more and did so. The push or pull or tug or whatever name you want to call it had it's grips on me and I knew I had to do this walk. I felt so pulled to do this walk for a little girl named Emma! So with less than 48hrs left till the walk began I got myself registered and actually wondered, how was I gonna do this physically and financially. I just kept thinking of Emma and how strong she is and that I had to find her strength within myself and do what ever it took to make this walk happen.

I began doing fundraising on Facebook and I made it were over 7,000 people could donate. The entire first day I didn't raise a dime. The 2nd day I woke up on fire to get the fundraising begun. I finally got my first donation by a very special mother and also a fellow MS'er. Along with her, 2 more friends donated. The 3rd day, walk day, I woke with a mission that I was going to raise the last bit and before I knew it 2 angels donated and off to the walk we go.

I was very worried and heard an excuse go through my head but my thoughts always staid on Emma and how important this walk is for her. It was raining scattered T-Storms all morning. When we arrived at the walk it was poring and we all got soaked but that wasn't stopping the people from coming and we were so excited now. Pulled by God and Emma to do this walk! Ten minutes before the walk the sky opened up and allowed the walk to happen. We began walking and enjoying all the new people we were meeting and how excited everyone else was for the cause. The rain stayed away the entire walk. Once we finished the walk the sky decided to send down T-Storms again followed by Tornado. We had just maid it out of down town and I was so worried about the other walkers but thank goodness they only got the storms not the tornado. Isn't it amazing to have the skies open just long enough for this walk to happen for Cystic Fibrosis?

So by now your probably saying "but Nickey you have PPMS, you can't do this walk". Well let me tell ya, when you have little Emma and God on your mind you can do anything. This walk ended up being 3 miles long. I told myself at one point,"Nickey, you can't do this long of a walk" and I even said "you made it and that counts right?". Well let me tell you NO, NO it doesn't count not when you have a child depending on you. I have never felt so much joy than I did while walking for Emma. With every step there would be a little discomfort and when that happened I said to myself "Look at what Emma pushes through every day" and "Dear God, please use my body to complete this walk to raise awareness for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation". Keeping God and Emma on my mind made every step so easy and pain free. Now you may not believe in God and that's fine but you have to believe in Emma. When thinking of Emma you will become transformed into almost super human and can push trough any pain to make sure you don't let her lose hope.

For my story, I owe all to God and I want NO credit b/c it truly wasn't me. I thank little Emma's parents for allowing us the honor to do this. If you have MS and you think you can't do something I have something to overcome that. Find a charity or a foundation that you can donate your time to. This cause must mean something to you and drive you beyond all pain and all of MS's troubles. Make your cause something so dear to you that you feel called from God to walk for them. Yes I had my cane to support me and I encourage you all to bring your canes, walkers, wheelchairs and motor scooters. Because you see, it's not about how much pain your in or how bad MS is attacking you. In fact it has nothing to do with you and you should never worry about how you look or come across to others b/c this walk is for the charity. People aren't going to be looking at you for you, there looking at you for raising awareness to that cause. You have to let all your pride go and leave all your insecurities at your car when you get out and close the door on them. Once you have made this an experience for the cause that you are letting yourself donate your times You are giving them your love and your broken bodies for there cause, It's then you will start to feel that wonderful blessing that you get when you give of yourself without any expectations. If you feel yourself wanting to do something bigger than yourself but you don't think your body will let you please remember my story. God works wonders in us all even when our bodies are broken and don't feel well.

I could have not done this without God! God put everything into motion and allowed me to make it. I want all of you out there to find your own little Emma. Get online, open your phone book and find that cause that makes you want to be a part of something bigger than yourself. There has never been great exercises for me but by the power of giving yourself anything can happen. Something Happened for me!!

If the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is something you are looking at doing I have added the website were you can contribute directly to them online or find local walks. I am also adding a link for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society b/c this one is near to all our hearts.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation:
http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/FundRaisingSummary/?0=0

National Multiple Sclerosis Society:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx

Little Emma is doing well and loves to play on computers with her mommy and daddy. The walk went great and is truly a blessing to be able to do something like this for someone else. Please never go in expecting something b/c it's then that you will receive absolutely nothing. Go in with the right reason, the reason for the cause and you can do anything and will receive the ultimate gift in return, joy and love!

Please remember that no matter our mobility and our pain level we can still push through to some extent if the cause it right. This is my story of encouragement that I pray can inspire others to donate there time to some great causes.

Depression And Multiple Sclerosis!!

Do you ever have the feelings of:

*Sadness
*Loss of energy
*Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
*Loss of enjoyment from things that were once pleasurable
*Difficulty concentrating
*Uncontrollable crying
*Difficulty making decisions
*Irritability
*Increased need for sleep
*Inability to fall or stay asleep at night (insomnia)
*Unexplained aches and pains
*Stomachache and digestive problems
*Decreased sex drive
*Sexual problems
*Headache
*A change in appetite causing weight loss or gain
*Thoughts of death or suicide or
*Attempting suicide?



Everyone at one time or another has felt depressed, sad, or blue. Sometimes the feeling of sadness becomes intense, lasting for long periods of time and preventing a person from leading a normal life. This is depression, a mental illness that, if left untreated, can worsen, lasting for years and causing untold suffering, and possibly even resulting in suicide. It is important to recognize the signs of depression.

What causes depression in MS?

Why are MS patients at such a high risk for depression? The easy answer to this question is that living with MS in and of itself is depressing. Studies show, however, that those with other serious chronic medical conditions do not suffer
from the same high rate of depression as do those with MS.

Depression is very common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Symptoms of depression can even be severe enough to require medical intervention and can affect up to half of all people with MS at some point during their illness. Please talk about your feelings. Confiding in a trusted friend or family member about difficult feelings or thoughts can often improve your mood. Depression is an illness,and just like MS, it deserves the time,attention, and treatment that any other illness would be given.

So we have to ask ourselves are we suffering in silence from depression? If you are it is time to break that silence and know that you are loved and cared for and that you no longer have to suffer alone. It is very understandable that someone would fall into depression after being given a diagnoses of Multiple Sclerosis. So please don't feel ashamed or alone when you have these feelings and if they last for more than a few hours or a couple days please talk to someone about it. The amount of people suffering with depression and feeling completely alone is too high. We as a people need to find our humanity and compassion again. If you see someone who you even think might be suffering, remember that something as simple as a hello or a hand reached out in care can help change a life. Never ever forget to tell everyone around you how much they are cared for and loved b/c sometimes it's easy to forget that. It is especially easy to forget when you become lost in your own thoughts after being given a diagnoses of any disease not just MS.

Develop a spiritual interest. Defining spirituality is a very personal decision. Spending time in nature, prayer, meditation,or a religious setting, are all forms of spiritual practice. How you define spirituality does not really matter; the important thing is that you feel connected with something greater than yourself. When
firmly grounded in a spiritual belief, one can come back to this centered place – especially during times of stress or sadness and find great comfort.

If you have found yourself reading this and you do not suffer from MS or any other disease but know someone who does and they just don't seem themselves anymore, please reach out to them. We are people to and like you, it means a lot to know that there is someone out there who does care. We have feelings also and all we want is to be loved, accepted and welcomed into your lives. Don't forget us because we haven't forgotten you.

So many Hugs, thoughts and prayers to and for all my brothers and sisters out there who are battling these diseases and any other disease.

A Mother's Love Is The Strongest Bond In The World

Happy Mothers Day To All You Mother's With Multiple Sclerosis

To all you mothers out there who battle with Multiple Sclerosis and other Autoimmune diseases I would like to take this time to wish you the most blessed Mother's Day Ever.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I to, am a mother who battles Multiple Sclerosis and if you are like me we push all our pains and worries back to make sure our children are taken care of. I know that battling MS is a tough road but I am so happy that my little guy can make me laugh and keep my mind off the pain and instead on him and all the joys he brings me. Being a mother is the greatest gift I have ever been given. Mommy Loves You Michael!!!

Too all the mothers out there who put all there aches, pains and worries away and become the selfless person who always puts your children first, I wish you the most blessed Mothers Day ever.

I know this fight is hard but always remember as long as you show your children the small acts of kindness, unlimited acts of love and never let a day go by without telling them you love them and give them a great big hug you have done the greatest thing a mother can do for her children. A Mothers Love is the greatest gift a mother can give children that will never be forgotten. Hugs and Blessing to all of you!!

Neuropathic Pain Problems

How many of us out there deal with the burdens from Neuropathic Pains? I Myself deals with these pains and find it hard to get a doctor to listen or even believe this is happening. I wanted to share some things I have found out about this problem. The causes, symptoms and some treatments. Unfortunately I currently receive no treatment for my pain and am forced to deal with it with a smile every day of my life.

So what is Neuropathic Pain?

Neuropathic pain is a complex, chronic pain state that usually is accompanied by tissue injury. With neuropathic pain, the nerve fibers themselves may be damaged, dysfunctional or injured. These damaged nerve fibers send incorrect signals to other pain centers. The impact of nerve fiber injury includes a change in nerve function both at the site of injury and areas around the injury.

One example of neuropathic pain is called phantom limb syndrome. This occurs when an arm or a leg has been removed because of illness or injury, but the brain still gets pain messages from the nerves that originally carried impulses from the missing limb. These nerves now misfire and cause pain. Simply put Neuropathic Pain is the result of a damaged nerve.

What causes neuropathic pain?

Neuropathic pain often seems to have no obvious cause; but, some common causes of neuropathic pain include:

Alcoholism
Amputation
Back, leg, and hip problems
Chemotherapy
Diabetes
Facial nerve problems
HIV infection or AIDS
Multiple sclerosis
Shingles
Spine surgery

What are the symptoms of neuropathic pain?

Symptoms may include:

Shooting and burning pain
Tingling and numbness

Here are some ways Neuropathic Pain is treated.

Some neuropathic pain studies suggest the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Aleve or Motrin, may ease pain. Some people may require a stronger painkiller, such as those containing morphine. Anticonvulsant and antidepressant drugs seem to work in some cases.

If another condition, such as diabetes, is involved, better management of that disorder may alleviate the pain.

In cases that are difficult to treat, a pain specialist may use invasive or implantable device therapies to effectively manage the pain. Electrical stimulation of the nerves involved in neuropathic pain generation may significantly control the pain symptoms.

Unfortunately, neuropathic pain often responds poorly to standard pain treatments and occasionally may get worse instead of better over time. For some people, it can lead to serious disability.

So how many of you fall under this category? Are you suffering from Neuropathic Pain as a result of your Multiple Sclerosis or another Disability listed above? If you are dealing with this does your doctors believe you and are they treating you. If so how are they treating you? Like I said in the beginning I suffer from this and my doctors do not believe me and or have decided not to treat me for it. So in my life God, friends and family are what get me through this. Do you have any advice to give me on speaking with my doctor about this? All comments and advice are wanted and welcome. Have a great Good Friday and God Bless All!!!

How has being sick helped you? Really stop and think about this!!

I know I know your asking yourself, HELPED ME??? I bet you could think of lots of ways that being sick has not helped you but really stop for a minute and think, really look into yourself, who you are and ask yourself the question, How has being sick Helped Me?!?

I took that step and this is what I am finding. First, what an amazing question to get us all really thinking about what is important.

Lets see, well I have been sick all my life starting very young with migraines, seizure and brain surgery to save my life. With those I have always been very compassionate towards others. I thought, my goodness if I feel like this just imagine what they are feeling?! Empathy has always been a huge thing for me. Patience and tolerance are great things I learned.

Then the Multiple Sclerosis symptoms started and it took years before a doctor would listen to me and finally get a diagnoses. Well during that time I think being sick made me a very angry person, I mean I already went through my health issues as a child and now here I am in my 20's going through it again.

But now in my 30's with PPMS (Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis), Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue etc etc etc the BIGGEST thing I have learned and "How being sick has helped me" is it brought back Patience and tolerance FOR MYSELF...See I had all these things for others but I never gave it to myself. So being sick has helped me by learning to give to myself. Give myself compassion, give myself LOVE, give myself patience for myself, give myself tolerance for my physical short comings.

So now not only am I caring person for others I can finally say I am a caring person for myself.
"I love myself unconditionally and I like loving myself" Those were the hardest words for me to learn to speak and mean and that is what being sick has given me and how it has helped me.

I really would like your feedback on this. Remember that all your stories are inspiration to others. If you don't have a chronic illness tell me how an injury has helped you. I really want to hear everyones testimony.

Hugs to All

Tamika Myers // Moving On // Music Video

Multiple Sclerosis Society

Continuing on with Fatigue

I just had to add to my previous post about fatigue.

Question: What causes fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis?

Fatigue is considered by many to be the worst part of multiple sclerosis, affecting 85 to 95% of those with MS. Indeed, on "bad days" it is unimaginably difficult to even meet one's basic needs, due to overwhelming tiredness that makes everything more difficult. As it turns out, MS-related fatigue is usually the product of several factors working together.


Answer: Fatigue in MS is caused by many factors, which can be grouped into those causing primary fatigue and secondary fatigue.

Primary Fatigue
Primary fatigue is the result of the disease process itself, and is caused by demyelination in the central nervous system.

“Lassitude” is an overwhelming tiredness that is not directly related to increased activity.
Heat sensitivity fatigue comes from the heat intolerance many of us with MS experience due to hot or humid weather or raising our body temperature through exercise or exertion.
There is also something called “short-circuiting” or “localized” fatigue, where affected nerves of individual muscle groups tire with use, such as your legs after walking or your hand after writing.

Secondary Fatigue
Secondary fatigue is not caused directly by the MS itself, but is usually a result of MS symptoms or trying to compensate for them.

Sleep disturbances are common in people with MS, due to spasms, depression or anxiety, pain, the frequent need to urinate at night (nocturia) or because of side effects of medications (corticosteroids like Solu-Medrol are notorious for causing sleep disturbances).

Exertion causes fatigue in people with MS when they constantly need to compensate for symptoms like spasticity or muscle-weakness, which may make it harder to walk, keep your balance or complete tasks around the house.

Some medications also cause fatigue as a side effect, including those taken specifically for MS, including the disease-modifying therapies which are made from beta-interferon (Avonex, Betaseron and Rebif), Tysabri and Novantrone. Fatigue is a side effect of some medications taken for MS symptoms such as spasticity (including baclofen, Valium and Zanaflex) or pain (including Klonopin and Neurontin). Others include medications for high-blood pressure, allergy medications and others containing antihistamines, and anti-anxiety drugs.

Depression often causes people to feel overwhelmingly tired. In some people, the fatigue itself causes depression. Some of the medications used to treat depression can also cause fatigue.

Lack of proper nutrition also causes swings in blood sugar leading to general tiredness.
Infections, such as colds, flu or urinary tract infections can cause fatigue.
Lack of physical fitness can greatly contribute to fatigue.

Here is a story I came across that I can so relate to and just had to share:

"As a long-time sufferer of MS-related fatigue, I think my worst fatigue is usually a combination of many of these factors. On my most challenging days, I’ll experience the crushing, overwhelming fatigue of MS “lassitude” from the minute I get up. I’ll try to self-medicate this with caffeine, which usually means I end up taking a really long nap too close to bedtime. I try to fix that with a tiny sliver of a prescription sleep medication, which leaves me a little drowsy the next day. Of course, during a day like this, the last thing on my mind is exercising. Add to this equation the fact that I don’t feel like cooking, and end up surviving the day eating unhealthy snacks. The icing on the cake is my heat intolerance, which deflates me during any trips outside in hot months unless I take precautions. I have also learned that for me any alcohol greatly contributes to this cycle. This is okay, because by evening on days like this, I am usually too tired to lift a wine glass, anyway."

Once again, Thank You for reading and I look forward to your comments.

Our Fight with Relentless Fatigue

So how many of us out there battle fatigue on a daily basis? I myself fight it everyday with some days being a little better than others. I have to sit back some days and think about how this will be how I feel for the remainder of my life. I like so many others fight this ugly part of MS with all I have. I can't just give in to it b/c I have a little boy who depends on me to be mommy. Don't get me wrong fatigue has been known to destroy a lot of my days and has stopped me from doing so many things I love. I want to know how others are fighting against there fatigue. At this point I do take something for it but have to be careful and only take a little do to my heart. I currently walk on the treadmill to try and keep my legs active and to also help strengthen my heart and have found that this little act of exercise helps just enough with the fatigue and allows me to get on with my day.

How do we explain fatigue to our friends and family so they will understand? How can we explain it so they don't think that just a simple nap will help. We wish everyday that taking a nap would help bring our bodies back to speed. The sad truth is that naps and sleep do not help. We all know in our own lives how fatigue and tiredness are two completely different things but to help explain this I did a little research and found this. I hope this will help you and also help with trying to explain to others how fatigue impacts your everyday life.

What is Multiple Sclerosis and Fatigue?

Medically speaking, fatigue is not the same thing as tiredness. Tiredness happens to everyone -- it is an expected feeling after certain activities or at the end of the day. Usually you know why you are tired and a good night's sleep solves the problem.

Fatigue is a daily lack of energy; unusual or excessive whole-body tiredness not relieved by sleep. It can be acute (lasting a month or less) or chronic (lasting from one to six months or longer). Fatigue can prevent a person from functioning normally and affects a person's quality of life.

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 80% of people with MS have fatigue. MS-related fatigue tends to get worse as the day goes on, is often aggravated by heat and humidity, and comes on more easily and suddenly than normal fatigue.

So the best way to combat fatigue related to your MS is to treat the underlying medical cause. Unfortunately, the exact cause of MS-related fatigue is often unknown, or there may be multiple causes. However, there are steps you can take that may help to control fatigue.

My goodness with this against us how do we control our fatigue? How do we handle it? I also found some neat tips on how we might start to control our fatigue. Here are some tips:

1. Assess your personal situation.

Evaluate your level of energy. Think of your personal energy stores as a "bank." Deposits and withdrawals have to be made over the course of the day or the week to balance energy conservation, restoration, and expenditure. Keep a diary for one week to identify the time of day when you are either most fatigued or have the most energy. Note what you think may be contributing factors.
Be alert to your personal warning signs of fatigue. Fatigue warning signs may include tired eyes, tired legs, whole-body tiredness, stiff shoulders, decreased energy or a lack of energy, inability to concentrate, weakness or malaise, boredom or lack of motivation, sleepiness, increased irritability, nervousness, anxiety, or impatience.

2. Conserve your energy.

Plan ahead and organize your work. For example, change storage of items to reduce trips or reaching, delegate tasks when needed, and combine activities and simplify details.
Schedule rest. For example, balance periods of rest and work and rest before you become fatigued. Frequent, short rests are beneficial.
Pace yourself. A moderate pace is better than rushing through activities. Reduce sudden or prolonged strains. Alternate sitting and standing.
Practice proper body mechanics. When sitting, use a chair with good back support. Sit up with your back straight and your shoulders back. Adjust the level of your work. Work without bending over. When bending to lift something, bend your knees and use your leg muscles to lift, not your back. Do not bend forward at the waist with your knees straight. Also, try carrying several small loads instead of one large one, or use a cart.
Limit work that requires reaching over your head. For example, use long-handled tools, store items lower, and delegate activities whenever possible.
Limit work that increases muscle tension.
Identify environmental situations that cause fatigue. For example, avoid extremes of temperature, eliminate smoke or harmful fumes, and avoid long hot showers or baths.
Prioritize your activities. Decide what activities are important to you, and what could be delegated. Use your energy on important tasks.

3. Eat Right

Fatigue is often made worse if you are not eating enough or if you are not eating the right foods. Maintaining good nutrition can help you feel better and have more energy.
4. Exercise

Decreased physical activity, which may be the result of illness or of treatment, can lead to tiredness and lack of energy. Scientists have found that even healthy athletes forced to spend extended periods in bed or sitting in chairs develop feelings of anxiety, depression, weakness, fatigue, and nausea. Regular, moderate exercise can decrease these feelings, help you stay active, and increase your energy.
5. Learn to manage stress

Managing stress can play an important role in combating fatigue. Here are tips to help keep stress in check:

Adjust your expectations. For example, if you have a list of 10 things you want to accomplish today, pare it down to two and leave the rest for other days. A sense of accomplishment goes a long way to reducing stress.
Help others understand and support you. Family and friends can be helpful if they can "put themselves in your shoes" and understand what fatigue means to you. Support groups can be a source of comfort as well. Other people with MS understand what you are going through.
Relaxation techniques. Audiotapes that teach deep breathing or visualization can help reduce stress.
Participate in activities that divert your attention away from fatigue. For example, activities such as knitting, reading, or listening to music require little physical energy but require attention.

If your stress seems out of control, talk to your doctor. They are there to help.

I really hope all this has helped you like it has helped me. I also hope you feel free to talk to your doctor about your fatigue. You never know if your fatigue could be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Please feel free to share this information with your loved ones to help them understand a little better what it is you are battling. We can not expect others to understand what it is we battle with our MS or other Autoimmune Diseases if we don't explain it to them. We have to be willing to be patient with them while they learn either from us, our doctors or by reading up on the issues. For all the caregivers out there, first I would like to say thank you for all you do for us I know it is not an easy job. With this said please be patient with us and allow us the freedom to talk to you about what is going on in our bodies.

So many hugs and prayers for all you out there.
Your Friend, Nickey

A New Beginning

First I would like to say, It has been a while since my last blog and for that I apologize to my readers. With that said I have a few things I would like to share.

Something that has been going on with me is the wonderful MS Bear Hug. This has been coming on and off for a little over a month now. Just this evening I was having a wonderful conversation with a Dear friend and it was pointed out to me that during our intense conversation the bear hug seemed to be gone. Not that it was completely gone but my mind was off of it and my stress level had been reduced. So I think for future bear hugs I will be practicing relaxation and meditation or another great talk with my friend. About a month ago I ended up catching a horrible cold/flu that took it's tole on me. Over the last couple weeks I started noticing my symptoms had gotten worse and the pain more intense to the point I was NOT sleeping at all. Made that dreadful call just to have my Neuro say he thinks I am having an exacerbation. It has been pretty intense except for one day when I got super mans boost of energy and accomplished the task of a few house hold chores. People let me be the one to warn you when your body is acting up energy or no energy it is not the time to go all commando on your household chores.

Something else that has been noticed that I would like to touch on is depression. There have been so many of us depressed and the question as come up, is this being depressed b/c of MS or is MS actually making us depressed? There was some research found that suggest that in some of MS patients the patient has no control over there depression. You can actually get damage to that part of the brain that will in turn cause you to be depressed. Just a little something to think about and maybe a good topic to bring up at the next Doctors Appointment.

I don't have much else to blog about this evening except the evil fact of no sleep is hitting again. Maybe that will be tomorrows while I'm trying to stay awake.

God Bless to all
May you be freed of your Aces and Pains

Vision

Oh this is so annoying! How many of us deal with vision problems or Optic Neuritis? Currently I am having the onset of another case of "The attack of Optic Neuritis". I have to wonder if this time it is going to be permanent. Any new symptom I have gotten have been permanent so it makes me wonder if this is going to be. The reason for me being so scared about it is due to me having Primary Progressive MS and as we know this type of MS progressively gets worse with no remission.

So what I want to know is how this affects everybody and how you deal with it. For me so far I have the blurry vision and also some nausea along with the wonderful eye ball pain. While dealing with this I can't help but look at my son and pray to God that I will get to watch him grow up.

Many of us with multiple sclerosis (MS) have experienced vision-related symptoms, the most common one being optic neuritis. You could also have experienced optic neuritis and been told that you have a good chance of developing MS in the future.

You also could be experiencing some bizarre problems with your vision and are currently trying to figure out what in the world is going on. Clearly, many things can cause problems with vision and that you should ALWAYS get your eyes checked if you are experiencing strange symptoms. If you have the following symptoms, you most likely have optic neuritis, which simply translates to “swelling of the optic nerve.” It is important to know that optic neuritis can have different causes (and approaches to treatment), so even if you have MS and are fairly confident that you have diagnosed yourself correctly, you must see your doctor.


What Does Optic Neuritis Feel Like?
•Painful: Most people with optic neuritis (about 90%) experience pain when moving their eyes. This pain usually subsides after a couple of days, even if vision is still affected.
•Appearing Over a Couple of Days: For most people, the onset is pretty rapid, with the peak vision loss occurring within 24 to 48 hours of onset.
•Usually Only in One Eye: Optic neuritis can affect the vision in both eyes simultaneously, but this is extremely rare.
•Reduced Vision: This can take different forms and can be described as:
•Blurring
•Reduced light
•Absence of color
•Flashes of light when the eyes are moved, called phosphenes
•A “blank spot” in the middle of the eye, called a scotoma

Well I don't know about you but this is scary b/c I don't want to lose my sight. MS has taken so many things from me I feel like my vision is something I still have control over. Now I find myself wondering "do I really have control?" If anybody has any helpful tips to get through this please leave a comment.


Much Love and Thanks to all my readers.

Weight Gain (Medications and Fatigue)

So how many of you have found yourself gaining weight? I have gradually been putting on weight for the last 4 years. For some reason I could never figure out why. Then I started reading all the side affects on my medications. WOW! Was I ever surprised at how many of them listed weight gain.

I also believe the chronic fatigue from MS plays a huge role. If you are like me you feel like you over run with fatigue.

I never really understood fatigue. I always thought it was just because I was tired and not getting enough sleep. Well did I learn different. Over the years I thought something was seriously wrong with me. Always wanting to sleep and it seemed like it took the wrath of God to wake me up. Well there is something wrong with me it's called Multiple Sclerosis and this is what I found out...

Medically speaking, fatigue is not the same thing as tiredness. Tiredness happens to everyone -- it is an expected feeling after certain activities or at the end of the day. Usually you know why you are tired and a good night's sleep solves the problem.

Fatigue is a daily lack of energy; unusual or excessive whole-body tiredness not relieved by sleep. It can be acute (lasting a month or less) or chronic (lasting from one to six months or longer). Fatigue can prevent a person from functioning normally and affects a person's quality of life.

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 80% of people with MS have fatigue. MS-related fatigue tends to get worse as the day goes on, is often aggravated by heat and humidity, and comes on more easily and suddenly than normal fatigue.

So if you have found yourself like me with weight gain look at these two factors to see what steps can be taken to help control it. I myself was able to get rid of the medications that helped cause my weight gain. Not everybody has this option. I have also found some great tips online to help battle the fatigue.

This is what I found on Combating Fatigue:

The best way to combat fatigue related to your MS is to treat the underlying medical cause. Unfortunately, the exact cause of MS-related fatigue is often unknown, or there may be multiple causes. However, there are steps you can take that may help to control fatigue. Here are some tips:
1. Assess your personal situation.

* Evaluate your level of energy. Think of your personal energy stores as a "bank." Deposits and withdrawals have to be made over the course of the day or the week to balance energy conservation, restoration, and expenditure. Keep a diary for one week to identify the time of day when you are either most fatigued or have the most energy. Note what you think may be contributing factors.
* Be alert to your personal warning signs of fatigue. Fatigue warning signs may include tired eyes, tired legs, whole-body tiredness, stiff shoulders, decreased energy or a lack of energy, inability to concentrate, weakness or malaise, boredom or lack of motivation, sleepiness, increased irritability, nervousness, anxiety, or impatience.

2. Conserve your energy.

* Plan ahead and organize your work. For example, change storage of items to reduce trips or reaching, delegate tasks when needed, and combine activities and simplify details.
* Schedule rest. For example, balance periods of rest and work and rest before you become fatigued. Frequent, short rests are beneficial.
* Pace yourself. A moderate pace is better than rushing through activities. Reduce sudden or prolonged strains. Alternate sitting and standing.
* Practice proper body mechanics. When sitting, use a chair with good back support. Sit up with your back straight and your shoulders back. Adjust the level of your work. Work without bending over. When bending to lift something, bend your knees and use your leg muscles to lift, not your back. Do not bend forward at the waist with your knees straight. Also, try carrying several small loads instead of one large one, or use a cart.
* Limit work that requires reaching over your head. For example, use long-handled tools, store items lower, and delegate activities whenever possible.
* Limit work that increases muscle tension.
* Identify environmental situations that cause fatigue. For example, avoid extremes of temperature, eliminate smoke or harmful fumes, and avoid long hot showers or baths.
* Prioritize your activities. Decide what activities are important to you, and what could be delegated. Use your energy on important tasks.

3. Eat Right

Fatigue is often made worse if you are not eating enough or if you are not eating the right foods. Maintaining good nutrition can help you feel better and have more energy.
4. Exercise

Decreased physical activity, which may be the result of illness or of treatment, can lead to tiredness and lack of energy. Scientists have found that even healthy athletes forced to spend extended periods in bed or sitting in chairs develop feelings of anxiety, depression, weakness, fatigue, and nausea. Regular, moderate exercise can decrease these feelings, help you stay active, and increase your energy.
5. Learn to manage stress

Managing stress can play an important role in combating fatigue. Here are tips to help keep stress in check:

* Adjust your expectations. For example, if you have a list of 10 things you want to accomplish today, pare it down to two and leave the rest for other days. A sense of accomplishment goes a long way to reducing stress.
* Help others understand and support you. Family and friends can be helpful if they can "put themselves in your shoes" and understand what fatigue means to you. Support groups can be a source of comfort as well. Other people with MS understand what you are going through.
* Relaxation techniques. Audiotapes that teach deep breathing or visualization can help reduce stress.
* Participate in activities that divert your attention away from fatigue. For example, activities such as knitting, reading, or listening to music require little physical energy but require attention.

If your stress seems out of control, talk to your doctor. They are there to help.
When Should I Tell My Doctor About My Fatigue?

Although fatigue is a common and often expected symptom of MS, you should feel free to mention your concerns to your doctors. There are times when fatigue may be a clue to some other underlying medical problem. Other times, there may be medical interventions that can prevent fatigue.

I really hope this helps with some of your questions and concerns. The fatigue is the worst for me along with some other medical problems that make even the smallest task painful.
Much Love and Hugs to ALL