How I Manage Relapsing-Remitting MS

By Ann Marie Johnson, as instructed to Shishira Sreenivas

I used to be identified with relapsing-remitting a number of sclerosis (RRMS) on New Year’s Eve in 2002. I used to be 32. At that point, I had simply began embarking on my profession in Brooklyn, NY. I simply graduated from grad faculty and had began my new job, and I used to be an unbiased lady. I used to be at all times on the transfer. It’s humorous as a result of folks usually might hear me earlier than they might see me. I’m a petite lady that used to put on 5-inch stilettos. Any given day, you can hear the clackity-clack as I used to be coming down the road or hallway. Life was fairly good.

One explicit day whereas I used to be at work, I observed that the pen I used to be utilizing to put in writing my notes with saved falling out of my palms. At first, I used to be like, OK, what is going on on right here? But it saved occurring. I began feeling these humorous emotions within my physique. My supervisor was with me that day, so I mentioned to her, “Look, I don’t feel right. Something is not right.” She let me go dwelling and instructed me to complete up later.

When I don’t really feel good, I make a cup of tea. So I did that and went to sleep. When I awoke, the humorous emotions had shifted to waist down. It felt like pins and needles when your hand falls asleep. I additionally had numbness and my legs didn’t transfer. I fell to the ground once I tried to maneuver.

Thankfully my roommate got here to assist and took me to the ER. There, I spoke to the neurologist. Fast ahead a bit of. After a sequence of exams, checks, spinal faucet, EKG, and an prolonged journey to the hospital proper earlier than Thanksgiving, greater than 2 weeks later, after extra workup and only a few days after my birthday, I used to be identified with MS.

I did not know a lot about it on the time. All I knew was Montel Williams and Richard Pryor had it. And my ideas had been: What does that imply to me? I used to be only a poor woman from Brooklyn, NY. I haven’t got any cash, I’m not married, will anyone ever need me? Would I have the ability to have children? Will I have the ability to return to work? These had been the issues swirling in my head.

Use Assistive Devices and Find What Works for You

As I discovered to dwell with MS, I used to be additionally studying what that was going to imply for me. As in what does it imply for my strolling? For that I’ve canes. I exploit a folding cane, and I’ve one with wooden carving.

In phrases of the emotional side of this sickness, I figured if I’m going to have mobility units, I’m going to look good with it. So I acquired a leopard cane to match my leopard print footwear. For the vacations, I’ve a black and white cane. I even have my African queen cane. So as a substitute of individuals listening to me from the clack-clack-clack of my footwear, now they heard me due to the clack-clack-clack of my cane.

When I’ve good days, the cane stays within the automotive. On days when it’s a bit of difficult, I’ll take it out.

Strategize and Plan Your Day Ahead of Time

Different signs are positively going to offer you reminders that you’ve got MS. And then relying on what you are doing in your day, it’s a must to strategize. Because of my fatigue, I do not actually operate that nicely early within the morning. Anybody that is aware of me, like my mates, they know, “Do not name Ann Marie to go anyplace within the morning!” Because I’m like a moist noodle. I’m at my finest within the afternoon.

I additionally began to put in writing every part down, particularly on the physician’s workplace, as a result of there was no method I used to be in a position to bear in mind every part and notify the physician. I began to put in writing about issues like how I really feel or what I ate. I might write in regards to the time and about my temperature. From all of that, I used to be in a position to see patterns. Using that, I used to be in a position to modify sure issues in my life.

For instance, I work lengthy hours. I discovered that it is best for me to eat small meals as a result of if I’ve a giant breakfast after which have a giant lunch, it exacerbates my fatigue.  If I’ve small meals stretched out throughout the course of my day, it maintains my power degree to some extent the place I can operate, and I’m not nodding off at work.

MS causes me to have frequent urination. I’ve to be aware of how I get my fluids. I do know I can not get that cup of espresso within the morning after which journey to get to my vacation spot as a result of I will not make it. So as a substitute of nursing a drink, I attempt to drink issues in a single setting. That method, when it is time to dispel it, I do it in a single shot.

But once more, these had been modifications I used to be in a position to make once I began writing and began seeing the patterns. I used to be in a position to make actual change in my life. However, I’m nonetheless studying.

Join a Support Group

The first couple of years had been actually spent on making an attempt to determine me and what MS goes to seem like for me as a result of everyone’s MS is completely different. I used to be searching for info, and I contacted the National MS Society. They helped me get into assist teams. Through this, I began to facilitate my very own teams. I wish to say I took the “I” from persistent sickness and added “We,” and made it wellness.

I discovered others like me. I might hear others’ tales about how they’re coping or alternate little cheat sheets. Find out the place to get canes from, or what drugstores have actually good canes. Find social media teams or talk about what completely different diets persons are utilizing.

It gave me the chance to debate or see how this man works with this or that individual and to get tips about dwell with MS. But additionally, I acquired to listen to about individuals who journey, or get a doctorate, or get a elevate, get married, or have infants. Just common life occasions for individuals who simply occur to have MS. That is the best degree of assist, and that actually sparked wellness. It made me really feel higher. And once you really feel higher, you do higher.