Stax – Page 5 – Multiple Sclerosis & Me

To “Bee” or Not to “Bee”

unfortunately, Bumblebee was not to bee.

I mentioned in an earlier post that my “release date” was April 23rd so after that date as things slowly reopened in Atlanta, I started moving around. Admittedly still not willy nilly as before but I certainly could not stay within the confines of these four walls like the previous year. Anyway, so it was a nice Saturday in ATL weather wise – it was October, so the temperature was 70-75, humidity was low, sun was out…Asal and I decided to buss a small lime on the patio of a nearby restaurant. I took Lyft and Uber to go to and from and I used Bumblebee.

Now Bumblebee (I learned years ago) was not as sturdy as any of the other scooters I’ve owned, and he certainly couldn’t withstand the jammin that Soca Scooter or Optimus could handle. Years ago, I flew with the ‘bee and when I returned to Atlanta I had to find someone to do some repairs. One of the problems I had was that I actually bought him on Amazon and finding a local repairshop was a bitch because none of them actually sold the brand. Anyway, my car mechanic knew someone who cold solder him back together so we were good to go. Fast forward a few years and one day I was out somewhere sitting on him and I heard something. Looked down and saw 2 screws by my feet and the casing for the wires by the starter was gaping open. Great! Now, the screws were barely an inch and they were actually screwed in upside down so maybe, it’s no wonder that they fell out after a number of years. When we looked at what needed to happen we discovered that while I had 2 screws, there were actually 3 holes – WONDERFUL! Well. We are a resourceful bunch, so some gorilla glue, electrical tape and the 2 screws, and Bumblebee was presentable enough to roll. He was presentable but of course, more fragile than ever. Now, I eh go lie but every time anyone handled him, I wanted to say “handle with care” or something along those lines but did I? No…maybe 1% of the time – UGH! but every time, I was lucky and nothing went wrong…until that fateful night in October after bussing a small lime with ASal in the nearby restaurant.

I requested a car to go back home and Jude came to get me. I heard the usual thump when Bee gets situated in the trunk and thought, “shit! forgot to tell him to be careful”. He got back in the car and we were off. I arrived home (by this time, it was about 9pm) and I heard him saying something as I got out the car and the next thing I saw was Bumblebee essentially in 3 parts. Long story short, Jude got a really good tip that night after walking me into my apartment. The wire that powered Bee was broken and he helped me by holding the 2 ends together. I didn’t really have a choice; it was either let him walk me in on a wing and a prayer or sit outside and figure out how to get in – I took my chances. I donated Bumblebee to a local organisation called FODAC (Friends of Disabled Adults & Children) where hopefully, their mechanics might be able to do a better job than we did so Bee could be used by someone else. These days I’m rolling with Optimus and Max – another foldable scooter, bought from a local dealer and he’s the reliable Pride brand that all the others have been.

Just another day in the life of Stacey!

Taking Lyft Post Covid

I cyah lie. I was really nervous about taking Lyft after things started reopening here in Atlanta. Pre Covid, I’d already started having thoughts of if I was being presumptuous because of my having a scooter and assuming that the driver will just pick it up and go. Now, post covid, I still have those thoughts coupled with “will drivers want to touch my scooter” – maybe people will think that it’s just more surfaces for Covid germs and increased transmission risk. Ugh! Honestly though, venturing out ANYWHERE when places started opening up was a little daunting to me. I have mentioned before that anytime I get sick, I am down for the count. I honestly don’t think that anyone can really appreciate how bad things get for me unless they’ve actually experienced it and I’m sure that there are people who think I’m exaggerating but say what. Anyway, so seeing and hearing what people go through after contracting it, makes it the last entry on my list of “things that I want to experience” but by the end of 2020, I was sick and tired of my 4 walls and I was ready to start living again. Were/are my Lyft fears unfounded? I dunno but it is what it is…

At the end of the day all I could do was continue using Lyft or stay inside so I put on my big girl panties and started back, besides there were times that I didn’t have a choice (more to come on that later). I figured that I’d walk with wipes, sanitizer, whatever else I could put my hands on to try to try to allay any fears.

Turns out my fears were unfounded (at least up to now) because the issue has not been raised. No-one has said anything, and I no longer walk with wipes etc. The company has put some parameters in place and masks are required to ride with anyone and these days, it’s not uncommon to get into a car with a plexiglass partition separating the front seats from the back. In fact, riders are strongly encouraged to sit in the back “away” from drivers – not a problem for me because that’s what I’ve been doing all along anyway. Interestingly enough tho, a driver reported me for not wearing my mask properly. Admittedly when I’m waiting for the car, there are times that I’d have the mask slung under my chin and once they pull up and I start walking them thru the steps to break down the scooter, I put it on. I’m not sure what happened that time…maybe I didn’t pull it up soon enough? haven’t a clue but I KNOW I had it on in the car; I really don’t know why he reported me. Anyway, after that happened, I had to re-certify that I wear masks and wear them properly before I could ride again. It wasn’t a showstopper and I continue to use the service to get around albeit not as much as before.

Even though pretty much everything and everywhere is open here, I don’t venture out as much as I used to. My friends and I joke all the time that as far as the powers that be here are concerned, “covid is done” and life is normal. I don’t share that same view although I do believe that it’s going nowhere fast, so we have to learn to coexist somehow. That said though, I still haven’t eaten out in a restaurant for dinner since 2019 nor have I started back rock climbing…couldn’t even tell you the last time that I went to a mall – everything’s still just kinda weird and I am at home alot more than pre-covid. Of course, this is also my hibernation period, so truth be told I am in no hurry to go out anyway. Come March, we’ll see how things change…

Anyway, I gone so…allyuh hol’ it down and have a great weekend!
Stax

Back in the Saddle

I’ve been missing in action for some time. It’s just one of those things I s’pose – this blog’s life cycle. So, what’s been going on for the past year and a half? well…honestly not a whole lot because… Covid, although 2020 actually started off really well. My birthday is in January and I threw a birthday party in February, one week before flying home for carnival. That was a fantastic time and I remember while there for a week after carnival activities, reading about this virus that was first detected in China and had started spreading etc. At the time, it wasn’t completely startling but by the time I’d touched down in Atlanta, everywhere started shutting down and the year morphed into a completely surreal time. It was astonishingly weird year, and it was a year of a couple “firsts” for me. First time I ever spent Christmas by myself, first time since I started going out on Old Year’s night, that I was sound asleep at the stroke of midnight on December 31st (I didn’t see the need to stay up to ring in anything or cheers to myself). The original plan was to go to Charlotte by G2 and family but as the time drew closer, I realised that it just wasn’t feasible, so I decided that I’d stay put. I wasn’t happy and certainly wasn’t looking forward to the season, but it came, it went, and truth be told in the grand scheme of things, I guess it could have been much worse.

Early in 2020 I was of the mindset that I won’t go get the vaccine first; I’d let other people go first, see how things pan out and then I’d line up. By then end of 2020, I couldn’t wait to get in line because while I like my “me” time and have no problem limin with me, I was sick and tired of me and couldn’t wait to start seeing people again. My “release date” (2 weeks after dose II) was April 24th 2021 and we organised a small lime in Eclipse soon after that. It was so very good to see each other after a whole year – u have to understand, we limed regularly pre-Covid. Not limin or seeing each other for a month was unheard of, far less an entire year! We I thought that it was the beginning of going back to normal, ugh it wasn’t. At the time I don’t think that I’d realised yet that Covid is not going anywhere. These days, I firmly believe that everyone is going to get it; it’s just a matter of when and how each person will be affected. I would like to delay my getting it for as long as possible – in fact I don’t want to contract it at all – so I wear masks everywhere and try to be as diligent as possible regardless of where I am or who I’m with.

As far as the ms is concerned. Things are still stable although my opinion is that my disability has worsened lil bit. It’s hard for me to explain but I’m still able to do everything that I’m used to, it’s just that I sometimes feel like things are a little worse. For the majority of 2020, I wasn’t active; at least not as active as I used to be and I couldn’t go to therapy – that probably took some kind of toll on my body. Interestingly enough though, I’ve run into a couple people who haven’t seen me in a while, and they’ve remarked that I’m moving well. I don’t know but it’s just one of those feelings. The good news is though, that I was sent for an MRI in July 2021 and there was no evidence of disease activity so that’s a win that I’ll take and move right on along.

Anyways, keeping this a short, general recap of 2020/2021. I’ll be back…certainly have more to talk about and to share.

Hol’ it down. Take care and be safe out there,
Stax

This Damn ‘rona

Well..I been inside for the past two weeks, I know, just like everybody else for the most part. At first I was thinking (as I mentioned in my last post) that I could find some balance between staying safe and continuing to do things I want/need to. Well. No. That wasn’t the case. It’s definitely the end of hibernation, so I figured I could still find a way to start back rock climbing. I’d seen a notice that the gym was still open…well soon after my last post, I got the email that they were going to close until further notice. Of course, if I’m to be honest, I was probably being a little schupid to think that I could protect myself there. To drive the point home, G said to me, “and suppose ur side climber have it?!?” Rock climbing is out!

Spree (my trainer) and I meet in this apartment gym every Tuesday and Thursday morning. That decision was easy-ish because I got the notice that the gym was closed sometime ago. Well, to compensate for that, I figured that we could meet in my apartment and do a modified workout. Good sense eventually prevailed though, because it occurred to me that duh! when we workout together, there’s no 6 feet between us. Yeah I’ve been isolated but as far as I knew, she probably was going to work etc so I could not know for sure if she was fine. I need to be safe not sorry and essentially steer clear of EVERYBODY till this shit blows over. Gym is out!

I was scheduled for a regular follow up at the MSCA with Gilbert and I actually haven’t done an MRI in a while, so that was supposed to take place right before the appointment with Gilbert Tuesday gone. I called the office and left a message to find out what they suggested I do. Just as I was about to call and cancel cuz no-one had called me back, I got an email that they were starting telehealth visits for established patients who had follow up appointments scheduled. I jumped at that chance but cancelled my MRI – I figured that it’s been a year without one, I could wait a few months. Yuh see, I have to take Lyft to go to the MSCA and getting in someone’s Lyft car is not a priority at all these days. No offence to any Lyft drivers out there but I don’t know what sanitising practices they have between passengers and I need to be safe not sorry. Lyft is out!

I told a small white lie to start. I have gotten out lil bit – we are not on complete lockdown here. I had to do some essential shopping but I was comfortable and knew I could be in control both times. My vodka was done so I had to get a bottle so off to the liquor store I went. I was also out of my favourite chips and a few other items so I had to go the grocery. Both places are in my neighbourhood so I scooted around the place. On the road, I was in control of where I drove but I encountered no one and I was careful to stay away from people in both locations…additionally, I walked with, and used my disinfecting clorox wipes and the self checkout line in the grocery. I need to be safe not sorry – we all do, but I really need to be. We will get thru this – everyone must act responsibly and do what needs to be done to get this shit under control. Together we can do it and at some point, corona virus and covid19 will be all but a memory.

MS and Coronavirus

Well I had another post ready to go but decided to switch gears for the hour and speak to this a lil bit. In no way am I an expert but as someone living with ms and my experiences over the years, I think that I can speak candidly and share my views from that perspective.

Coronavirus doesn’t appear to be a death sentence; people have been recovering but as someone living with a chronic disease and an already compromised immune system, I DO NOT WANT to contract it at all. I have been trying to avoid the common cold (listen. Not even the flu, just the common cold) like it’s the plague for at least the past 10 years. The last time I got the cold (don’t remember exactly when it was, but I know that it was before 2012), I actually remember thinking that “this is what it must be like to be at death’s door”. It knocked me flat; I could barely function. Fast forward to 2017 after I came back from Carnival in Trinidad and truth be told, I’m not sure what I contracted – it wasn’t a cold – but I got sick and had to hire round the clock nurses to be with me and when that broke the bank, Learls came to Atlanta for a week as I slowly recovered. A nurse practitioner at the MSCA once explained to me in the most basic terms. When we get sick, our immune systems kick in to start fighting that sickness but as a result, whatever ms symptoms/problems we might be dealing with at the time also tend to flare up/act the fool. So when I get sick, I get extremely weak, my limbs get heavy and everything that I normally do takes so much more effort to accomplish that it really does not make sense for me to be alone because, among other things, that could end in disaster.

back in 2015 and 2016, after my 2 rounds of Lemtrada infusions, I had to avoid sickness and sick people like nobody’s business because for at least 3 months immediately following the infusions, my immune system was pretty much non-existent. Here we are in 2020 and once again, avoiding sick people is a must. The biggest problem in my opinion, with Coronavirus is how contagious it appears to be when patients are not even symptomatic – geez, so basically, I don’t even know who to avoid! It helps that I work from home but I’m at the point now where cabin fever is kicking in…the temperatures aren’t bad right now, I may just scoot around the neighbourhood to get out – I should be able to avoid close contact with people by doing so too. I’m not a major worrier/panic-er generally, especially when it involves things over which I have no control, but Coronavirus is concerning and not contracting it is a top priority, although I not trying to go stark staring mad while doing so – I have to find that balance between living and doing things that I enjoy while still protecting myself at the same time. I eh trying to be morbid, but I just don’t know that my recovery from Corona will be like everybody else’s. As it stands, because of the ms, I am already in tune with my body and I can tell very quickly when something is off or just doesn’t seem right so that, I feel, will be critical for me in these uncertain times.

anyway, allyuh stay safe and protect urselves as well as u can. Keep ur fingers on the pulse of things, stay informed and we will get thru this. Check out coronavirus.gov and who.int for up to the minute information, sneeze/cough into ur elbows, avoid touching ur faces and wash those hands!!! this too shall pass…right?

I gone so, Stax

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