Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Well…

I wish I could tell u that it was simply the lack of exercise in trute OR like last year, was jes ah infection that needed to be cleared up and I moved on. No. Nothing so simple…not at all. I’ve officially crossed over the line from relapsing remitting MS to secondary progressive MS. the way I’ve been describing to everyone I’ve spoken to is “(for me) think about it like a stage 1, stage 2 type of deal”. Most (most) patients are diagnosed with RRMS – so essentially the person experiences relapses (exacerbations) for some time and then things go back to normal (my eyesight issues in 2003 (before i’d been diagnosed) and weird happenings in 2007).  About 80% (naturally I would fit into that category) patients with RRMS develop SPMS. The major difference between the 2 is that SPMS patients experience fewer relapses but worsening disability – I really can’t think of another relapse after 2007.  The medication I’m on (currently Gilly and in the past Copaxone, Tysabri and Tecfidera) doesn’t cure the disease, it slows down the progression so one may presumably argue that had I not been taking anything, I might have crossed over the line sooner than now.
I actually went to the MSCA on 9/2. Had an MRI of the brain – good news there cuz there’s been no change. I’m going to do one of the spine in December and I’m really curious about how that one will look – as much as I would prefer no change, I hope there some kinda explanation for the past month and a half. In light of all my issues, I convinced dr Gilbert to prescribe a bout of steroids – 3 days of IV administration at home. I won’t bore u with the steroid stories but they provided some relief altho not as much as the last time as I’d hoped.  Oh I’ll tell u this part…the nurse came over on the first day and eventually left after 4 tries to get the IV line in because well the company protocol is that patients must not b stuck more. They sent someone else the next day and the third time was a charm for her. My veins never fail to provide “excitement”. Steups!!!
Thru this all, I’ve been okay – I’m dealing because what other choice do I have? Of course I had to let everybody know and (I think) they’re all feeding off of me so we’re all good. Hopefully this won’t cramp my style and I continue to go out and enjoy life although I’ve already missed one party (that I NEVER miss) because I jes wasn’t feeling up to it. After the party, Assenna actually emailed me to check up on me and make sure I was ok because she I wasn’t there (a warm and fuzzy moment for me, I eh go lie) 🙂

Sometimes I wonder if I’m in denial about this whole MS thing. Why haven’t I gotten angry? Why haven’t I cried (because I have it NOT because I cyah play mas)? And then I think, “well. What the hell is all that going to accomplish?” I’ll jes get my panties in a bunch and because I’ll b stressing, my body will probably shut down and then I’ll cyah move and get more frustrated and all that for what? For NAUGHT so best I eh bother.
So I’m adjusting to this new level and trying to do things as “normally” as is physically possible – altho, it’s been tough dealing with my decreased independence – and i’m afraid to try to do things because, well suppose disaster strikes?  I’ve already bought my ticket for Miami carnival – looking forward to jes being in FL.  This year, the plan was to play j’ouvert instead of going on the boat but I stickin now in light of everything.  I’m still learning this body and what it can and cannot handle – have bout 2 weeks to make a decision.
I have another update but this post is already long enuf. I gone so!

Ah Shit…

AC cancelled gym last week Tuesday. When I found out, I smiled cuz Monday night (after limn on a school nite – those days of bouncing back fresh and chipper are long gone), I’d actually been thinking of canceling myself but didn’t.  Dr. G was in town whole week and even tho reliving our glory days is out, I canceled PT and we limed again Wednesday.  Thursday morning, I turned at the sound of my alarm, snoozed for my usual 45 mins, woke up and said, “I really really eh feeling gym this morning nah” so I canceled. As I was drifting back to sleep, I heard a little voice in my head, “Stacey.  u know u’re going to regret this.”

Thursday nite, I struggled walking around this apartment! WDF???  I felt so unstable and unsure of myself that I used the scooter INSIDE here – something I never do. I went to sleep and right then and there decided that if I wake up struggling the same way, I wasn’t going to work. Friday morning, I was moving around a little better and was about to get ready for work and I said, “fcuk it. I’m taking a “Stacey” day.” Those of you who know me know how out of character that was – I don’t even like to call in sick when I AM sick.  My wretched disease was kicking my ass tho so I figured it was ok.

I really really do hope that all of this is as a result of my not working out or doing any PT for the week and nothing more (it’s happened once or twice before but never been this bad). I’ve since done my PT routine and I’m moving around better but I’m not my normal self really. Went out Sunday and made it back with no drama so that, at least is a good thing. Went to the gym this morning (i was actually looking forward to it and couldn’t wait) and even though unfortunately the workout was a shortened one,  already some body parts feel better but did it actually make any difference?  time will tell i suppose.

 Being sick really is a bitch!

My Disability

I always just measured my disability by my struggles with walking; I never really thought of my hand as a contributor. It only dawned on me the other day (when I wrote this) that “wait a minute, the fact that I can’t use my hand as I want to is a disability too”. I swear I never thought about it before – call me stupid, but it is what it is – go figure! We do this thing at home – If u ask someone to do something for u, the person can look at u and ask, “wha’am? Yuh hand pok?“- essentially, the person is asking if something is wrong with ur hands that u cyah do (whatever) for yourself.  Well, I can actually answer with a resounding “yes” if anyone says that to me. 


Like everything else that i have going on, it’s my left side and it happened over a period of time. I actually remember the conversation I had with Learls when I told her that “something is going on with my left hand now”.  Pity tho, I don’t remember when it occurred. Anyhoo, at the beginning, I would notice it kinda curling a little when I walked and even more so when my legs got fatigued. Then, it became really bothersome especially at the end of the work day because of all the typing I did – that’s when I got the Dragon software. 

  • Side note: I actually type with one hand quite easily in this new position.  I’m no longer developing reference material.  Now, I’m in numerous spreadsheets, so it’s easy to just use my right hand but I do use Dragon when necessary. 

Well, these days, it’s curled up tight on a regular basis, like curled up shut; in a kinda fist if you will. Now, I can pry my fingers open (with my right hand or sometimes I can actually open it up) and use the hand (somewhat) but it’s as if its natural state is to be curled up in a ball – my PT has given me exercises to strenghen. As with everything else, I have no pain so it’s just more a pain in the ass than anything.  It definitely contributes to my disability tho (how did I not think so before? Who the hell knows?). Try and do ANYTHING with ur hands while one is curled up in a ball. Go ahead, I’ll wait…


pain in the ass right?  Ugh! Have I ever mentioned that being sick sucks??? 🙂 

Having Multiple Sclerosis

Where the heck did I go and pick up this disease? Why me? Dunno that I’ll ever get that question answered but with some luck maybe i will in my lifetime. Anyhoo having MS makes me feel:

  • Loved – don’t get me wrong. I knew I was loved before but the things people (my family, the inner,  outer & outer outer circles) are willing to do for me at a moment’s notice if necessary, are never ending, unceasing and amazing.
  • Resentful – I HATE MS and being sick
  • Scared – I know no one knows what the future has in store, but I sometimes feel anxious because I don’t know what this disease has in store for me and what may happen tomorrow morning when i wake up – hell what it could do in the next couple hours
  • Like I’m regressing in life – the natural progression of things is NOT to buy your first house and then move out of it into an apartment. I know that it’s to make my life easier blah, blah, blah, but…On the other hand, i do have a jump start on walking with a cane tho.  I once overheard 1 lil chile (i didn’t know) tell another, “she’s old.”  yes – she was talking bout me.
  • Tired – I get so tired, sometimes, of needing/wanting help. A few weeks ago, I asked G if she doh tire of helping me out. She said no but she does tire of my trying to do things on my own when I know that it may not work out (I don’t do that a lot but…)
  • Lonely – I’ve learned to lime by myself. If we’re in a fete and everybody is doing the normal thing people do – walking around socializing, I can’t/don’t/won’t in the scooter, so I’m by myself often. It’s all good – I’m a cool person to lime with 🙂
I really can go on…I keep thinking of words to add to the list but I’ll stop – maybe i’ll do another installment sometime; that’s it for today.

As u were!

The Porcelain Goddess

I know that u jes read this title and now you’re wondering, “huh? Where is she going with this?”

I have an imaginary process map (diagram that details all the steps in a process used to identify gaps in the process) in my head for just about everything I do regularly. If things don’t happen in a certain way, I could get anxious, lose my balance or worse yet (u know it) fall.  One time Learls was here and she made a comment, “Every time i put this in the right place, it get moved”…uhm, it’s because u’re putting it in the WRONG place, i have it there so that i can reach it without drama.  There’s always method to my madness – ALWAYS!    I’ve mentioned here before that I cyah hold my pee. Technically, that’s not true because I just wrote the statement and I thought of somebody having no control whatsoever and I do have control; I just can’t hold it as long as allyuh regular, disease-free folk.  As a result, I don’t ever wait till my bladder is busting at the seams to visit the goddess. 

  • True story: I’ve actually gone to check her and…nothing! Why? Cuz she was one that I didn’t mind using so figured i’d take advantage but since I didn’t have to – nothing!
Anyhoo on the odd occasion that I do wait longer than i should (only at home – of course), you do not want to see me walk.  Between holding and trying to “speed walk” to the goddess it’s jes too much for my poor body so all my problems kick into overdrive. The stiffness in my legs, the weakness in my left hand – ugh! I’m really not a pretty sight and then I get to the goddess and she’s closed. ARGH – I have a cane in my right hand, a non working left one and if things are really bad, stiff legs (and doh get me started on the fact that i’ll have to turn around to sit down). More PRESSHA!!!

I identified a gap – maybe not so much a gap, but an opportunity for improvement.  So these days I’ve taken to leaving her open (is that how to describe?). That way, there’s one less step that I have to do/think about. It goes against every bone in my body – leaving her with the lid up – but I realize that it’s just one of those things that needs to be done to make life that much easier for me.  hey, it’s the little things!

TMI? 
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