@ Rest Area 51 Paging ALL MS Newbies May 13 '12

[gomer]

Welcome to Rest Area 51... a special haven our your New MS family for newbies Dx'd w/MS in recent days or years and old-timers that are newbies at heart.

Take a well deserved break from your travels on the MSuper highway,pull into a nice cozy shady parking spot, Pitch a tent or just lay out a blanket and enjoy the crisp cool fresh air . Help yourself to fresh Cider and donuts. The camp fire is roaring in the open pit ready for hot dogs, marshmallows and smore's Feel free to share your ideas, experiences and support to your fellow newbies. Relax, you are among friends, friends that understand. We have a virtual soap box, feel free to vent anytime.

Being a newbie can be as scary and lonely as being in limbo, Remember we are you family away from family. The BIG question answered means many more new questions and decisions. For those still working on, seeking a formal MS Dx, I highly recommend you check out MinivanMama's Limbo Island.

PLEASE.... Let us know how YOU, a member of our MS newbies family is doing.


Have a QUESTION? Please don't be shy........
The only dumb stupid question........is the one NOT asked.

Jman Dave...
.............GLAD to hear your green thumb is soGREEN!

struck-nerve....U struck a nerve......Ha Ha. I have tons of brain lesions, more Dawson's fingers up thar than digits on both hands. On the other hand, my MS has been long standing but not too aggressive considering so many decades of MS. .

Take care and hope all our rest area crew are doing well.

How was your Week?........
...Good I hope, Any Dr.apts tests etc?

....Any Dr. apts. tests etc.

Gomer Sir Falls--Lot

[journeyman]

My last entry came in at the end of the period just before you posted the new opener for this week.

I think few people saw it and more exposure might help some people. Can I re-copy it and post it here?

I think the title was "laughing or happy" or something like that. There were two parts. My computer sent the first half without my permission. Or maybe fog moved in on me.

Dave
J-man.

p.s. been on the ladder and roof all week - no falls. Need prayers.

[Kraheera]

Been really tired. Didn't even manage to drag myself off the couch until 11 this morning. The good side is... when I'm this tired, I really can't get depressed.

Hoping JMan doesn't fall off his ladders. Again.

[kynana]

So, I have my MRI scheduled for 5/21 ... I really don't like that stupid tube. Not sure what I really want to hear. MS or what? Either that or the others ... none are good.
My daughter is going with me ...

I just want to be able to deal with whatever the outcome is. Now I kind of wish I hadn't told about all my problems, sometimes ignorance is bliss ..

[alishape]

I start copax on thursday. I am kinda nervous.

[struck-a-nerve]

Second ophthalmology appt today. I have ON in the right eye. Doing baselines for that and the persistent double vision. Wearing tape on my glasses to act as a temporary prism. She gave me 6 months to wait to see if it is permanent. Though it still might not be at that point it will be worth looking into a long term management plan at that point.

Good news is the optic nerves look good for now. Likely coming from the brain, which makes me happier than direct eye damage. But the ON is Still a personal concern for me. She said is really minor but wants to treat it with seriousness to try and make sure we are on top of it in case it gets worse.

Fatigue management class Friday and next week I see the neuro again for some detail work and hopefully to finalize starting rebif.

[gomer]

alishape.....

I started Copaxone a couple years ago, for me it seems to be working. Hard to tell no glucometer get a test number from. Diabetes and MS are very different worlds as far as meds goes. For me starting Copax was not as big a deal as it would be for most. Been shooting insulin for 3 decades so its just yet another in a barrage of shots daily to my human pin cushion.

kynana.........

Enjoy your Jack-Hammer-Sewer-pipe ride. well that is what I call it.

Kraheera...........

Well I got ya beat, I dragged myself out of bed about 10:45 give or take.


journeyman.........

You are just plain CRAZY, getting more than one tiny step above Terra-firma, ladder or any other means!

On 2 Ur Q? I have no clue whether you are capable of cut-n-paste etc. You abilities of "CAN" do vary so much from one second to another, depending on your elevation etc.

ON the other hand...you MAY re-post anything you like as long as its not a unabridged encyclopedia or such. I do however highly suggest you get OFF any ladders, step stool, chairs or even stairs, before you attempt to cut anything, past, or post anything or even look at/press SEND on any device.

If I can bust 5 ribs and drive my kidneys into acute failure (earning a hospital stay on nurse Ratchets training ward) from ground level, I hate to think how much damage YOU could do, be it from 8 inches or 8 feet high.

Gomer Sir Falls-a-lot

[journeyman]

Being a ret. Cardiac & Psych RN, there is research out there that has proven that positive thoughts, happiness and laughter change the physiology of the body.

When you are depressed your immune system lowers. Which makes you more depressed and lowers the body's ability to take care of itself. The positive aspects reverses that trend.

I have found for me, four years after being diagnosed - thirty some years of un-dx'd symptoms that it helps me.

I started small with what I was capable of.
1. Getting out and getting some sunlight even if it was sitting in a lawn chair.
2. I began to watch comedies on the tube.
3. I asked friends to send me humorous stuff they come across and e-mail it to me.
4.I began to dabble in my artwork, (multi-media acrylic painting. (When I say dabble I meant like doing only one color a week.).
5. In Florida the heat does not lend itself to veggies in the garden but I am running over with herbs.
Contd.

[journeyman]

I think I was talking about growing herbs. I do not have a back yard but I do have a pool with a large pool deck. I have so many planters with different herbs growing like crazy. It is very rewarding for me.

I have Basil coming out of my ears. I dry them, crumble them and give them to friends with directions for use.
I pot the plants one or two at a time so I don't get overwhelmed. One plant continues to produce all season and even in the house during winter.

In vermont, another cultural custom from up there, we had so much Basil and Sage that at the end of the season we would cut the plants at the base and tie them in a bundle and hang them near the ceiling in the warmth and they would give a really homey smell to our house all winter. We even made wreaths out of them. Another sustained source of happiness and well being that you did this.

I am now putting them in small containers and giving them away to friends, church friends and to our homeless program at church. For the homeless it help the very plain food that we give out taste a little better.

I have besides Basil, Dill, Rosemary, Sage, Pineable sage, Orange sage, Nasturtium, Jalapenos, Okra, etc. I found a book called "The Vegetable Gardeners Bible at the bookstore. In it was something that is common knowledge by everybody when I lived in Vermont. "A Companion Table."

Its for those of you who like Organic but can't afford it. I have never been able to grow tomatoes. The book tells you to plant Basil at the base of your tomatoe plants to keep bugs away. I have had bug none this year and got a bumper crop.

I know that I've run on but I wanted to share this research and source of happiness and fulfillment that helps with my symptoms of the MonSter. I only do what I can.

Happy Mother's day to all you moms, (and celebration to the caretakers. "surrogate Moms")

Dave in Tampa Florida
journeyman