MS is Not For Me!
by Brian Chartier
(From Canada Eh?)
Once upon a time (two summers ago), I was driving home from the airport after doing some work in Baltimore Maryland. My right eye went dark and I thought that maybe something flew up into it. Well to shorten the story, many tests, doctors and MRI exams later, it was concluded that I had MS and that the optic nerve in my right eye was damaged by a sudden episode. What? This can’t happen to me! I am invincible! I am healthy! On and on and on I went.
I guess I also discovered that other condition known as denial. Denial? Isn’t that a river in the middle east? Oh that’s “The Nile”…..
So now I am in an acceptance mode. In other words I have accepted my fate and must learn how to live with this condition each and every day. I guess the good news is that some researchers believe that there may be ways to repair nerve damage and slow progression of MS, maybe even halt it. We will keep our fingers crossed.
I was on Rebif for part of the winter. I think that hitting my thumb with a hammer in full-swing would have been more fun! The Rebif, while promising in slowing or halting MS progression, seemed to suck the life out of me. I could not function and hence I stopped taking it. Now this does not mean that it does not work wonders for others, just that in my case, the side effects were worse that the disease.
So when you see those drug commercials on TV and at the end they say things like, “possible side effects could include your head exploding, if this happens stop taking super-pills and consult your family physician…”, take notice, side effects are important! Our bodies are all different and we will all react differently to drugs. Some side effects may be positive, others may be negative. Only your body knows for sure! If you go on a cruise, some people may experience sea sickness, others not. That is because of differences in their bodies and bodily chemistry. So remember, some things work for some people, some things don’t.
Living with MS is a learning experience and a journey. I stay open to what works for others and will try just about anything. I look at it this way, as long as it’s the dog peeing on the carpet and not me, there is still hope!
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