New here but not to MS

[Sailors Song]

Hi my name is Dennis and I have dealt with MS for over 40 years in one way or another. This is due to the fact that my Dad had MS and I have had it for over 20 years. Currently my Neuro is says that I probably had RRMS which has now become SPMS. One of my nieces is also having MS symptoms and currently being tested so this seems to run in my family.

For those that may wonder about my user name it is a combination of two of my loves in this life. The first being sailing, which I had to give up due to physical limitations. The second is composing music and writing song lyrics. Luckily my cognitive functions haven't declined to a point where I can't do this any more though it is getting harder to do every year. I'm also an avid nature lover, and some might say to the extreme. I probably push myself too hard in order to get out into nature when ever I can.

I am a 60 year old divorced man and have 1 daughter who is married. I also became a grandfather last December, but unfortunately my daughter lives too far away for me to get to see my granddaughter or daughter.

In addition to the MS I also have COPD, Glaucoma, IBS, GERD, High BP, Low cholesterol ( good type is low ), and have had 2 heart attacks and a 3x bypass. I also suffer from PTSD from when I was in the Navy which does not help matter at all.

Dennis

[jenniferautumn]

WOW

Wow Dennis, sounds like you have had it pretty rough. I am turning 30 in a couple of weeks and I was just diagnosed. My step mother was diagnosed when I was three years old. I have lived with MS my entire life.

I was so excited to hear that you write songs and lyrics. I play the violin, 25 years, a little piano and a little guitar. I was singing in a cover band for about a year and it was simply delightful! I am glad to hear that you are continuing the music. That's wonderful!

I am glad you have found your way through life with words and music. As eddie (from eddie and the cruisers) said "words and music, words and music word man" haha

I am hope you are doing well. Keep on Keepin on!

[cocogirl]

Dennis, welcome but so sorry you have to be here.

Wow, it sounds as though this definitely runs in your family. Maybe it won't go any further.

I am so glad that you still have your passion for music and can continue with that. I wanted to be a concert oboeist but had to give that up when facial muscles and particularly my emboucher were affected. I now sing so my passion and creativity can continue that way.

Keep up the fight and continue to chime in here with questions and help with our questions too!

[metwo]

sailin takes me away......

Good to meet you Dennis.
I love your id "sailor song". I love to sail! I haven't been for awhile we sold our boat sailed Lake Michigan from when the ice broke 'til the snow fell :-) wonderful memorys I hope to sail again someday. I wouldn't be much help now but I would enjoy the ride. We were actually planning on living on a boat when we retire, well as they say "that ship has sailed". I am happy being able to sit on the shore and listen to the waves and feel the wind in my face.
On another note have you written any music about sailing?

[Sailors Song]

Soul of a Song

Jennifer,

Thank you for the welcome. I am really a late comer to music. In my prior life I designed computers and software, but despite several attempts I could never figure out how to play any instrument, and writing song lyrics were well above my pay grade. But when I developed my MS symptoms something in my brain changed and I managed to learn to play drums and piano a little bit ( one handed ). I also found that I could now easily write lyrics after my divorce with the encouragement of a good friend.

I have since then lost my ability to play the drums as I just can't hold the sticks very well due to hand weakness. But I continue to compose music on my computer. At one point a friend asked my how I write such great music so I wrote the lyrics of a song called Soul of a song. It is a folk ballad type of piece that I describe what I go through while writing my music.

Dennis

[Sailors Song]

Singing

Coco,

I sure wish I could sing if only to hear one of my songs being sung correctly. When I sing dogs for miles around will start to howl. A friend once said to me that I couldn't be that bad, so I recorded one of my songs for her to hear me singing. After only a little while she said "Yeah you are that bad, turn it off".

Dennis

[Sailors Song]

Sailing

Metwo,

Like you I wanted to retire to living on a sailboat, but also to sail around the world. I fell in love with sailing when I was 15 and living in California. A friend took me and my sister out sailing SF bay on a two masted schooner and I was hooked. Unfortunately the first time I took my ex-wife out sailing I scared her so I never was able to get a sail boat while married. After my divorce the first thing I did when I moved to Tampa Florida was buy a 25 foot Macgregor and was having the time of my life sailing her. My favorite time was late at night because the bay was empty of other craft and almost every time I would end up getting an escort by dolphins while out in the bay. They are attracted by the vibration of the centerboard.

Yes I have written a song with a sailing theme, but is actually about unrequited love.

Dennis

[KoKo]

Hello Dennis

Welcome to MSWorld - nice to meet you!

The second is composing music and writing song lyrics. Luckily my cognitive functions haven't declined to a point where I can't do this any more though it is getting harder to do every year.

Hope you continue using your talent with music. Let's hope you have no more cognitive decline!

I'm also an avid nature lover, and some might say to the extreme. I probably push myself too hard in order to get out into nature when ever I can.

I've read where spending alot of time outdoors in nature is very therapeutic.

In addition to the MS I also have COPD, Glaucoma, IBS, GERD, High BP, Low cholesterol ( good type is low ), and have had 2 heart attacks and a 3x bypass.

Gosh, there should be a limit on health issues. You've got more than your share.

I also suffer from PTSD from when I was in the Navy which does not help matter at all.

Sorry you have PTSD to deal with also. Thank you for your service in the Navy.

Looking forward to seeing you around here at MS World!

Take care,
KoKo