I’ll end things on a positive note, especially after my previous post detailing symptoms I’ve experienced. I wouldn’t want anyone newly diagnosed with MS to think that you can’t have a fulfilling life with MS – you absolutely can.
Since my diagnosis I’ve had to learn to pace myself, which I still find hard to do, but I try my best. When I’m not feeling too bad I tend to try to cram in so much because I don’t know how long I will feel well, but I try and have a small break in between tasks, sometimes a siesta, chill out time after work, and also having one day free at the weekend for rest.
So how does MS look? I think depending on your experiences with the disease (or lack of), shapes how you would view MS – much like any health condition really.
Some of us may be wheelchair bound, some may use crutches or a walking stick, and some of us might not need to use any of these. There are also some of us that might switch between all of these at some point.
One good example here is Blue Badge/Disabled Parking Bays, you might see someone using one of these bays but you think they look fine. I’ve been shouted at by random strangers even when I’ve been using a stick.
They might think they’re doing some good, when in reality it doesn't concern them - at all. Having that space might mean the user will save some energy which they can use doing something else, maybe it will mean they’ll be in a bit less pain being closer to their destination. From experience, I’ve felt vilified and my anxiety levels have gone through the roof.
Disability really looks like this :-)
I’ll end it here for MS Awareness week, and resume some sort of irregular blogging again, although I will put a shameless plug in for my birthday fundraiser on Facebook :-)
I thought as my birthday fell on MS Awareness Week that a fundraiser that benefited the MS Society was apt. Their work and their mission is close to my heart, and I want to be able to help anyone else who is affected by this condition: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1345097932654255/
Until next time…
Lots of love,
Jo xxx
