One of my greatest (non-existential and non-irrational) fears — besides the everyman's dilemma of public speaking — is falling out of my shower into a wet, motionless heap. Not only would whoever rescued me find my naked ass splayed across the floor, but they'd see proof positive in my grimy tiles what a terrible domestic… Continue reading On the skids, or the post in which I talk about showering
Category: What was I thinking?
Dealing with a person dealing with MS: A quick primer
There's no What to Expect when You Have Multiple Sclerosis guidebook. If there was, it would be about a page long. All it would need to say is something to the effect of, "Hold back the edges of your gowns, ladies....we're going through hell." Or, just as succinctly put, it would advise patients to "expect… Continue reading Dealing with a person dealing with MS: A quick primer
Christmas spirit fail
I was feeling a little down this morning, so I did what any sane and good person would do and used my pets to lift me out of the Christmas doldrums. I guess they aren't in the mood, either. You can just feel the rage simmering under their soft, cuddly faces. Miraculously, no one lost… Continue reading Christmas spirit fail
Laughing through the tears
One of the more random and strange MS symptoms is uncontrollable, often sudden, laughing and weeping not tied to any particular emotion. A new drug about to hit the market at the beginning of 2011 deals with this condition, known as the pseudobulbar affect. It's a very real thing, despite the "pseudo" in its name. Maybe… Continue reading Laughing through the tears
Bah humbug
Or not. Just break out the spiked eggnog, slap on a happy face and sing along to this little ditty! Somehow, I don't think it will be a hit with carolers this year. On the twelfth day of this new life, my MS brought to me: 12 types of symptoms 11 days in bed 10… Continue reading Bah humbug
Hot and heavy(-handed)
I feel like I should come with my own warning label these days. CAUTION: Do not let this woman around heavy objects. Or hot objects. Or sharp ones. Actually, just roll her up in bubble wrap but leave her head visible so she can breathe. With a curling iron in my bad hand the other… Continue reading Hot and heavy(-handed)
Namaste
Looks like I'll be dusting off my mat and limbering up to align my chakras — after reading this article in the Los Angeles Times, I think I'll be giving yoga a try. That's because I haven't found an exercise or activity that has helped me cope with the physical ravaging and mental draining that… Continue reading Namaste
Turn out the lights, please
I was never a big fan of naps. In kindergarten, I would dilly-dally until I had to be physically put in my cot. Even then, I never went to sleep, instead daydreaming under my blanket or finding scissors and giving myself a haircut. (What can I say? I was a bit of a wild child.)… Continue reading Turn out the lights, please
Competing diagnoses
The week I wound up in the hospital began on a Sunday when we went to a friend's house for an afternoon gathering and I was so weak I sat the whole time, which isn't like me. I thought I might be coming down with something. And that's when we came up with Diagnosis #1:… Continue reading Competing diagnoses
Life in the poky lane
The universe was apparently trying to tell me something when I got MS. The message? Sloooooowwww dowwwwwwn. And I've tried to heed the advice, really. But slow isn't really my style. I'm more a it's-already-finished-and-filed-away-move-onto-the-next-challenge personality type — I feel in my element frenetically zig-zagging from one task to the next. I don't linger. I… Continue reading Life in the poky lane
One, Wild & Precious 