Well, I'm back and I'm really happy that I am. After a week of steroid infusions my symptoms are improved, although not quite back to normal, but much, much better! I'm walking on my own. I had to use a walker for two weeks. My reading and writing are back to normal. I actually went a few days where I was suddenly dyslexic. During this time everything I said was slurred. I also went a day where I couldn't remember my children's names. That was my lowest point. I have always been a pretty upbeat person, but I experienced horrible depression during that time. This was my worst flare up and one of my weirdest. I lost all sense of taste, balance, feeling on one side of my face, and I had double, blurred vision. My taste isn't completely back and I still have blurred vision, but those are easy to live with. I feel like myself again!
Instead of Thanksgiving dinner at our house, which would have been too much even with the family helping, we spent the day at the Unitarian Universalist Church we attend. It was lovely. Ethan made two awesome pumpkin pies to take and our favorite mashed potatoes . With my husband and Peter working, Ethan became my caregiver during my flare. He did all the cleaning, dishes, laundry, cooking, and childcare. I'm so grateful for him. I don't know how we would have coped without him. He found out he really likes to cook, and says he might some day take some cooking classes. He, like Max, has aspergers. He experiences extreme anxiety when he's in crowds so that makes college classes impossible at this point. Hearing him say he might consider cooking classes is a big step.
We celebrated Chalica at the beginning of December. It really just entailed a lot of discussions about UU principles with Bess. I'm thinking about ways we can create a more fleshed out experience for next year.
My husband was hired by AT&T a couple of weeks ago in tech support. After trying unsuccessfully for months to get a job in his field, hospital administration, we're over the moon he has a job. He starts in January.
All in all, life is good. MS bites, but we're coping. As Bess' book from BookShark says It Could Always Be Worse.
Until Next Time and the Happiest of Holidays to All of You!
(And Thank you to Jessica McCarthy for taking the time to leave me a kind comment on my last blog post. It came at a particularly low point and was much appreciated!)
I am glad to hear you are feeling better - that does sound extremely difficult to cope with. Along the lines of "it could always be worse" - my mother suffered from a long illness and she got herself a sign made that said "It is what it is". I found it kind of depressing at the time, but now find myself saying it to myself when things seem hard. Hang in there, I am glad to see you blogging again!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kim! I'm happy I'm blogging too. I like the idea of your mom's sign. It would be a great reminder to stay positive.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad my comment cheered you, Katie! I also struggle with chronic health problems and sometimes "It is what it is" . (Love that sign; what a smart woman!) I'm sorry your condition took such a bad turn. :( But, I'm glad you are feeling more like yourself. Hope you have a nice, long stretch of feeling like that!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jessica. It did cheer me. It also got me to thinking how small things we say can make a difference. I'm trying to remember that and be more open with kind words. So thank you!
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