I cannot believe its the 1st February 2014 - time is absolutely flying by. For me anyway I detest the cold and the climate in Ireland is not the best. I find the cold weather, dark nights and darker mornings effects my symptoms, and in general its a gloomy old time of year. What makes matters worse is when by brother continues to remind us of the fantastic Summer weather they are having in Australia right now - how the other half lives ey:)
On a brighter note though, I am in good health and continuing to win my MS war. However I do have to admit that like most MS'ers I normally get the flu jab every November. This year I didn't get round to getting it and in the last few days I have just got over my third bout of flu. The GP told me a few weeks ago that there are over 250 types of flu, and the vaccine is to protect against about ten of the more aggressive ones. School boy error by me and next week I will be in to get the jab as I do tend to get hit harder with flu's.
In the last few weeks I have been a little disturbed by the amount of people who have been contacting me through social network sites and email, telling me they have just been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Most of the emails are similar in that they convey a person who is completely at a loss of how to deal with the MS and the fact that they believe there life is over. Every person who has contacted me over the past few years , I have always got back to them, but I wish I could do more. Its an incredibly difficult thing to deal with being diagnosed with MS, as there is little chat, education or advice out there for people. Most of the newly diagnosed are in the age 20-35, which means they are entering or are in the prime of their lives. That's what MS does, it strikes you just when you think you are about to grow and enjoy all that life has to offer. Remember my story, I got wiped out on my honeymoon, and spent the next three years in a kind of mental and physical prison, as I struggled to reason with what had happened to me.
The upside is I am extremely pleased that my journey continues to inspire and help some people believe again. This week I got another few emails from people who have read my book and tell me that it has really helped them come to terms with the illness. Every time I get correspondence like this it is extremely gratifying. The thing is I wrote my book in my living room, and the words just continued to come out as it is a real life experience. That's what I believe people can connect with, and I am delighted it has helped a lot of people in the last couple of years.
MS is definitely increasing in my view, and the medics still do not know what is causing it. Currently its an incurable disease and effects each and everyone of us differently, but the good news is the disease modifying drugs are getting better, and as I reported recently I was advised by a neurologist in Italy in November that he reckoned they would have it sorted in the next 10/15 years - ie they would have a cure.
On the whole there are lots of things you can do to fight your MS, with the first being you NEED to CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE. You have to work hard, put a plan in place and stick rigidly to it. If you don't work hard at anything you get no results, your health is the same.
So try and stay positive, never give up and focus on getting better and stronger.
Have a great weekend.
#LifeChanges
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