The last 6 years have been a roller coaster, both physically and emotionally. The worst attack I remember was that one in August 2007. But there have been a few since, and they've pretty much all involved a numb left leg. When I was pregnant I felt my absolute best. But then an attack would happen about 6-9 months later, which I was warned about by my doctor.
Speaking of doctors, after my initial diagnosis, my family doctor referred me to the MS Clinic, which is located in City Hospital in Saskatoon. I remember my first trip there. I think it was January 2008. Jason came with me, and we answered a bunch of background questions for almost an hour. Then we met my doctor, Dr. Knox, who did all these weird tests on me. I remember thinking that she was crazy, and all of these tests were crazy, and why was I even here. I was still in denial, really.
I go back to the clinic once a year, and every year we answer questions on how life has been, and I go through all the crazy tests again. Instead of dreading it, I look forward to my appointment now. I even find it funny when I "fail" a couple tests. (One of them is the doctor hits a tuning fork, which then vibrates, and she touches it to my legs and arms. I can feel it everywhere until she puts it anywhere below my left knee. It's still vibrating but I have no idea. The other one is when the doctor take my big toe and moves it up or down. I have to close my eyes and tell her which way my toe is pointing. I am wrong more than half the time).
So basically this is what my MS is like:
- My last attack was December 2011, and lasted 3 weeks.
- I'm not on medication, since they don't even consider you for drugs unless you've had two or more attacks within two years.
- My worst daily symptoms are fatigue and absentmindedness (I'll get to that in another post one day)
- Heat brings on fatigue, so the summer months are really tiring for me.
- Major stress and fatigue is what will trigger an attack for me, so I have to keep my stress levels low and get as much rest as I can.
- Since I started working out I've felt awesome, and the doctors even commented on how great I'm doing at my last Clinic appointment.
- Two years ago I was told I have "foot drop", another fun MS problem. Basically my brain sometimes doesn't tell my right foot to lift my toes. If I walk a long distance my right foot starts to stomp harder than the left, and I scuff my toes (I'm surprised I don't have holes in my shoes). Since I started running I've noticed it more, and the Clinic gave me a Foot Up to help it. It attaches to my running shoe and helps lift my toes. I can't run without it now!
