Thursday, August 27, 2015
Missed in May
I forgot to blog about this back in May. That was a good feeling. It was progress. Not anymore I suppose, but this relapse is just a minor hurdle. Life will get better soon.
I Guess 5 Years Is Long Enough
Oh multiple sclerosis, how I despise you...
After five glorious years being relapse-free, it's happened. I guess my body thinks that five years is long enough to be healthy and it better relapse. Ugh.
It all started a couple weeks ago. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a fantastic conference in Denver, CO, for four days. It was awesome, but tiring. I didn't sleep much, or get much downtime, because we were so busy. But it was a fantastic sort of busy. We left Monday and came home on Thursday. That Thursday, I noticed that I felt light-headed once in awhile. I attributed it to flying, and the higher elevation in Denver. Friday, I was exhausted. I really needed to catch up on my sleep. But I was dizzy. Not just light-headed but legit dizzy. Whatever, I thought. I need to sleep.
So I did. Saturday I got up (still dizzy) and started to write out my shopping list. I needed groceries. As I sat by my kitchen table, Jason announced he was taking to the doctor. What for? I'm fine. He told me I look seriously hungover and something wasn't right. Reluctantly, I agreed. After all, Jason knows me better than anyone and if he's saying that, then maybe something was wrong.
As I sat in the waiting room, I felt my face do something weird. I took a selfie and saw that the left side of my face looked droopy. I looked like I was smirking at everyone in the office. I saw the doc, explained myself, mentioned my MS, and he insisted I have vertigo. Phew. Damn airplanes. Life continued on as normal (or as normal as it could be, considering I was still so dizzy and apparently smirking at everyone.)
Next day, Sunday, we went to church and met friends for lunch and a visit. When I got home around 3:00 I immediately got really tired and had to lie down. I didn't get back up off the couch. It was like I couldn't move. Kinda felt sick. I so needed to sleep...
Monday came, and Brenna had to go to the doctor. I was still dizzy, so my wonderful Dad drove us to the city. At first I thought I could drive myself but once I sat in his car it was like I was loaded. Like I would be worse than a drunk driver. Luckily I had a chauffeur. So Brenna saw the doctor and I asked if she'd check me out too since I'm here. She agreed with my suspicions that my MS is doing weird things, but maybe I was sick too. She suggested phoning my MS doc, and sent me for bloodwork. One thing for sure - I did NOT have vertigo. Thanks clinic doctor...
At home, Tuesday, I talked to the nurse. Even she was confused but maybe it was a relapse. See what happens in the next couple of days...awesome. Meanwhile my two fingers were feeling numb. And I was again exhausted. I had to lie down. I knew what was coming...
I had enough energy to go to my hair appointment the next day, to which I was chauffeured again (thanks to my awesome sister) but then I slept for about two days straight. Even walking to the bathroom and back was too much for me and I had to go back to sleep. It was ridiculous. I have NEVER been so fatigued in my entire life. I was useless. My face was still droopy. I thought "This is what a stroke feels like"
By the time I "woke up" on Friday, my left side was numb. Still is. Feels like my arm is about three sizes larger than normal. But it's not. I do have movement, but it's slow, and weaker than usual. At least my energy is back. I feel like a contributing member to society and my household now. It just takes a little longer to do things. Like type this. I've had to backspace alot...
Every day I pray that it's over soon. My last relapse lasted about three weeks. But then again it could be worse. I'm not dizzy anymore. I can see. I can walk. I can talk. And I have a super support system of family and friends. Yeah MS SUCKS but it's not the worst thing in the world right now.
After five glorious years being relapse-free, it's happened. I guess my body thinks that five years is long enough to be healthy and it better relapse. Ugh.
It all started a couple weeks ago. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a fantastic conference in Denver, CO, for four days. It was awesome, but tiring. I didn't sleep much, or get much downtime, because we were so busy. But it was a fantastic sort of busy. We left Monday and came home on Thursday. That Thursday, I noticed that I felt light-headed once in awhile. I attributed it to flying, and the higher elevation in Denver. Friday, I was exhausted. I really needed to catch up on my sleep. But I was dizzy. Not just light-headed but legit dizzy. Whatever, I thought. I need to sleep.
So I did. Saturday I got up (still dizzy) and started to write out my shopping list. I needed groceries. As I sat by my kitchen table, Jason announced he was taking to the doctor. What for? I'm fine. He told me I look seriously hungover and something wasn't right. Reluctantly, I agreed. After all, Jason knows me better than anyone and if he's saying that, then maybe something was wrong.
As I sat in the waiting room, I felt my face do something weird. I took a selfie and saw that the left side of my face looked droopy. I looked like I was smirking at everyone in the office. I saw the doc, explained myself, mentioned my MS, and he insisted I have vertigo. Phew. Damn airplanes. Life continued on as normal (or as normal as it could be, considering I was still so dizzy and apparently smirking at everyone.)
Next day, Sunday, we went to church and met friends for lunch and a visit. When I got home around 3:00 I immediately got really tired and had to lie down. I didn't get back up off the couch. It was like I couldn't move. Kinda felt sick. I so needed to sleep...
Monday came, and Brenna had to go to the doctor. I was still dizzy, so my wonderful Dad drove us to the city. At first I thought I could drive myself but once I sat in his car it was like I was loaded. Like I would be worse than a drunk driver. Luckily I had a chauffeur. So Brenna saw the doctor and I asked if she'd check me out too since I'm here. She agreed with my suspicions that my MS is doing weird things, but maybe I was sick too. She suggested phoning my MS doc, and sent me for bloodwork. One thing for sure - I did NOT have vertigo. Thanks clinic doctor...
At home, Tuesday, I talked to the nurse. Even she was confused but maybe it was a relapse. See what happens in the next couple of days...awesome. Meanwhile my two fingers were feeling numb. And I was again exhausted. I had to lie down. I knew what was coming...
I had enough energy to go to my hair appointment the next day, to which I was chauffeured again (thanks to my awesome sister) but then I slept for about two days straight. Even walking to the bathroom and back was too much for me and I had to go back to sleep. It was ridiculous. I have NEVER been so fatigued in my entire life. I was useless. My face was still droopy. I thought "This is what a stroke feels like"
By the time I "woke up" on Friday, my left side was numb. Still is. Feels like my arm is about three sizes larger than normal. But it's not. I do have movement, but it's slow, and weaker than usual. At least my energy is back. I feel like a contributing member to society and my household now. It just takes a little longer to do things. Like type this. I've had to backspace alot...
Every day I pray that it's over soon. My last relapse lasted about three weeks. But then again it could be worse. I'm not dizzy anymore. I can see. I can walk. I can talk. And I have a super support system of family and friends. Yeah MS SUCKS but it's not the worst thing in the world right now.
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