Multiple Sclerosis

Source: ChitChatMS

For ten years I would not say the name.

I said: episode. Said: setback, incident,

exacerbation—anything but be specific

in the way this is specific, not a theory

or description, but a diagnosis.

I said: muscle, weakness, numbness, fatigue.

I said vertigo, neuritis, lesion, spasm.

Remission. Progression. Recurrence. Deficit.

But the name, the ugly sound of it, I refused.

There are two words. The last one means: scarring.

It means what grows hard, and cannot be repaired.

The first one means: repeating, or myriad,

consisting of many parts, increasing in number,

happening over and over, without end.

~ Cynthia Huntington

Multiple Sclerosis

Source: ChitChatMS

For ten years I would not say the name.

I said: episode. Said: setback, incident,

exacerbation—anything but be specific

in the way this is specific, not a theory

or description, but a diagnosis.

I said: muscle, weakness, numbness, fatigue.

I said vertigo, neuritis, lesion, spasm.

Remission. Progression. Recurrence. Deficit.

But the name, the ugly sound of it, I refused.

There are two words. The last one means: scarring.

It means what grows hard, and cannot be repaired.

The first one means: repeating, or myriad,

consisting of many parts, increasing in number,

happening over and over, without end.

~ Cynthia Huntington

Resolutions for the Chronically Ill

Source: Favim 

1. I will not limit what I do because of fear of pain or more illness. I will take more risks and stretch my body's limits and my soul because that will help me feel good.

2. I will not, however, ignore my aching self during the day and just keep pushing. I will remind myself that it’s not just important, it is critical to take more breaks at the computer, walk early, mid and late in the day, and do my physical therapy exercises as prescribed.

3. I will not use fatigue and pain as an excuse to be crabby with others. I will recognize that I’m really only angry at me for letting myself get to the point where I feel so badly.

4. I will not wait until I’m desperate to ask for help just because my illness is getting in the way again. I will ask for what I need WHEN I need it.

5. I will not become sad or frustrated by how bad it feels when I am sick, tired or in pain. I will work harder and smarter at what it takes to make me feel good.

6. I will not resent others who seem to complain about the small stuff, especially when it’s a health problem. I will do a better job of reminding myself that life really is a relative experience.

7. I will not become angry with the people whom I love when they don’t notice that I’m not feeling “well”. I will share what I need to share and remember that others can’t really walk in my shoes.

8. I will meditate each day, even for only 10 minutes, because it will make me a more joyful and calmer person.

9. I will not tense with fear when I see that I’m on a path where there is only black ice on the ground. I will practice staying aware so I don’t fall flat on my face.

10. And, finally, I will not forget to give myself a pat on the back at the end of each day. I will remember that if I am not my own best coach and cheerleader, who will be?

~ Rosalind Joffe

Resolutions for the Chronically Ill

Source: Favim 

1. I will not limit what I do because of fear of pain or more illness. I will take more risks and stretch my body's limits and my soul because that will help me feel good.

2. I will not, however, ignore my aching self during the day and just keep pushing. I will remind myself that it’s not just important, it is critical to take more breaks at the computer, walk early, mid and late in the day, and do my physical therapy exercises as prescribed.

3. I will not use fatigue and pain as an excuse to be crabby with others. I will recognize that I’m really only angry at me for letting myself get to the point where I feel so badly.

4. I will not wait until I’m desperate to ask for help just because my illness is getting in the way again. I will ask for what I need WHEN I need it.

5. I will not become sad or frustrated by how bad it feels when I am sick, tired or in pain. I will work harder and smarter at what it takes to make me feel good.

6. I will not resent others who seem to complain about the small stuff, especially when it’s a health problem. I will do a better job of reminding myself that life really is a relative experience.

7. I will not become angry with the people whom I love when they don’t notice that I’m not feeling “well”. I will share what I need to share and remember that others can’t really walk in my shoes.

8. I will meditate each day, even for only 10 minutes, because it will make me a more joyful and calmer person.

9. I will not tense with fear when I see that I’m on a path where there is only black ice on the ground. I will practice staying aware so I don’t fall flat on my face.

10. And, finally, I will not forget to give myself a pat on the back at the end of each day. I will remember that if I am not my own best coach and cheerleader, who will be?

~ Rosalind Joffe

Top ten things to never say to someone with multiple sclerosis

Source: tedlillyfanclub 

10. Smug person: “Are you sure it’s not just all in your head?”

MSer: “Of course it is all in my head! And a bit in my c-spine too. Sit down. Let me show my MRI.”

9. Shallow person: “That’s not MS. That’s old age.”

MSer: “So for some strange reason I have just aged thirty years in five seconds. I feel so much better now.”

8. Helpful person: “You should look into (insert list of wildly bizarre alternative remedies here).”

MSer: “Thing is, I am a little overwhelmed right now and that is about the tenth suggestion I have received just in the last hour on things to look into that might or might not be helpful. How about you look into it and get back to me, okay? Great, thanks.”

7. Clueless person: “Oh, that’s nothing. I get that all the time.”

MSer: “Really? Nothing? Damn, I have been shooting myself up with drugs made from Chinese hamster ovary cells for the fun of it. Think I am making that up? Get a magnifying glass and check out a box of interferon injections.”

6. Conceited, self-centered person: “You’re tired? I’m really tired, too.”

MSer: “Tired huh? Last night I started sobbing at the idea of brushing my teeth as my arm was too exhausted to lift the tube of toothpaste. Are you THAT tired?”

5. Ignorant person: “You could die from this, you know?”

MSer: “Dammit it! I thought this meant I was going to live forever. Geez!”

4. Optimistic person: “But you don’t look sick to me.”

MSer: “That’s wonderful news. Could you call my doctor and let her know? Maybe she got it all wrong.”

3. Sarcastic person: “You can’t just blame MS for everything.”

MSer: “Watch me!”

2. Curious person: “Isn’t that what Michael J. Fox has?”

MSer: “No, this is the disease that Montel Williams has. You know, the disease where he wrote that book and said it was OK to smoke pot. Got any on you?”

1. Opportunistic person: “How do you get one of those handicapped parking thingies anyway?”

MSer: “You’ve got to go see my buddy Vinnie down at the RMV. He hands them out for fifty dollars and a subscription to the beer of the month club. Here, let me give you his number.”

~ Yvonne deSousa

Top ten things to never say to someone with multiple sclerosis

Source: tedlillyfanclub 

10. Smug person: “Are you sure it’s not just all in your head?”

MSer: “Of course it is all in my head! And a bit in my c-spine too. Sit down. Let me show my MRI.”

9. Shallow person: “That’s not MS. That’s old age.”

MSer: “So for some strange reason I have just aged thirty years in five seconds. I feel so much better now.”

8. Helpful person: “You should look into (insert list of wildly bizarre alternative remedies here).”

MSer: “Thing is, I am a little overwhelmed right now and that is about the tenth suggestion I have received just in the last hour on things to look into that might or might not be helpful. How about you look into it and get back to me, okay? Great, thanks.”

7. Clueless person: “Oh, that’s nothing. I get that all the time.”

MSer: “Really? Nothing? Damn, I have been shooting myself up with drugs made from Chinese hamster ovary cells for the fun of it. Think I am making that up? Get a magnifying glass and check out a box of interferon injections.”

6. Conceited, self-centered person: “You’re tired? I’m really tired, too.”

MSer: “Tired huh? Last night I started sobbing at the idea of brushing my teeth as my arm was too exhausted to lift the tube of toothpaste. Are you THAT tired?”

5. Ignorant person: “You could die from this, you know?”

MSer: “Dammit it! I thought this meant I was going to live forever. Geez!”

4. Optimistic person: “But you don’t look sick to me.”

MSer: “That’s wonderful news. Could you call my doctor and let her know? Maybe she got it all wrong.”

3. Sarcastic person: “You can’t just blame MS for everything.”

MSer: “Watch me!”

2. Curious person: “Isn’t that what Michael J. Fox has?”

MSer: “No, this is the disease that Montel Williams has. You know, the disease where he wrote that book and said it was OK to smoke pot. Got any on you?”

1. Opportunistic person: “How do you get one of those handicapped parking thingies anyway?”

MSer: “You’ve got to go see my buddy Vinnie down at the RMV. He hands them out for fifty dollars and a subscription to the beer of the month club. Here, let me give you his number.”

~ Yvonne deSousa