MS Progressive Types: The Human Side

Symptoms
Beverley says since 1993 she experienced "tingling, weakness, loss of balance, dropfoot, fatigue." Since 2001, she added "essential tremors."

Life Today
Beverley has learned to go day by day....and enjoys each day as best as she can. Beverley is active on the Internet, able to spend as much time as he wishes. On Facebook, where we first found each other, she created a group called Persons Striving to Survive with Multiple Sclerosis. She also started a support group in Montreal three years ago.

Leaving her MS behind for awhile, she is active in the Montreal Jewish community group. And here's an exciting twist -- Beverley participates in adaptive sailing! How fun.

Beverley has a personal graphic on her Facebook profile with her picture next to a mantra that says: I have MS and I'm Fabulous! I think she may be right.

Denise
Denise is another Facebook friend who also contributed to my post on Living with Progressive MS.

She tells us how she felt when first diagnosed: "Shell shocked best describes it. This was 19 years ago, and I was told to go home and live my life to the fullest. I felt numb for the first few months and found it hard to believe that this had happened to someone like me -- young, fit, happily married with a young child."

Shell shocked.  Yes, I think that says it.

Symptoms
Denise's symptoms are "Fatigue, neuropathic pain, pins and needles, electric shocks, balance issues, vertigo, constipation, badder urgency, very little hand mobility, unable to walk even short distances, weight loss."

Life Today
Denise says, "I accept it and now make allowances for having MS. I'll never like having MS, but as I can't change this, I get on with my life as best I can. C'est la Vie."

Denise also has a Facebook graphic, but her mantra is: I have MS, It doesn't have me.

Michael
I met Michael on Disaboom where he writes about his life with Secondary Progressive MS. He has a way of putting a positive slant on things. Michael's quote is at the beginning of this article.

Michael tells about his feelings when first diagnosed. "At the moment that we (. . being my incredible partner and wife, Gail and me) knew what it was, we held each other and cried. We were afraid because this was a disease we knew nothing about. We only knew enough to know that our future was uncertain. But then again, whose isn't? That was on a Saturday. After we cried, after the shock or pain or reality began to sink in, we made the decision that whatever it was, we would learn about it, learn from it and be an example to our children, family and friends. I believe that is exactly what we have done. When the diagnosis arrived that Monday morning, it was really more of a confirmation of what we already knew. I have MS. Okay. Now what?"

Symptoms
Michael tells us "Weak legs, Bladder issues, Constipation, Erectile issues, Heat sensitivity (If I get hot or a fever, I can't move), My hands get tired quickly from typing, eating, etc., I use a wheelchair whenever there is more than very little walking to be done, I have osteoporosis (I take Boniva just like Sally Fields does), I have severe sleep apnea. (We are now treating that), I can only sit up at a desk for an hour or two before needing to lie down or use a recliner, I can only stand for seconds at a time and need a walker to hold on to for that, I get something called Lehrmittes Syndrome. Sometimes it really hurts. I can only guess that it feels like being tasered. It causes me to use expletives! It is not everyday and it doesn't last for long....so I can live with it.