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Sherry Ois Working at meeting challenges of SPMS
- Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
- Gender: Female
- Birthday: October 27, 1958
- Bio: 51 yrs. , married 26yrs., 2 boys 17 & 15 yrs. A.H.T./Soc. Service
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HEALTH INTERESTS:
Cognitive issues with Multiple Sclerosis, keeping physically healthy, MS & depressionDRUGS I AM TAKING:
betaseron, gabapenton, lyrica, Effexor, Welbutrion, Concerta, ClonazapamABOUT ME:
I am an Animal Health Tech. and a Social Service worker. I was a Case Mgr. working with the elderly and disabled persons. I often combined my animal health background and social service work because animals seem to work well for most persons. I can no longer work due to the Cognitive issues of MS. These are the most frustrating issues of the disease for me. My short-term memory is terrible, I find it very difficult to stay focused on a task and I can no longer read books because I either forget plot lines or cannot remember characters. My memory was one of my greatest gifts, reading books was a favourite past time and being task oriented is gone due to my inability to stay focused. Depression is a genetic issue but, the lesions on my brain have made it more of a challenge to manage. I do have some mobility problems but, walking aids and a scooter help with those. The fatigue is also difficult to get used to because I am the person that people came to in order to get things done. Of course, not being able to work also creates issues around self worth, changes in financial status and the companionship of those you worked with, for and any volunteer work. I am slowly learning to manage all of these issues. This is where my stubbornness or as I like to think of it, persistence has helped. I also have a wonderful family, a husband of 26yrs. and two amazing teenage boys ages 17yrs. and 15 yrs. who assist me in many ways. They also make me laugh at myself or something else. One can never have too much laughter in their life. I am also blessed with many friends who also add to my enjoyment. Gardening has always been the most favourite thing to do in the spring and summer but, with the heat of the recent summers, it has been virtually impossible. This summer so far, has been wonderful. I get one of the boys to do the heavier tasks and then I putter; planting, weeding & watering. I am learning to let a lot of what I thought defined me as a person, go. I am slowly learning my limitations but, continue to push the envelope. I had my "pity party" years ago and finally realized what a waste of my time and energy it was becoming. Again, I think that we have to be allowed to grieve losses regardless of what they may be. Dec. 2009 - Happy to say that I'm beginning to find new ways of being able to continue those things that I love to do. In the process of starting a program for children whose families are unable to afford to buy books. It is a "book bank". Essentially, we get books, new & used, from a variety of places. Children can come and pick out a book to take home. It is theirs to keep. At this time we are allowing each child one book per day. Plan to have authors come to read to children; to provide the most amazing dress-up box, so children can have the costumes that will help in the use their of imaginations as they role play how they thought the stories they read would look like. The point of the program is to help children find the fun in being able to read. We hope that the availability for them to have their own books, along with a variety of events will create a love of books that they will want to have an continue to read. Illiteracy is a huge hurdle in a child's life when they find how it separates them from other children because they feel worthless, intimidated and ashamed. Often these feelings of low self worth lead to behavioural issues which, have a negative impact on themselves & those around them. This program will be totally volunteer driven. Because of my social service background, most of the info. to start an organization is in my long-term memory. For those days that I can't be me, one of the other diretors will be me! I feel I have had great restraint in not getting involved in more community activities. It's killing me but, I'm really trying hard to say no which, leads me to another upsid of MS, it has become very easy to say no to things I would have said yes to in the past, even if I didn't want to do whatever... because people are more understanding and, therefore, I don't feel so guilty when I do say no!PHOTOS:
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ROLES:
Living With It in Multiple Sclerosis
RECENT ACTIVITY Notify me when there are new posts
Sherry O answered I look normal but I am suffering. No one understands.
03/20/10
Sherry O answered what games on the computer can I play to keep me alert?
03/20/10
Sherry O answered what games on the computer can I play to keep me alert?
03/17/10
Sherry O answered what games on the computer can I play to keep me alert?
03/15/10
Sherry O answered what games on the computer can I play to keep me alert?
03/15/10
Sherry O posted Canadian Health System
11/15/09
Sherry O answered Have I reached the end of the line? (Drugs, treatments)
11/06/09
10/31/09
10/11/09
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