Friends we all have them. I believe there are several types friends. There are "work friends", "acquaintance friends" and then there are "true friends". Sometimes we get close with work friends. These friends can flip on you when it suits them. My experience with these types of friends is that they don't sick around. Now acquaintance friends are people like a good neighbor. They also do not stick around. If you move or they do you never end up seeing them again. If your lucky you have a few true friends. When I was diagnosed with MS I actually lost some friends I had considered true friends. I have come to the conclusion that when someone gets sick, ill or just needs help. This is when your true friends show up. I have two true friends. My husband and my friend Christal. When I am sad, upset, depressed they both are always there for me. Some people are blessed and have several true friends. I am blessed to have these two in my life. My hope is that all of you have at least one in your life. Everyone needs that girlfriend that will tell you when you are wrong or just to ask you what in the world are wearing!! Have a wonderful day! Take time to laugh today.
 
I am blessed that I have private insurance. My mother has medicare. It's ridiculous the amount of coverage our elderly and disabled receive. We live in one of the richest countries in the world yet our health care sucks! Our healthcare sucks but Obamacare is worse! Maybe if our government could properly run and operate Medicare and social security but they can't. How can they clean up all the fraud when the politicians are most of the time dirtier!
Perscriptions are just too expensive! I get upset at the crappy co-pays that Medicare covers. Seriously Medicares coverage for my mothers cholesterol medicine was .08 cents! I am not joking. This is why people skip doses of medicines. They just can not afford to pay for it. It's disgusting because most medicine costs pennies to manufacture. Greed! That is what it all comes down to. Crappy health care coverage, dirty politicians and a cluster f&@#*! Government! GREED is behind it all. So if we want changes we have to stand up for change. First step is getting Obama out of office. We need a president that has ran a successful companies. We need our government run like a business. First up...trim all the politician fat!!!
Sorry for ranting a bit. Have a blessed day. Don't forget to laugh!
Goodnight everyone.
 
I have a funny story to tell you. I had not slept but 1 hour here or there. I was also upset about my heart test results. The combo of the two I was delirious. I went to sleep and boy did I sleep great. At least until few hours later I was woke up by a migraine. I got up in my delirious sleepily state. I got some medicine and I thought a wash rag to wet. This seems to help me with headache/migraines. So I went it and went back to bed. Something was wrong with the wash rag. I couldn't get it to fold the way I like it. I was too tired to mess with it. I just set it on my stomach. Sometime later my husband came in to check on me. He says "honey why is your bra wet and laying on top of you?" It took a second to realize what I had done. No wonder it wouldn't fold properly. It wasn't a wash rag it was my bra. I grabbed it off the counter instead of the wash rag. Lol that is how deliriously tired I was. We laughed!! It was really funny! Have a blessed day everyone. Remember to laugh today...it can be contagious!! Lol
 
I found this info and thought it was great!




Upcoming FREE MS Teleconferences

Feb 23, 2012 - 8pm EST
MS and Intimacy
1-866-644-8540 (code: hope & health tele)

March 22, 2012 - 8pm EST
Be Your Own Advocate
1-866-644-8540 (code: hope & health tele)

April 3, 2012 - 8pm EST
Strategies For Success In The Workplace
1-866-644-8540 (code: hope & health tele)

May 17, 2012 - 8pm EST
Maintaining Intimate Relationships
1-866-644-8540 (code: hope & health tele)

June 5, 2012 - 8pm EST
MS And The Heat
1-866-644-8540 (code: hope & health tele)

June 21, 2012 - 8pm EST
Managing MS And A Busy Life
1-866-644-8540 (code: hope & health tele)

July 3, 2012 - 8pm EST
Living A Life You Love Despite MS
1-866-644-8540 (code: hope & health tele)

July 19, 2012 - 8pm EST
Help Your Care Partner Help You Better
1-866-644-8540 (code: hope & health tele)


 
I try to always stay positive and strong. Yesterday was one of those days where I just couldn't handle the news. As I have said I also have a heart condition Cardiomyopathy. Over the past few months I have been short of breath. I put off going to the doctor because I was afraid of what he may say. I know that's stupid! I had a echocardiogram on Friday. I was told it would be read on Monday. I thought ok I will get a call Tuesday or Wednesday. I was wrong! First thing this morning my doctors nurse calls me. My doctor needs to talk to me. My doctor says I received your test results today and I quote what my doctor said next. "it doesn't look good"! I was in shock. I said ok I have some knowledge about what I should ask. I have had 20 years experience with this disease. I asked what was my ejection factor. He said 25%. Immediately tears started welling in my eyes. Years ago it was 65%. I said ok so what do we do now? Do I go on a transplant list? He said we will talk about that when you come in.
Today was one of those days when you find yourself coming to the realization that I may die a lot sooner than I want to. My husband was out of town for work. I tried to be strong but today I couldn't be. I am actually crying again as I type this! I would have thought I was fresh out of tears for the day. My poor eyelids are so puffy. It's strange who our eyes can just keep producing tears one after the other. I wish my metabolism would work as fast as my tears move. That would be great!
My husband came home tonight. He can always make me feel better. So I will try to be strong and wait to see doctor in person on Wednesday. My friends and my husbands bosses and coworkers were all saying they were praying for me. That I have to say was hard to take. I try to roll with what ever life brings. I am usually on the other end of this. I am always praying for others. I am thankful for all the prayers I receive. I guess I just feel as if I am being weak. Which I know and would be the first to say "that's ridiculous!" so what ever happens next in my journey through life. I will buck up and deal with it. Crying all day didn't make anything better. If anything it probably put more stress on my heart. So as I sleep tonight I will let my worries go and leave it in GOD's hands.
It's actually early morning here. (2:32am) so thank you everyone for your prayers. Have a blessed day everyone and remember to laugh today. (I am smiling puffy eyes and all! LOL)
Picture
A good beat to keep!
 
If you read my blog then you probably have had your own experience with IV steroids. Don't get me wrong they work great. It's just our friends Solu-Medrol or Decadron leave us with some side effects. First of all I have to have my IV treatment spread out over 5 hours. Most people are done with their threatment in about an hour. Oh no not me cause I also have a heart condition called Cardiomyopathy. So I get to lay sit in the chair for 5 hours. Since its such a blast they have me come back for 5-7 days. I guess they figure we have nothing better to do! Ha ha
My personal side effects usually hit me once the treatments stop. While I am getting them I feel good. Oh boy...the day after I am done my body feels horrible. I can only describe it as if I just went through menopause, chemo and a car accident all in one day. I am even more irritable, sweater then usual, a horrible metallic taste in my mouth, no energy and even more fatigued then usual. Every time I have had steroids I always say "never again!" I just chalk that up to "steroid delusions". I am greatful that we have this treatment available to us. It works it just wipes me out. I swear it takes me 3 weeks to feel normal again. Ok well as normal as someone with MS and cardiomyopathy can feel. Ha ha I have been blessed and have not had an "attack" where steroids were needed. The last time was about a year ago. I asked for a round of treatment in hopes it would help my bladder. After my treatment and all it's glory sadly I am still a leaky faucet!
Have a great day everybody! Remember to keep laughing!
 
Does anyone else have this? I am sure some of you have this as well. I can have days where it is very mild. Then I have a day like today. My shoulder hurts to even move in the tiniest bit. I had a Cortizone shot 3 months ago. It was AMAZING!! It didn't hurt at all. My doctor used a cold numbing spray in area first. It was as if I had never had pain there before. It was almost weird to be pain free in my shoulder. My pain free shoulder lasted me about a month. You can have a Cortizone shot about every 6 months my doctor told me. He stated that way it wont damage your muscle. It was great to be pain free even if it was short lived. I am counting down the days until I can have my next one. It also helps ease the pain if I lay in bed on the side where my shoulder is bad. Propping my arm up in different ways on the couch can help too.
Volteran Gel is also fantastic. It is an NSAID. It's a gel and it takes away pain pretty good. I have used that gel for migraines too. I have rubbed into my temples and base of my skull. This gel is wonderful for a lot of pains on our bodies. From feet to base of skulls.
Talk to your doctor about if a Cortizone shot or Volteran gel can help ease your pains.
Have a wonderful day everyone and remember to keep laughing.
Picture
ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT IT!
 
I am wondering if anyone is actually reading my posts???
 
I am sure you may have insomnia issues like me. I have tried so many sleeping medicines. I take two pills at bedtime. I still lay there for several hours. I didn't sleep at all last night. My mother was going to have surgery. I was worried and NEVER fell asleep. Came home and took a nap. I don't know about you but I have to take naps several times a week. I have to tell you it makes me feel like I am being a looser. We are not!! I say we change our feelings. No one in my house makes me feel that way but ME! So going forward lets all stop being so hard on ourselves. Let's be greatful we at least sleep great durning our naps! Good night everyone and GOD Bless!
 
Picture
My Jake!
Today I want to talk about Jake. I was very blessed when I adopted my Jack Russell Jake 8 years ago. I stay inside my home 90% of my life now. Some of you may think you could not imagine a life like that. I am never Lonely or bored. I have Jake! He is what they call a "Velcro" dog. He is stuck to me. I am not sure if he follows me out of love and concern or just plain nosiness! I mean if I get up to go to the bathroom, he follows and yes he sits at my feet. I go put laundry in he helps by laying on the dirty piles and (he thinks he's helping with this one) of coarse he is always willing to help me eat just about anything. When I go to bed he sleeps right beside me. I couldn't imagine my life without him. I consider him like my son. Shoot he has never yelled at me like my real son has...so at times he may be higher up on the list! Lol
I believe Jake adds so much to my life. I highly recommend an animal for anyone who gets depressed, lonely or any other condition. My "boo-boo"  (Jake) is the greatest and I never thought I could or would love a dog as much as I live Jake.