Do you ever call a company's call center and you realize your call has gone to another country? This infuriates me! It has nothing to do with the people or the country. I just strongly believe that a US company should have all of their offices in the US! Often times it is very difficult to understand what they are saying because of their accent.

I bring this up because I experienced this twice in a few days. Tonight I was online and used one of those clean up your slow PC companies. After purchasing it you have to call a number to activate. I called the number and I am pretty sure I was routed to India.

It was so hard to try and figure out what he was saying to me. I kept having to say "I can't understand what you are saying"! He was polite. After about 10 minutes on the phone he asks me "how old are you"? I said why do you need to know this. He says "you have a very nice voice"! I started to laugh then he asks if I am a housewife! I wasn't sure if this was part of a script or if he was trying to flirt. Oh I forgot.....I have a fan on my desk and of course it was going. He asks me if I was on the rooftop of a building. It took him repeating this several times before I got it. At first I couldn't understand why he was asking me this. I thought maybe he picked up on my frustration and was worried I was going to jump.....if I was on top of a building!! I said "no" I am not on top of a building why are asking me this. He says because I hear a lot of wind! It was my fan!! My husband busted out laughing and had to leave my office!!!

After being on the phone for about a half hour. My genius IT Arabian man realized I had called the wrong company or so he claimed! I only got the number to call after I paid! I ended up just hanging up on him because he kept trying to keep the call going. I then tried the number on the program I downloaded. The lady that I spoke to (who seemed to be in the US) said I also had the wrong company! I then called the phone number on my receipt. They were closed! At that point I was ready to just throw my computer against the wall!

I guess I have had an extremely hard few days. I have been so grouchy and snappy at everyone today. I think my nerves are just shot! My world has been turned upside down! I am trying to adjust to everything! I thought a rush of sugar would help. I got a blizzard from Dairy Queen. It was good but it didn't work....a massage....I think that would help!!!

Well I hope your day goes better then mine!! Lol remember to laugh! It's kept me from "jumping off a rooftop"!!! Lol

Friend me on Facebook at:
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I am also on Twitter and I am excited to say I have 9 followers now.....but I would like more. So then my son will stop laughing and teasing me! Lol
@mywonderMSlife

Thanks for reading my blog.
Christine

Medicare!!!! Omg I am going to have to enroll now. Since my husband was maliciously retaliated then fired. We will no longer have health insurance. I am sure COBRA will be too expensive. What will my husband do? How will he be treated for the damage that he received to his lungs while working for In-N-Out Burger? It wasn't enough what they did to him now they take away his health coverage. Maybe they are hoping he will die before we go to court? Who knows what there thinking cause they are the furthest thing from a "Christian company" like they claim to be. Not only do I hold them responsible but his direct boss Ryan Swab I hold him responsible too. He was so nice before all this happened. He used to act concerned about my MS. Boy how quickly he changed!

I know nothing about Medicare. I know social security will take like $100.00 out and I think I have to pay another insurance company too? What health insurance companies do you guys have? What are the good and bad things with the plan you have? I know I will not be able to get my Copaxone anymore. It's so expensive one months worth and I would be in my doughnut hole already! I am going to call the manufacturer tomorrow to see about getting it free. As of right now the only money we have coming in is my Social security. It will not even cover our rent! I pray that they do not try to stop his unemployment!!! I swear if they do we are gonna end up in our car! That's when you will see me and anyone I can get to go with me picketing in front of their restaurant! Demanding that they practice what they preach and except responsibility for their actions! Who's with me??

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Have a blessed day and remember to keep laughing!

Friend me on Facebook at:
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Or follow me on Twitter
@mywonderMSlife

Thanks
Christine

First I thought you would enjoy a good laugh!! I was watching my new favorite talk show. The Wendy Williams Show. She is so funny. She was talking about Olivia Wilde. I guess she used to be married to an Italian Prince. In Glamor Magazine she says "“you can lie to your relatives at Christmas dinner and tell them everything on the home front is just peachy. But you cannot lie to your vagina,” she is quote as saying." I just busted up laughing about this! It sure is true though! I have been in an unhappy marriage before! I am sure a few of you have been in one too! Lol

Happy to report my step son is going to stay here with us. He told us about being physically assaulted by his mothers boyfriend again! He previously had been investigated by Child Protection Services. He had given my step son a black eye. Unbelievably as his biological father my husband was not allowed by law to get a copy of the outcome of their investigation! They are considered "confidential"! I am sorry if anyone investigated for possible child abuse that the reports should be made public! Everyone should be aware of this. If a person assaults a stranger and is investigated its public record! So could someone please tell me why we keep child abusers reports confidential??? Something is wrong their!

I am proud of my step son. He stood up and told his mother he wasn't going to live in fear anymore. He told her he was afraid of her boyfriend. Her boyfriend told his mother "either that f&$%ing punkass brat leaves or I will". She made her son leave! I am just glad he is away from that environment and now safe again.

We will register him for school Monday Morning. Unfortunately he has to start a new high school in his junior year. Hopefully he will make some friends quickly.

Thankfully his mother agreed to bring all his clothes and all his stuff. Originally she said she couldn't because her boyfriend wouldn't let her. She would have to sneak it out!
REALLY!!! She needs to put her big girl pants on and leave him. Well since she just bought a house and he now lives in her house. She needs to tell him to hit the bricks!

Have a wonderful Sunday! Remember to laugh today!

I am on Facebook...
http://www.facebook.com/christine.thompson

Please find me on Twitter....I need more followers!! Lol
@mywonderMSlife

Thanks,
Christine

Well believe it or not my husband was fired today! For such a big multi-million dollar company. They have made so many irresponsible choices. My husband worked for In-N-Out Burger. Some of you may not have heard of them. They are family owned. They have around 230 stores in California, Arizona, Nevada, and now two or three in Texas. In-N-Out Burger claims to be a Christian company. On the bottom of their cups they have John 3:16.

To me a Christian company should admit when they made a mistake. For goodness sakes due to the negligence of managers issuing paint products they knew nothing about. My husband now has lungs that are 90 years old, severe COPD and Asthma due to chemical exposure.

Instead of admitting they made a mistake and make it right. They chose to maliciously harass and retaliate against my husband. As if it wasn't hard enough on him to continue to work. They immediately put him under a microscope. They ended up firing him because he had administration time on his time card. This is what they put down if they were straightening their company van up, washing it, getting an oil change, ect. So they came at my husband and basically interrogated him for two hours. Asking him questions like, ok on January 12, 2012 at 8:30am you had 15 minutes of admin time. What were you doing???? My husband nor any other employee was ever told to write down specifics. Since my husband couldn't remember 10 1/2 months ago what he did That was an admin task. They claim he stole and fired him. All just bullshit. They have only added fuel to our lawsuits. Now we will have a wrongful termination and harassment suits to go with the other two.

My husband worked for them for over 8 years. It is amazing how quickly a dedicated employee with great reviews. Can end up like this. It's funny that on his termination letter they actual say...."we value honesty and integrity and rely on each of our associates to except responsibility for their actions". REALLY!!! I guess IN-N-OUT BURGER is one of those companies that is a "do as I say and not as I do" kind of "Christian" company. They need to take their own words and follow them. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND! That is what they preach...I guess they just need to learn how to practice what they preach!

I hope if you are reading this blog that you no longer give business to IN-N-OUT BURGER! Until they step up and do the right thing!

Have a great Saturday everyone.
Thanks
Christine

Depression...do you feel you suffer from it? I have been on depression medication since I was diagnosed with MS in 2005. A few increases since then. I can normally just let go of stress, aggravation, and my illness. Lately that is not the case.

This ordeal with my husbands work injury. The lawsuit and now we are pretty sure they are firing him for some BS crap they have fabricated. You know if it were my company I feel especially one that claims to be a Christian company. Admit you made a mistake and make it right.

This entire thing is getting to me. I have to be the strong one all the time. My husband just can't handle stress. Today I stayed in bed until 4:30 this afternoon. I could have stayed in there longer too. I just want a few days of peace and no company BS! This whole thing is going to end up causing me to have a MS attack. I have got to find a way to let my stress and worries go.

It would be easier if my husband wasn't so upset and basically screwed by the company he works or worked for. I tell you I am about ready to go public with their name and exactly what they have done and still continue to do. Maybe being in the public eye will wake up their CEO and owner.

How do you relieve your stress? How do you not let it effect your health? As I have said normally I am solid as a rock. I guess day after day of company malicious harassment and retaliation. It's effecting my depression.

I am on Facebook so send me a friend request.
http://www.facebook.com/christine.thompson

I am on Twitter too! Follow me!
@mywonderMSlife

Have a wonderful day everyone!
Remember to keep laughing!
Thanks
Christine

Do you exercise your brain daily? We need to to keep our neurons active. I play a ton of games on my phone everyday. I play hangman, crosswords and much more. You know when I think about it my phone is really for playing games and posting my blog. Ohh texting too!

When a part of the brain is injured through MS it's important to continue to work the brain and build new connections among neurons around the injured site. This helps keep the brain evolving to help compensate for the deficit.

This can be done with by playing games. You can play checkers, a board game, word games or even playing a musical instrument. A variety of activities is the best stimulation.

Below is a link to an article of the top ten websites for brain exercises.

http://longevity.about.com/od/mentalfitness/tp/braintrain.htm

So after reading my blog go play a game! Don't forget to laugh too!

I can be found on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/christine.thompson

I can also be found on Twitter
@mywonderMSlife

Have a great day!
Thanks
Christine

Are you having a bad day? How do you deal with the stress? I am having a stressful crappy day! I feel like I am about to snap!

As some of you know my husband was seriously injured at work. For 4 years he used a paint product that when mixed it releases isocyanates.
When your not taught how to properly protect yourself and given the proper respirator. A person ends up with severely damaged lungs!

Doctors released my husband back to work. As long as he had the proper respirator. We have an attorney and are moving forward to protect my husband and the other employees. Only my husband has been given the proper respirator.

So needless to say his employer seems to riding my husband. He had a two hour meeting today. They had 24 times he had gotten home (GPS) and was still working. It's put in as admin. So back in January they were expecting my husband to know on that day what admin work did you do! REALLY! That was 10 months ago!

Then after several attempts of trying to get ahold of the labor commissioner. I got a return call today. The snippy worker informs me that they claim they mailed us a court date and we didn't show up. REALLY!! We NEVER got any type of correspondence from them!!!!

They told me I would have to sue them civilly now. Ohh no I contacted my local Congressman and my local Senators office. The Senators office will call labor commissioner in the morning!

This is the stressful day I am having! I sure hope it gets better!

I am on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/christine.thompson

I am on Twitter to...follow me...please! Lol
@mywonderMSlife

You will not believe this!!! My husbands ex-wife called him this morning. After all that last night and kicking her son out. She and her boyfriend want him to come back! REALLY someone needs therapy!!!

Do you ever wish you could go back in time? If so where would you want to go back to? I have thought about this. At times I would say yes and other times I would say no.

I would not want to go back in time because I did not enjoy most of my life. I am happy now. Sometimes I think I would like to go back in time to be a better mother. What I mean is be the kind of mother I wasn't. A mother that played games, got more involved in his school and homework. I was more focused on my job and working my way up the ladder. I was trying to prove to myself I would not end up like my mother did. I was a loving mother I just made some big mistakes. Mistakes that have effected my sons life.

If I was able to go back it would be to make sure my son did better in school and enjoyed school. His life would be totally different. I struggle with his choices being my fault. Don't get me wrong he is a loving, caring son. I just would have felt better if he had finished high school and went on to college. I worry all the time if I died tonight he would not be able to survive and may end up homeless. This is my biggest fear.

I wish I had more patience and had learned to communicate differently. Growing up I learned the way to communicate was to yell. It is something I am trying to change about myself. I saw my mother scream and drive my father away. I worry I am following in my mothers foot steps. I love my mother but the last thing I want to do is end up being like her.

I guess if I could have the option to go back to being a child and have a different up bringing. I would give it serious thought. It's like a catch 22. I feel I am a wonderful woman who is compassionate and caring. All the things that happened in my life have made me the person I am today. Maybe this is why GOD doesn't give us this choice. We have free will and make the choices we make for a reason. One day we will completely understand why we did what we did. Until then I guess we need to stop second guessing the choices we made.

You can find me on Facebook
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I am also on Twitter. Follow me!!
@mywonderMSlife

Have a blessed day everyone!
Remember....
“Only God can move mountains, but faith and prayer can move God.”

Thanks,
Christine

Do you have lesions on your brain? I do not know how many I have. I am not sure but I think my doctor has told me that lesions cause no pain. If that true then why do I constantly have migraines? I think it because my lesions are irritating some nerves.

I was doing some research trying to find out if lesions cause pain. I found some interesting information on lesions. Did you know that that our body try's to re-myelinate? Sometimes it works. It's not back to what it was before but it has some what repaired itself. I have never been told this. It is great to know!
I also learned that I may have "black holes" in my skull! Omg!!!!
I also found out that we should always have contrast when we have an MRI. I have always asked for this when getting an MRI. You will read further done as to why you should have contrast.

MS does its damage by causing the nerves in localized areas in the brain and spinal cord to lose their protective sheaths, called myelin. At first, when the myelin is being attacked, the body brings a higher blood supply to the attacked area or areas to fight the attack, and they becomes swollen and inflamed. These areas now become "lesions." (A "lesion" is simply an area of abnormality in the brain tissue.) If the areas being attacked are large enough they can be seen on an MRI. At this point, when they are inflamed and blood-engorged, they are called "active lesions" because the inflammation is actively attacking the nerve cells. At first the nerves themselves haven't changed much and they appear (and have the same density) as the healthy areas around them. The body attempts to repair the damage that is being done and sometimes these areas try to re-myelinate, with varying success.
They may disappear from the next MRI. They aren't perfect in their function, but the areas may return to a normal appearance.

If the nerves do not re-myelinate and the damage continues, for a long time the lesions sit as scars. These scarred areas contain damaged and dying cells, their blood supply shrinks, and they become dense--more dense than the normal brain around them. These are the classic MS "plaques" and are considered old lesions. They show up as the bright areas, also called "hyperintense," most of us have seen in pictures and on our films. If the attack on the myelin sheath is too strong for the immune system to repair, more and more myelin disappears and the area of nerves eventually dies. Then it completely scars and contracts. The blood flow is decreased to that area and the body tries to reabsorb it. The area then becomes "less dense" than the surrounding normal nerve tissue. After a longer time the scar can reabsorb completely and the area becomes "empty." It's called a black hole. I thought these were just out in space???

Now the very old, mostly dead areas where nerve fibers have died will be seen as less dense (empty) spaces or "black holes". If there are many of these empty areas, the brain will eventually contract and shrink around them. This will be depicted as a loss of brain volume. This is also known as brain atrophy. It is particularly seen in the progressive types of MS. In brain atrophy there will be an increased space between the skull and the brain. The interior area of CSF will be larger. Also the deep folds in the brain (called sulci) will appear widened.

Black holes are areas where a good number of the nerve fibers have been lost. But, not all of them are completely dead. New techniques are showing that black hole can heal and disappear, leaving some scarred tissue behind.

For the most part all visible lesions can be seen without contrast. They show up as T2 Hyperintensities just like all lesions. The problem is that the neurologist can't tell if a lesion is old or new. So new activity will be missed and the MRI may be erroneously dismissed as "unchanged" or "no progression." In the inflammation of new lesions there is a breach in the blood-brain barrier. Wherever there is a break in the blood-brain barrier, the contrast will leak into the brain tissue and the areas will "highlight" or "enhance." They show up as even brighter than the brain around them and brighter than an old, scarred lesion. So new lesions will appear as "enhancing," or "active." Also, older hyperintense lesions that have undergone a new attack at their adges or margins. This is also called reactivation. Lesions that have reactivated may show an even brighter enhancing rim or ring. The appearance of an "enhancing ring or rim" is especially characteristic of MS. When you compare the regular MRI to the contrast MRI you can see the increased brightness of this reactivated, old lesion. New lesions with active inflammation typically show up for 4 to 6 weeks before they scar down and become "old" lesions.

In some cases a newly active MS lesion may not be visible on a regular MRI because the area of nerves, though inflamed, is still pretty much intact and has normal brain density. On the regular MRI it will look like normal brain. Without contrast it won't show up and will likely be missed. When the next phase of MRI is done the contrast is injected into the bloodstream.

There are other techniques such as fast-SPIN, STIR, SPIN-echo, but these are techniques used to clarify tiny differences in the tissue and to make lesions stand out more clearly. That's it in a small nutshell.

I hope you found this information helpful and as knowledgable as I did.

Have a great Sunday! May GOD Bless all of you.

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Follow me on Twitter too!
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Thanks for reading my blog!
Christine