MS & Me

In this week's MS and Me blog Joan looks at big hetic life events like Christmas when you have MS. She said 'This is not meant to be a sad blog. It’s about admitting that stuff happens during the year but lots of amazing, wonderful and unexpected things happen too'

'I go to bed tired, I wake tired, I slog through the day tired…' Trevis Gleason explores the difference between sleep and rest'.

There’s something about bodily functions dysfunctioning that strikes fear into all of us. Bladder and bowel control are one of the earliest things we learn as a toddler. They’re possibly one of the last things to go if we get very, very old or ill. In the middle of all that are people desperately hiding bladder or bowel problems while trying to look normal. Some are left with dodgy waterworks after a traumatic birth, or men can experience prostate problems as they get older. It’s estimated that over 300,000 Irish adults experience overactive bladder problems. 

Writing blog posts for the 'MS and Me' website usually cost me nothing but my time and perhaps a bit of chipped nail varnish. This one has cost me hard cash. Let me explain. Given that I am writing about my children's understanding of their mother having Multiple Sclerosis for this blog, I decided that I should be rigorous in my approach and so, carry out some qualitative research and interview them. 

'Yes my MS is but I am not beaten into submission'

'MS & Me Blog marks one year by looking back and looking forward'

“Hope” is a word full of meaning. A heavy-weighing word too. People with MS cling onto hope because at the moment there is not much else we can do. 

Before MS I really took my health for granted. I rarely went to the doctor. I was afraid of needles. I didn't think about what I ate or what time I ate it. I took little things for granted like ticking 'no' when asked if I had any known medical conditions. I guess I never really had to consider these things before and each first that came along really got to me. When shopping for car insurance after my diagnosis I wasn't able to get many quotes online because I had to tick 'yes' to the medical condition. There are more obstacles in the way... extra paperwork!

Sometimes I wonder how fictional characters would respond if they had a chronic illness like MS. What would Mary Poppins do? Would she keep the chin up and sing a cheerful song- even though the magic umbrella is not what it used to be since the last relapse? Would she get on with her chores even though she is so tired, she could fall asleep on top of a “Chim Chim Cher-ee”?

Part 2 - Helen continues to give her list of daily tasks a proper go to 'get happy'