Hi all,
Just a story below that I thought you would like to read regarding MS. It's a bit of a comedic spoof on us MS sufferer's, but I assure you it is very true. Some fibro and arthritis people will 'get' this more than others, but I just wanted you to understand a bit better when I complain:) Actually, you all have been so very very supportive, that I don't know what I would do without my blogging/prim crafts/gardening/penny ruggers and hooking (rugs that is..Hubby is tolerant, but not that tolerant) friends! You are the bestest. I am also fortunate to have a very understanding family, well some of them, anyway! They know when to run and get me a Tim Horton's coffee, cause Timmie's coffee will fix just about anything. I am such a prissy particular bitch...medium coffee with one cream...not two drops extra with the cream...not a large coffee...none of that fancy shmancy crap either. If the coffee doesn't fix me up, then they run for the hills. Ah, family:)
Now before you get to reading, don't forget to sign up for my penny rug kit giveaway on the post below this. Here is a link to it: Share the Love Giveaway Actually, maybe you should read this first then click on the word giveaway; I wouldn't want you to get lost. If you put a link to the giveaway on your blog, tell me about it in the comment section for that post only and I will enter your name twice. Now, here is this great story....
Understanding MS by Dee Walter
When We Say We Can't do Something Because We don't Feel Well, Put yourself in Our Shoes By Using The Examples of our Symptoms Below...
MS Symptoms: What You Can do To Understand
Painful Heavy Legs
Apply Tightly 20 LB ankle weights and 15 LB thigh weights then take a 1 mile walk, clean the house, go shopping and then sit down - how ya' feeling now?
Painful Feet
Put equal or unequal amounts of small pebbles in each shoe then take a walk, if we are mad at you we would prefer needles to pebbles.
Loss of Feeling in Hands and/or Arms
Put on extra thick gloves and a heavy coat then try and pick up a pencil, if successful stab yourself in the arm.
Loss of Feeling in Feet and/or Legs
Ask a doc for a shot of novocaine in both of your legs and then try and stand up and walk without looking like the town drunk. Hopefully you won't fall down.
TN (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
Take an ice pick and jam it into your ear or cheek whenever the wind blows on it, or a stray hair touches it. If you want something easier to do, get someone to punch you in the jaw preferably daily.
Uncontrollable Itching
Glue or sew small steel wool pads to the inside of your shirt, pants and undergarments wear them for an entire day.
Tingling
Stick your finger in an electrical socket - preferably wet.
Tight Banded Feeling
Put 12 inch wide belt around you and make is as tight as you can and leave it there for the entire day. How ya' breathing?
Shots
Fill one of our spare needles with saline solution, saline won't hurt you, we would love something worse but don't want to end up in jail. Give yourself a shot everytime we do our shot.
Side Effects From the Shot
Bang your head against a wall, wrap yourself in a heating pad, wrap your entire body with an ace bandage tightly then finally treat yourself to some spoiled food or drink.
Trouble Lifting Arms
Apply 20 LB wrist weights and try and reach for something on the highest shelf in your house.
Spasticity
Hook bungee cords to your rear belt loops and rear pant leg cuffs then for your arms hook bungee cords to your shirt collar and cuffs on shirt sleeves then go dancing.
Poor Hearing/Buzzing in Ears
Put a bee in each ear and then put a plug in each one...Bzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzz
Balance and Walking Problems
Drink 100 proof grain alcohol and then sit and spin in an office chair for 30 minutes, now get up and see what happens.
Urgently Needing to Pee
We put a .5 liter remote controlled water bag and drip tube in your pants, we point out 2 restrooms in a crowded mall, then we tell you that you have 30 seconds before we activate the water bag (by remote control) to get to a restroom. Just for spite we may make that 20 seconds without telling you.
Bizarre and Inexplicable Sensations
Place tiny spiders on your legs or arms and allow them to periodically crawl around throughout the day, heck all day would be good too.
Pins and Needles
Stab yourself repeatedly with needles all over your body or better yet....Get a very large tattoo in your most sensative area.
Dizziness (Vertigo)
Get on a gently rocking boat all day and all night and take several walks around the deck with your eyes closed.
Fatigue
Stay awake for two full days to induce incredible fatigue and then cook dinner, clean the house, walk the dog and see how you feel. Please do not compare MS fatigue to you being tired from only a few hours of sleep - it's not the same at all.
Cognitive Function (Brain Fog)
Take a liberal dose of sleeping pills but stay awake. Try and function properly and think clearly. To make it even more real without killing yourself of course, take the sleeping pills with a small sip of wine.
Bowel Problems
Take a 4 day dose of an anti-diarrhea medicine followed directly by a 3 day dose of stool softeners for a minimum of 3 weeks, at the end of 3 weeks sit down on a hard uncushioned chair and stay there till tears appeared.
Burning Feeling
Make a full pot of boiling water and then have someone fill a squirt gun with the boiling water and shoot it at yourself all day long. However, you can give us the pleasure of shooting you instead...optional of course.
Intention Tremor
Hook your body to some type of vibrating machine try and move your legs and arms.....hmmm are you feeling a little shaky? You are not allowed to use anything fun for this lesson.
Buzzing Feeling When Bending Our Heads to Our Chest (L'Hermitte' s)
Place an electrical wire on your back and run it all the way down to your feet, then pour water on it and plug it in.
Vision Problems (Optic Neuritis)
Smear vaseline on glasses and then wear them to read the newspaper.
Memory Issues
Have someone make a list of items to shop for and when you come back that person adds two things to the list and then they ask why you didn't get them. When you come back from shopping again they take the list and erase three things and ask why you bought those things.
Foot Drop
Wear one swim fin and take about a 1/2 mile walk, nothing else needs to be said for this one, you'll get it.
Depression
Take a trip to the animal shelter everyday and see all the lonely animals with no home. You get attached to one or more of the animals and when you come back the next day you come in while they are putting her/him asleep.
Fear
Dream that you have lost complete feeling in your feet and when you wake up wiggle your feet, just so happens they don't move. Think about this every night wondering whether something on your body won't work the next day when you wake up.
Swallowing
Try swallowing the hottest chili pepper you can find.
Heat Intolerance or Feeling Hot When it's Really Not
You are on a nice vacation to Alaska. It's 35° outside and 65° inside. Light a fire for the fireplace and then get into it. Once you have reached about 110° tell me how you feel, even a person without MS would feel bad, now add all of the above symptoms - welcome to our world.
Then Finally...
After subjecting yourself to the items above, let everyone tell you that you are just under a lot of stress, it's all in your head and that some exercise and counseling is the answer.
I will have some great links that I have collected for you all probably on Friday's Fun! I amaze myself sometimes with the blogs and sites I find. Course that probably explains why the house never gets cleaned, and no one ever gets a home cooked meal...LOL Got some new pics of a penny rug that DD Jess and I made, and a yummy recipe or two. Don't forget to enter the giveaway:)
Wooly hugs to you all,
Trudy
Just a story below that I thought you would like to read regarding MS. It's a bit of a comedic spoof on us MS sufferer's, but I assure you it is very true. Some fibro and arthritis people will 'get' this more than others, but I just wanted you to understand a bit better when I complain:) Actually, you all have been so very very supportive, that I don't know what I would do without my blogging/prim crafts/gardening/penny ruggers and hooking (rugs that is..Hubby is tolerant, but not that tolerant) friends! You are the bestest. I am also fortunate to have a very understanding family, well some of them, anyway! They know when to run and get me a Tim Horton's coffee, cause Timmie's coffee will fix just about anything. I am such a prissy particular bitch...medium coffee with one cream...not two drops extra with the cream...not a large coffee...none of that fancy shmancy crap either. If the coffee doesn't fix me up, then they run for the hills. Ah, family:)
Now before you get to reading, don't forget to sign up for my penny rug kit giveaway on the post below this. Here is a link to it: Share the Love Giveaway Actually, maybe you should read this first then click on the word giveaway; I wouldn't want you to get lost. If you put a link to the giveaway on your blog, tell me about it in the comment section for that post only and I will enter your name twice. Now, here is this great story....
Understanding MS by Dee Walter
When We Say We Can't do Something Because We don't Feel Well, Put yourself in Our Shoes By Using The Examples of our Symptoms Below...
MS Symptoms: What You Can do To Understand
Painful Heavy Legs
Apply Tightly 20 LB ankle weights and 15 LB thigh weights then take a 1 mile walk, clean the house, go shopping and then sit down - how ya' feeling now?
Painful Feet
Put equal or unequal amounts of small pebbles in each shoe then take a walk, if we are mad at you we would prefer needles to pebbles.
Loss of Feeling in Hands and/or Arms
Put on extra thick gloves and a heavy coat then try and pick up a pencil, if successful stab yourself in the arm.
Loss of Feeling in Feet and/or Legs
Ask a doc for a shot of novocaine in both of your legs and then try and stand up and walk without looking like the town drunk. Hopefully you won't fall down.
TN (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
Take an ice pick and jam it into your ear or cheek whenever the wind blows on it, or a stray hair touches it. If you want something easier to do, get someone to punch you in the jaw preferably daily.
Uncontrollable Itching
Glue or sew small steel wool pads to the inside of your shirt, pants and undergarments wear them for an entire day.
Tingling
Stick your finger in an electrical socket - preferably wet.
Tight Banded Feeling
Put 12 inch wide belt around you and make is as tight as you can and leave it there for the entire day. How ya' breathing?
Shots
Fill one of our spare needles with saline solution, saline won't hurt you, we would love something worse but don't want to end up in jail. Give yourself a shot everytime we do our shot.
Side Effects From the Shot
Bang your head against a wall, wrap yourself in a heating pad, wrap your entire body with an ace bandage tightly then finally treat yourself to some spoiled food or drink.
Trouble Lifting Arms
Apply 20 LB wrist weights and try and reach for something on the highest shelf in your house.
Spasticity
Hook bungee cords to your rear belt loops and rear pant leg cuffs then for your arms hook bungee cords to your shirt collar and cuffs on shirt sleeves then go dancing.
Poor Hearing/Buzzing in Ears
Put a bee in each ear and then put a plug in each one...Bzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzz
Balance and Walking Problems
Drink 100 proof grain alcohol and then sit and spin in an office chair for 30 minutes, now get up and see what happens.
Urgently Needing to Pee
We put a .5 liter remote controlled water bag and drip tube in your pants, we point out 2 restrooms in a crowded mall, then we tell you that you have 30 seconds before we activate the water bag (by remote control) to get to a restroom. Just for spite we may make that 20 seconds without telling you.
Bizarre and Inexplicable Sensations
Place tiny spiders on your legs or arms and allow them to periodically crawl around throughout the day, heck all day would be good too.
Pins and Needles
Stab yourself repeatedly with needles all over your body or better yet....Get a very large tattoo in your most sensative area.
Dizziness (Vertigo)
Get on a gently rocking boat all day and all night and take several walks around the deck with your eyes closed.
Fatigue
Stay awake for two full days to induce incredible fatigue and then cook dinner, clean the house, walk the dog and see how you feel. Please do not compare MS fatigue to you being tired from only a few hours of sleep - it's not the same at all.
Cognitive Function (Brain Fog)
Take a liberal dose of sleeping pills but stay awake. Try and function properly and think clearly. To make it even more real without killing yourself of course, take the sleeping pills with a small sip of wine.
Bowel Problems
Take a 4 day dose of an anti-diarrhea medicine followed directly by a 3 day dose of stool softeners for a minimum of 3 weeks, at the end of 3 weeks sit down on a hard uncushioned chair and stay there till tears appeared.
Burning Feeling
Make a full pot of boiling water and then have someone fill a squirt gun with the boiling water and shoot it at yourself all day long. However, you can give us the pleasure of shooting you instead...optional of course.
Intention Tremor
Hook your body to some type of vibrating machine try and move your legs and arms.....hmmm are you feeling a little shaky? You are not allowed to use anything fun for this lesson.
Buzzing Feeling When Bending Our Heads to Our Chest (L'Hermitte' s)
Place an electrical wire on your back and run it all the way down to your feet, then pour water on it and plug it in.
Vision Problems (Optic Neuritis)
Smear vaseline on glasses and then wear them to read the newspaper.
Memory Issues
Have someone make a list of items to shop for and when you come back that person adds two things to the list and then they ask why you didn't get them. When you come back from shopping again they take the list and erase three things and ask why you bought those things.
Foot Drop
Wear one swim fin and take about a 1/2 mile walk, nothing else needs to be said for this one, you'll get it.
Depression
Take a trip to the animal shelter everyday and see all the lonely animals with no home. You get attached to one or more of the animals and when you come back the next day you come in while they are putting her/him asleep.
Fear
Dream that you have lost complete feeling in your feet and when you wake up wiggle your feet, just so happens they don't move. Think about this every night wondering whether something on your body won't work the next day when you wake up.
Swallowing
Try swallowing the hottest chili pepper you can find.
Heat Intolerance or Feeling Hot When it's Really Not
You are on a nice vacation to Alaska. It's 35° outside and 65° inside. Light a fire for the fireplace and then get into it. Once you have reached about 110° tell me how you feel, even a person without MS would feel bad, now add all of the above symptoms - welcome to our world.
Then Finally...
After subjecting yourself to the items above, let everyone tell you that you are just under a lot of stress, it's all in your head and that some exercise and counseling is the answer.
I will have some great links that I have collected for you all probably on Friday's Fun! I amaze myself sometimes with the blogs and sites I find. Course that probably explains why the house never gets cleaned, and no one ever gets a home cooked meal...LOL Got some new pics of a penny rug that DD Jess and I made, and a yummy recipe or two. Don't forget to enter the giveaway:)
Wooly hugs to you all,
Trudy
I loved it!
ReplyDeleteMakes people think twice about commenting on MS as if to say it's not that bad.
That's what I get when people find out I have AS.
Sandy
Awww, I dont have MS or Fibro but I do have a bad ankle and arthritis so some of this I can relate to. Keep a smile on your face:)
ReplyDeleteWOW! Trudy ~ thank you for enlightening me! I knew you had fibromyalgia but I don't think I knew you had MS as well. You are a wonderful example of someone "living" with their challenge and not appearing to let it be primary in their life! All that you do for your family and take on an exchange student and your crafting ~ people like you inspire me not to complain about an ache or a pain ~ I admire you for your candor ~ for sharing with others so that have some idea of what people with MS go thru each day! And you can show others with your illness or any other affliction that you can have a meaningful, wonderful life!! You are something!!
ReplyDeleteAlice
Trudy, I'm sitting here with a small, sad smile on my face while shaking my head. This would be funny if it weren't so true. I can't even begin to imagine how you deal with MS since dealing with the fibromyalgia is more than enough for me.
ReplyDeleteI played pool Tuesday night (won my match, I'm proud to say) but it took so much out of me that I spent most of yesterday in bed. And that's the part that makes me wonder if it's all worth it?
I also understand about being told it's stress or all in your head. One of my sisters doesn't believe in fibromyalgia and thinks I'm just being lazy. I want to give her my symptoms for a week and then see what she says!
Keep trying to smile. There really ARE people who understand.
JoJo,
ReplyDeleteIt is worth it, especially when you win the match. I am so uncoordinated that I would be the one ripping the felt during a game of pool!
Wait a minute...thats FELT...I could make a penny rug out of that:)
I would like to give some people I know my symptoms for a day, never mind a week; oh well, the good people make up for the rotten ones.
Thanks for the words JoJo, it always means so much to me.
Hi Trudy!
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing this post, I had know idea the symtoms that people have with MS but I never thought they were lazy or just stressed out. I honestly don't know how you do it:)
I'm having trouble with the blanket stitch...I've taken out so many stitches that I hope it looks like a penny rug whenever I do get done with it but I'll keep trying! I guess I just thought it was easier then what it is:)
Also please take your time with the valances I'm excited about them too and they are just going to look gorgeous:)
Bless You,
Rondell
Trudy, bless your heart for posting this. It may really help others realize that when you (we) say we can't do something... we REALLY can't. I just have fibromyalgia, but I was very surprised to see so many of the same symptoms that I suffer from are also those from MS. I have a friend who suffers from MS and now that I think about it, our friendship is pretty much over the phone now. Not runnin' around hootin' and hollerin' like we used to. AAHHHH the good ole days. Anyway.. what can you do? Curl up in a ball and let life pass us by or deal with it... at our own pace but still among the living. Even my dh says "pace yourself" when I'm cleaning house, because he knows if I'm on a "good" day I'll blow it and do too much and be in bed tomorrow. I think I'll suavely email this to those who think I'm just coplaining or tired. But in everyones defense...you CAN'T know how we feel because you're never felt it. (So please stop saying it!) I remember my ex husband EX EX EX luckily not 6 feet under ...said to me when I was having the worst menstrual cramps EVER...heating pad on front and back, throwing up, you get the picture. This jack ass said I know, I've had a bad stomachache before. If my eyes could've killed him he would be dead and the world not effected by his loss.As far as I'm concerned. Nasty aren't I?
ReplyDeleteWell off to something nice... think about flowers, pretty flowers LOL