Hello

Hi Meche, and welcome to the board!

This is a great place to come for support and information, and I hope you’ll enjoy it here. I’m looking forward to getting to know you too.

Sunny

Hi All,

Thank you for welcoming me to the board.

I am currently on beta interferon injections called Rebif, I take 1 3 times a week.  I had a small relapse in Feb, then a disabling one in April, which was very frightening, especially as I have 2 young kids, Scott and Emma. I go to a rehab centre in Irvine called the Douglas Grant Unit and they are very helpful especially after intial diagnosis, as I had to attend physio. 

The MS I have is relapsing and remitting, since being on the injections, I have been OK, but sysmptoms are rapid eye movement, but not all the time, Fatigue and stiffness in my legs and arms.  As I have only been on the medication for a few months, I still suffer the side effects which are flu like.

I was working full time with a company for the past ten years but was made redundant last Monday, bit dodgey if you ask me but whats the point of being bitter.

Since being diagnosed with MS I have realised that there is a lot more to life, my outlook is to live for the moment and take each day as it comes, The way I see it I am quite lucky as my diagnosis could have been a lot worse, I could have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

My family have been very supportive, and my other half is always on the look out for new research into MS, so its not all bad. 

Not had a very good year in 2008 but being diagnosed with MS has opened new doors for me, I mean if I hadnt been diagnosed with MS, then I would never have joined this site and be meeting new people.

Once you all get to know me you will all realise I have a good sense of humour, often quite sick, but never hurtful towards any one, if we didnt laugh we would all cry I suppose.

Thats all I can think of to say just now about how I was diagnosed with MS and what Meds I am on. If there is anything at all anyone would like to ask me, please do so.

Look forward to speaking to you all again, and thanks for being so welcoming.

M

xxx

Hiya,

Thanks for the reply, I am already finding out how nice people are on this site,.

Yes from sunny scotland or should I say rainy!!!  My Son and partner are both into James bond and yeah got to agree with your wife Sean Connery is one of the all time best!!

Kids are 9 and 5 so fight like Cat and Dog so they keep me on my toes and keep me busy, but wouldnt change them for the world.

There was a programme on ITV few weeks ago about MS and how Scotland has one of the highest rates, but poor government funding, the presenter went over to Canada and there research into it is amazing, the things I am learning about is MS amazes me as until I was diagnosed with it, even though my grandfather had it, I was quite ignorant towards it.  I also read in one of the Scottish papers that British scientist have a drug which appears to reverse the symptoms of MS.  The treatment has been found to stop the disease on its tracks.  Research also suggests it can reverse the effects of the disease.  That day there was also a news report on it, where a professional golfer had to give up the sport but after being on this drug, he can now play again.

Sorry if you have all heard about this, but think its amazing  the research that is going on, that I didnt know about, although I am still learning. 

Meche

I tried to post to you earlier, but it disappeared on me suddenly. I probably hit the wrong key. Anyway, I'll try again tomorrow, but maybe you'll be in the live chat romm (which is supposed to start in 11 minutes)!

Steph57

We chat on Mondays, however, we chat at 6 central time (USA). I am afraid that might be around 11 or 12 at night for you!  I am not sure about the time difference between us.  I am guessing there.  We would love to have you anyway!!  Maybe we can set up another time that works better for you as well. 

Hey Meche! Just me again.

I had tried to post you several days ago but stupidly pressed the wrong key and it disappeared.

Anyway, I also have the recurring/remitting MS and do Copaxone injections daily. It's been working well and doesn't hurt at all! I've had paper cuts that are worse!!!!   My recent check-in with my neurologist indicated no progression, though I do experience fatigue, memory issues, clumsiness, blurry vision, etc. But I believe it could be a lot worse, so TAKE THAT MS!!!

But you sound like you have a positive attitude too. In fact, you sound a lot like me, though I have golf and haggas phobias

Gotta love those emoticons!

The chat was fun, though I am an inexperienced internet chatter, so it took getting used to.

Take care lass

Steph57

Hiya Steph and Sunnycitrus,

Sorry I havent been on for a few days been busy busy looking for a job, went for an interview on Tuesday for a Customer Service adviser for a bank and 3 hours after my interview I was told I had the job, start on 1st Dec and I cant wait, I am really happy and cant believe I got the job, it looks a great place to work, it is massive with loads of people so its something new.

YEah Steph I keep a positive attitude I have MS it doesnt have me!, one of the interview questions was to tell them something that happened in my life which was a negative and tunr to a positive and I replied that when I was diagnosed with MS, I cried and thats been it, as it could have been a lot worse and I wouldnt have met all you lovely people and made new friends, so that keeps me going to.  I agree the injections are not sore, I have an auto injector but als inject manually, get the weekends free!!! so thats something.

Your phobias of Golf and Haggis!!!  MMM  How did that come about?   I am not that great at chatting and keep forgetting that I cant use Scottish slang that I would on a text message as no one would understand me, when I read what I have wrote back to myslef, I sound very polite, but the words that I type are nothing like how I would pronounce them so its all fun on my part. 

Sunnycitrus - Thank for the good luck gesture, it obviously paid off LOL, How are you? It is very windy and cold here today, but I like the cold, hate a lot of heat, hence the reason I have never been on a plane or own a passport!!, My mum and sister volunteer in a charity shop on a Thursday, so whilst I am not working I go with them and get to chat to lots of people, which is my favourite hobbie!!!

I keep repying to this topic, does anyone know if I can reply to an individual and if so how do I do it?

speak to you all soon.

Love

Meche.

xx

Hi Meche! And huge congrats on your new job! Awesome. I applied for a job in my town library a few days ago--it sounds right up my alley, but haven't heard back yet. Wish me luck !

The heat issue is a big one for those of us LIVING with MS. I'm much more sensitive to heat than I used to be. I was outdoors in 40 (F) degree weather recently, and it felt like 60 (F)!

Though I DO have a passport, as my father lives at least half the year in Prague. As I may have mentioned, he is 83 and has Parkinson's. Yet he still trains (works out) for his annual skiing trip in the Alps! And, he plays tennis and does a lot of walking (Prague is a great walking city)! He is my inspiration!!!

You can access e-mail on this site by clicking on the screen named and it will give the address, if provided by the member. Try it and see if it works; if not, then ask the moderator.

Take care!

Steph57

Hi there, so I am really slow in saying hello.....but I am a bit of a drifter - here, not here, here again, etc.

I am  impressed with your attitude towards this, as this is a big part of the battle. You can make yourself sicker than you actually are by just dwelling on it, and even during the days when you are not feeling so great, it just somehow helps you cope better.

I was dx last December, and at that time, wow, did I have lots of questions.

And everyone in here were more than eager to help answer them.  After a year of treatment, I do feel a heck of a lot better than I did lets say two years ago - then I just did not feel good at all, and thought that I would never see the day again where I would feel the way I do now. I contribute this to the copaxone that I am taking, knowing when to have a nap, staying cool (out of the heat) and staying as positive as I can. 

Congrats on your new job.....bet you cannot wait for Dec 1st....

Anyhow, said enough for now, and again welcome, and again, good going on your new job...

Gary

Hey Meche,

It was so good to hear from you!!  I am glad to hear that the job it going well.  I am sorry to hear that you have a cold!  Rest, rest and rest.  Do all of those good things to speed recovery......lots of fluids, eat healthy oh and did I mention rest!!!  Good luck and Merry Christmas to  you too.  Keep in touch.