My MS Profile

My Current MS Profile

Name:

Eddie

Age:

33

Diagnosis:

Multiple Sclerosis (diagnosed June 2011)

MS Sub-type:

Unknown

Current Treatments & Therapies: 

Interferon beta-1b (self-injection, every other day)

Gabapentin for neuropathic pain relief

Paracetemol for general pain relief

Vitamin D supplement

A new course of physiotherapy three times per week

This is me being 'fatigued' in bed. Honest !

Having detailed my journey from initial symptoms to my diagnosis, quite a few people have been asking how I am now, some 18 months after I first developed symptoms. 

Well, I'm pleased to say that in many respects I do feel a lot better. Some things, such as balance, still don't feel quite right, but they're a long way from where they were when I first got ill. 

My symptoms, however, have changed, and the two predominant ones I have now are pain and fatigue. 

I've been pondering over this for some time, because those two short words don't even begin to encapsulate what both of those symptoms entail, even if I write them in bold, and even if I write them in (gasps!) bold italics ... capitalised!

PAIN & FATIGUE

Nope. Doesn't even come close! It somehow feels as if the words do a disservice by completely understating the effect these symptoms can have on your quality of life. That being said, they both warrant posts of their own, so very soon I will write specific posts on these symptoms, and others, in the detail that they require to express what they are, and what effect they can have on your life. 

However, I am pleased to report that in many ways I am feeling well. I'm trying to keep myself busy and work within my current capabilities as I continue to improve, which can be a challenge, as if there's a day when I'm feeling particularly well I can have a tendency to go a bit nuts and then pay for it in the coming days or even weeks. 

I've committed to a couple of projects that I can fit into small parcels of time. These are:

1) Losing weight (I would like to get down to 17 stone from 19)

2) Learning Romanian (I've apportioned 20 mins a day)

3) Reading and writing more (still difficult for me due to fatigue)

There. I've put it in writing. I'm doing those three things. Slowly and surely. But I've put it out there now and there's no going back! Feel free to ask me in a month's time how I'm doing with those projects, although if I've bailed on all them, expect the bitter retort 'I've got MS, dammit! Give me a break!'. Just kidding. Maybe : o )  

(Serious voice) This picture illustrates pain. As for why, you will have you wait until my cheerful post on pain itself, won't you?