Everyday Life With MS

Hello!

Prior to my diagnosis of MS I was very involved in my pre-school aged daughter’s life.  We did EVERYTHING together.  I really wanted to foster an active lifestyle for her.  We spent a lot of time playing outside, discovering nature and getting dirty.

When she was about 4, I was separated from my husband and I had an acute onset of MS.  No symptoms, no warning signs just a BIG attack!  I was a single mom, with MS, I was in bed for months, using a walker and needed physical therapy to get me walking correctly again. 

I remember crying in bed one day over my situation thinking to myself “why me”?  I have a 4 year old who needs her mother back.  At that point I got mad at the disease and told it that I was not going to let it win my life over.  I forced myself to get out of bed, clinging on to walls and furniture and went for a walk around the house.  I did this everyday, every two hours until I got stronger.  I worked with my physical therapist and did my exercises she taught me.  I got stronger.

I was so strong that I joined a gym and started my workout routine and then trained for a triathlon.  My MS was in remission and I was back to my normal self…almost.  Like a lot of moms out there, I want to do for everyone.  So, I push myself to get it all done for everyone, leaving my needs for last.

This behavior often runs me down and symptoms pop up and fatigue sets in.  If you could learn just one thing on this page, it would be this:

Listen to your body

Manage rest times into your day

Get your family to help around the house

Organize your house, kitchen, bathroom, etc. to minimize the amount of activity needed to complete a task

Check the temperature in the house – make sure it’s cool enough for you

Eat a healthy diet – set a good example for your family while helping yourself at the same time.

Please share your tips for creating a healthy family life and managing your MS on a daily basis.  More tips to come soon from me too!

Be good to you!