Ruling Out Symptoms

Once you start experiencing the symptoms that come along with MS, you may live with many issues on a daily basis. It is part of what makes this disease so exhausting. It is amazing how persistent a person with MS can be on a daily basis. It truly is a hidden disease. You may look at the person and think that everything is going well but you actually don’t realize how hard it is for that person to function.

There is so much truth with the meme’s you see that talk about invisible disabilities. In my past posts, I have talked about how the last year has been a little more of a struggle than success. A recent MRI shows no changes. My damage from MS has not improved (healed) but it also has not gotten worse. So why all of the trouble walking and pain? I recently started investigating issues with my right leg because I had a DVT in that leg years ago. Recent results from a Venogram showed that there was a problem with a valve. I have been referred for further investigation because there are new techniques for repair being discovered. The question becomes, am I a candidate. For now I will continue with therapy to help improve the blood circulation.

These results unfortunatly don’t explain my issues with back pain and numbness. I have requested a visit with my Ortho that took care of me at the beginning of my troubles from an injury.

I know a lot of doctors talk about the price of stress on your body. I experienced a lot of stress at work in the last year. I am also starting to conclude that this is the reason I am seeing a decline. Last month I had the pleasure of officiating the marriage of one of my former students that was part of the student ministry I led. It rained all day and it turned out to be a beautiful evening. Originally the plan was for them to get married in the fall at a local venue but at the last minute they wanted to get married at the beach. Not knowing if I would be willing to officiate on such short notice, she reach out, I checked my schedule and said YES! One thing I didn’t realize was how many muscles you had to use to walk in sand. But, I did it!!

I knew I needed a vacation but I also wanted to be a part of their day. It was so good to see the family and spend time with everyone. I also enjoyed a week of no worries or cares, just days of relaxing, exploring, eating, and soaking up some sun.

After this wonderful and restful week, when I returned home I realized that many of my issues had subsided while I was away. It was upon my return that I realized that stress was really taking a toll on my body. Unfortunately I don’t have the luxury to take time away from my job. Maybe some day I can retire but I really would like to be able to figure out a better way to balance work and self care now.

I continue to focus on being grateful that this disease has been halted. Maybe in my next post I will discover something new and have something to share with you. For now, I leave you with this…

Mark 5:24-34

And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”