3/28/2012

This week has been difficult. I think all the stress (even though it was a very positive stress) finally catching up on me. So my fatigue level has been in full tilt. I swear that is the worst... To be SO tired that even carrying on a conversation with someone is "WORK". I don't mean just tiring - no EXHAUSTING!!!!!! My family knows when the fatigue is really on me - I do NOT TALK TO ANYONE!!!! It is not being mean or weird or snotty... It is just being so very tired that talking or carrying on a conversation is even MORE wearing. I am excited because when I get home tonight my NEW running shoes should be there!!!! So guess what I am going to do tomorrow before and after work time... I give you ONE guess --- that is correct - go run in my new shoes!!!!! It is amazing to get so excited over such a simple thing. But you also have to stop and realize that I had a period of about 5 years where the ONLY shoes I could stand on my feet were Crocs. I am NOT kidding. The neuropathy (nerve pain) was so HORRIBLY INTENSE that those where the only shoes that did not absolutely drive me crazy with pain. So I am even worked my way to wearing "normal" shoes. I cannot wear all shoes - there are still many shoes that do drive the nerves in my feet CRAZY. It is kind of like - eating ice cream when you have a bad cavity -- only with me it is my feet. Like I said before, my feet feel like they are on FIRE 24/7 and like I have pebbles in my shoes and also numb feeling... I know strange - and you say - how can she walk let alone run. The intensity of these feelings has diminished quite a bit. It is still VERY MUCH there but -- it does make everything difficult. But you just get kind of used to it and move on... Because if you don't move - the muscles will stop also. Then what will happen - you are without mobility. I am fighting that with everything I have... I want and need and desire to be active and mobile for a long, long, long time.....

3/27/2012

Today is not a great day... The fatigue and muscular weakness is really laboring on me. I tried to run this morning on the treadmill. I could only do one mile at a time. I was having a lot of issues with stability. So I had to hang on which actually makes it harder to run. Tonight we are meeting for run club. We will see how that goes. Plus, it has gotten much colder outside compared to the weekend. It is in the mid-40's now but supposed to be in the 60's by the time for run club. I did bring both short and pants - just in case. I really cannot run in the cold. The cold causes my muscles to contract and they do NOT like to lengthen at all. This is when I have actually torn muscle fiber. And if you want to experience some pain - there you go... Even someone who's legs are primarily numb can feel that pain... Plus the healing time.. it takes weeks - which would not be very good for my training... So I have to be VERY cautious when the weather is cooler and I am fatigued. People who do not have chronic fatigue issues do not understand how debilitating fatigue is... I think this is one of the worst symptoms of MS. I know I have to be very careful and calculated with my energy levels. You may think - well she does so much... I also try very hard to calculate where I spend my energy. There are some very sedentary activities that TOTALLY exhaust me. One is reading a book - I might have well have ran a marathon. Since I love to read, I have found an alternative - audio books. These are wonderful! One can download them for FREE from the public library on your Ipod and listen to them anywhere. So with fatigue you have to learn to be creative with your energy. Also there are times (many times) that you just have to say "no". That is VERY difficult but that is just the way it is. It can be hard for the non-MS person to hear that you cannot do something - but they just have to deal with it. If they can't - well that is THEIR problem!!!!
But, it is sometimes hard to keep positive on heavy fatigue days - but you just have to. Remember - there are MUCH MUCH worse things.....

3/26/12

Well, the wonderful vacation is official over... back to work! That is OK - it helps you appreciate the time off. We did have a fantastic time with Jeremy and seeing so many different things around the Maryland area. Plus, there was another benefit - I lost 4 pounds!!!! The whole trip was awesome!!! This weekend was the icing on the cake for me!!! I was able to accomplish my goal that I set to do by Easter - run the 12 mile course. I did it! Now, I am planning to do that course 1x per week up to the race. I think that will allow me to be pretty set for the race in Madison/Stoughton WI. As I run, I not only concentrating on my footing but my mind goes to over things. One of the things, is over the last year of running - I have had to re-learn how to run. I know what does that mean --- well -- with MS one of the many difficulties is the numbness in the legs and feet (so I can not feel the roadway) also as I get more fatigued I have to REALLY concentrate on my footing. I have a tendency to do the MS standard of "drop foot". This means that one foot (for me the left) does not want to raise up all the way and kind of shuffles... When this happens you can guess --- I become one with the pavement... The of course, the standard MS issue - as your muscles get more fatigued - it feels like you are walking through mud. So for a non-MS person - image running with one swim flipper on your left foot, two ankle weights on your left and one on your right, and then there is the "MS hug" which means that if feels like your have a really tight corset or wrap around your midriff. Now - go and run.... So everytime - it is hard. The other nemeses is going around curves or changing pavement. Some people say, you run so much it must be very easy of you... WRONG... It is never easy and never will be.... Because my mind knows that I am changing - my nerves are damaged and the message from my brain to the nerves to the muscles - takes more time. So that is when I typically become one with the pavement again. Even in Maryland - I did leave some of me on the pavement there. Oh well!!! Guess what - you heal from skinned knees. It is when you break bones or need stitches is the big deal. Last year, I encountered all 3 malaties. This year - I pray that only the skinned knees occur. But, the point is - having to RE-LEARN how to run and to focus on continuously reading my body. That is the REALLY hard part of the run. I have learned alot about my body since I began this venture last year. But I have improved physically - drastically! Serously - my Docs are amazed and so am I truthfully... So anyone with issues of balance and/or neuropathy and/or drop/foot, ect... Believe me, those issues do NOT go away. But my degree of those issues have improved. Do I still have neuropathy - YES - my feet are on fire as I write this - but they are like that 24/7. Do I still have the spasms in my legs, yes. Do I still have balance issues - yes - but the degree of it - I am MUCH MUCH better (remember cane-free). I also know that, for me, the nutrition has been EXTREMELY important factor of my progression. I do not eat processed food, no red meat (and very little meat), very little dairy (basically only yogurt), ect. I eat alot of of raw foods - alot of veggies and fruit. Right now, I feel like I am on the right path to accomplish my grand goal of the 10 mile in Stoughton, WI!

3/23/2012

We arrived home last night. We had such a WONDERFUL time with Jeremy and seeing so many exciting things!!! One of the most notable - is that we actually got to raise a replica of the flag that was flown at the actually spot of the War of 1812 where Frances Scott Key wrote the Star Spangle Banner!!!! Seriously - awesome!!!! So yesterday, was a travel day - no running. Rested and went to bed early. I got up this morning. It had rained hard last night but stopped in the morning. It was warm but not too warm and a slight breeze. Perfect run weather!!! So I went out about 7a (slept in)! I started my usual path out to Sumner Rd - down and past the river and saw the beavers around their houses. Then down to see my horses and puppy... They always greet me! I was still feeling great.. so kept going... Got all the way down Sumner Rd to Farwell Bridge Rd(if I turned back at that point it would have been 5 miles). I kept going thinking I really need to start seriously pushing - for my 10 mile race in May. Got past the 4 mile mark (8 if I turned back at that point). Decided I was going to give a try to do the 12 mile path... Turned down Winneshek Rd then crossed over to Avy School Rd to Best to Pec Rd/Main St to 6th St to High St - home === that is a TOTAL OF ..... 12 miles.... I did it in 2hr 46min 35sec... And guess what -- I am upright and lived.... Afterwards, tired - no kidding... My tummy did not feel well... But I just chilled the rest of the morning - ate a banana & coffee & water - very slowly... Actually, I am ahead of my schedule. I wanted to be able to do that route by Easter (first part of April). So I am a couple weeks ahead of schedule. Now I would like to do that route once a week till the race - May 19th. That gives me 7 weekends till that time. Now we now there will be schedule conflicts or weather... So realistically if I can do it 5 more times before May 19th - that would be so FANTASTIC!!!! The race in Stoughton WI is a 10 mile race. So doing the 12 mile here - then I know in my heart I will be able to do the 10 mile in Stoughton. Stoughton also has hills just like Pec. That route is perfect there is lots of gradual grades up and down hill and steep up and down hills... It is not highly trafficed - I wore my lovely neon yellow/orange vest... So at least - the cars will see what they hit... All I ever ask - if someone hits me - make sure that it is an immediate death... I do not want to linger in pain.... So I am very proud of myself today... The rest of the day (last vacation day) I am working on unpacking and some sewing. Then this afternoon I will go to Body Pump class with Mindy. That will be a nice finish to my last day of vacation!!!! Who could ask for anything more!!!!????? I really am very blessed. I have a WONDERFUL family and frieds that are very supportive and loving!!! I was able to see some mind bloggling and wonderful historically and governmental/political treasures of this country!!!! Here I the person who started at first diagnosis (2006) with MS - weighed OVER 270 lbs... Was at a point - of using a walker and very hard to get around... Now - look at me my MS has progressed - I am now 2ndary progressive. And believe me I still have many many many symptoms - I have learned to modify things. Even with running - last year - I had to really learn from scratch how to read my own body cues... It really is weird - and how to run - just like a little kid. But I have done it - it is possible... Believe me - there are many people that knew me from my early days (2006 and earlier) that would bet millions of dollars with 100% assurance that I would NEVER in my lifetime be able to run 12 miles 100%.... VERY VERY VERY VERY SERIOSLY!!!!!! But I want to stay mobile --- the running and exercise has helped me TREMENDOUSLY with my cognition issues (especially when I am tired) and my fatigue issues and my balance issues... Really there are many people that can testify to this... I still maintain taking my western prescribed medications... I do NOT discount any of that! I also TRULY feel that one has to change nutrition... That is also VERY imperative... Get away from the red meat and fats... Going to a whole foods/raw diet.... Believe me I have made some desserts that even my Swedish meat/potato husband things is really FANTASTIC!!!! I was also very much a red meat/potato eater. Think about it I am 100% Irish... What else would I eat?????? I have been working on this nutrition and modifing since 2007... It takes time for your body to really change... Think about it - I had been eating the other way - red meat, fats, processed foods for over 40 years.... I think last year - the whole combination of the exercise and nutrition - started to help me "blossom".. So that is 5 year.... So anyone that is working on this approach with their MS or any other neuromuscular diseases -- it takes time.... I GREAT person who has done extensive research and also has a similiar story is Dr. Terry Wahls.... She also has 2ndary progressive MS and at her worst was in a wheelchair.... So google her... Ok -- enough of me and my soapbox... Now - I am not old enough to remember soapboxes - but damn close.... So today is a WONDERFUL day - GREAT way to conclude my FANTASTIC vacation... What do you think????!!!!!! I just feel so blessed and I am so very very very very very very very THANKFUL!!!!! I know where MS goes - I know that EVERY day that I run is a TRUE GIFT from GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3/21/12 LAST RUN IN MARYLAND

YESTERDAY I TOOK A DAY OFF RUNNING
BETWEEN RUNNING THE DAY PRIOR & RUNNING THROUGH THE MUSEUMS, I WAS TIRED. YESTERDAY WAS A DAY @ THE CAP, WE SAW ANDITOL & VARIOUS GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. IT WAS AWESOME!! SO I GOT MY LAST RUN IN TODAY, NEXT RUN WILL BE IN THE PEC COUNTRYSIDE. I MISS MY HILLS, THE FARMLAND & SEEING ALL THE WONDERFUL ANIMALS. THIS WAS A WONDERFUL TRIP, W@E SAW & DID SO MANY TH__INGS. EVEN A NEW FAVORITE FOOD - CRAB CAKES. ALSO LOVED THE SCALLOPS! THAT IS WHAT WE DO NOT HAVE FRESH SEAFOOD. BUT I MISS MY TOFU!!@@ BUT THEN AGAIN WHO. WOULDN'T?

3/19/12

WENT FOR A SHORTER RUN THIS MORNING ONLY A LITTLE OVER 3 MILES. We WALKED ALL OVER GETTYSBURG YESTERDAY. TODAY IS THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM. SO DEFINITELY GET MY EXERCISE IN. I FEEL GOOD THAT I AM. KEEPING MY TRAINING GOING.

STILL RUNNING 3/18/12

TOOK ANOTHER ROUTE AROUND JEREMY'S
DID BETTER TODAY SO WAS ABLE TO GET MY 4 MILES IN. THEN WE WERE OUT AT GETTYSBURG ALL DAY. IT WAS AWESOME!!

3/16/12

This morning I ran my usual route down Sumner Rd o
in Pec. I ran 4.25 miles 100% in 1 hour. I felt great! I did take it easy since it was my first time outside down my old route. My hip is still a bit sore but OK. If I had more time I would and could have gone further. I am feeling like I will be OK for the 10 mile race j

March 14, 2012

Well, yesterday was the beginning of our running club. I had ran 3.5 miles in the morning before work. Then worked all day. Our run club meet in the afternoon 6p. It was nice to see a fairly large group at our initial run club meeting. I hope that they all stick it out. We did have our little group (the old ladies) me, Lisa, and Sue. The rest of the people are pretty young. But that is OK. I am in the intermediate group. I have moved up from the beginning group. (Not bad for someone that was still using a cane up to a year ago!!!!) We were supposed to go on a run that was a little over 3 miles. Well, I started running and I was way in the back of our group which is OK) then we got to a crossroads. I was unsure which way to go. I had met up with another group and asked. I thought I was to go straight down the road. So I did. As I was going - I am getting pretty tired and I am heading into the town of Pecatonica. I knew I had defininetly gotten off course. Plus, I also knew it would be getting dark soon. So I turned around and ran back to where we started. The only people there were 2 of the leaders. I told them where I went and I went way farther than the rest of them. The group only did a little over 3 miles. I clocked my path with the car after -- I did 5.2 miles.... So yeh - I did over shoot the route by a bit... Wouldn't you say??? My poor MS brain gets tired and it just shuts down. Today, my biggest problem is my hips are hurting especially the right one. I did try to run this morning on the treadmill but was only able to squeeze out 2 miles and that was really slow. I know I have my phone with me and it does have a GPS so it I get really lost. I am really a sad case sometimes... But hey - I keep going. So yesterday I got quite of bit of miles in... between morning and afternoon grand total of 8.7. So see - I can do that 10 mile race. Will I be able to run it 100% - I don't know... But I know I can finish it. That is the main aspect! Plus, I still have 2 months of training before that race - so I am confident that I will be fine...

March 13, 2012

Today is the start of our running club. Yeh!!! I am excited about that. My hope is that my energy level holds out till this evening. Yesterday, the fatigue monster was grinding at my heels. I did not go running yesterday morning but forced myself to go last night and ran 2 miles on the treadmill. That helped me alot. It seemed to help break the fatigue and I felt more energized after I ran. I don't understand it but, sometimes that happens. Then there are other times where just the opposite. I feel even more fatigued. It is so hard to judge. The one thing that does really upset me is that running club meets at the same time as Pilates. So, just like last year, I will take a time-off from Pilates classes. I will just have to be very diligent to doing Pilates on my own. Pilates helps me so much with balance and core strength. It really is amazing! Well, wish me luck tonight that my energy holds up. That is the real key to everything. At least, the weather is very nice - sunny and warm. As I always say --- "just do it!" That is what I am going to do and the other big goal is to stay upright...

3/12/2012

Well, I was really disappointed that I was not able to run this morning. The fatigue is really working on me. I know that it all has to do with the trip. I am hoping tonight to go and at least get some treadmill time in. I did get some good miles in over the weekend. I am now over 103 miles. So this started on 2/6 - one month and one week = over 100 miles. I think that is pretty good. I would never have dreamed to be this far with my miles. I could have had more if the damn fatigue was killing me right now. Oh well.... I will work through it and move forward. I am excited for run club to start TOMORROW... So that will also help increase my mileage... Always FORWARD>>>>>

3/11/12

I DID GET OUTSIDE YESTERDAY. NO BIG RUN BECAUSE IT WAS TOO COLD IN MORNING & WINDY. I DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND DO MY GROCERY SHOPPING AND RUN ERRANDS AND THEN SEE HOW THE WEATHER WAS. LATER IN THE AFTERNOON THE WIND HAD CALMED DOWN SO I DID GET A FEW MILES IN OUTSIDE. ON SUNDAY, I RAN 4 MILES ON THE TREADMILL. I HOPE THIS AFTERNOON TO GET OUT AND ADD A COUPLE MORE MILES. WELL, I DID NOT GET OUT IN THE AFTERNOON. THE FATIGUE ISSUES ARE REALLY WORKING ON ME. I THINK IT IS ALL THE EXCITEMENT WITH THE TRIP COMING UP. SO JUST WORKED ON MY QUILTING. THAT I AM MAKING HUGE PROGRESS ON.

March 9, 2012

Today had a nice run on the treadmill.  Did a total of 4 miles - not too bad.  So even with yesterday being a "run rest day" I can still keep going with my miles.  Last night, did my favorite class - Pilates.  That class is wonderful for me.  It has helped me tremendously with balance and improving my overall core.  It does wear me out.  I think many people see us in Pilates class and think it is for sissies because the moves are very slow and dilberate.  We also hold posses for an extended length of time.  This takes alot of strength.  Pilates and Yoga has been shown by researcher to be EXCELLENT for those with neuromuscular diseases.  This is because of working that Core and the flexibility.  It really makes a BIG difference.  My pilates instructor will tell you, I have really improved with my overall balance and stamina since I began Pilates.  I highly recommend it for anyone with neuromuscular diseases.  Ok - enough of my soapbox commercials......   Today the plan is after work to go to Body Pump class.  This is a weight lifting class to music.  Weight lifting and bearing weight is great for bone strengthening.  Remember I am old (over 50).  So keeping my bones strong, especially for someone who falls on a regular basis is very important so that I do not break.  Because a break can cause me to have highten MS issues - which causes me to not work out which causes me to slide backwards very quickly.  Then it may take me months to get back to the point I am at right now.  So that is why I do Body Pump.  I am not trying to get some goddess body - get real I am over 50, Irish, from the midwest....  Plus with the running - have I fallen - OH YES!!!!  Let's see, last session - I tore my left calf muscle TWICE.  Now, that really really hurts and takes FOREVER to heal.  This is because my muscle go spastic at any given time and I am trying to force them to lengthen and snap....  Then I had a stress fracture on my left wrist from running downhill and my legs deciding not to run and down I go...  I also had a fall running once again downhill and skinned my knees - I did this 3 times.  Luckly I have friends that tried to mop up my bleeding and bandage me back up.  Then the beginning of the summer was the BIG bike accident.  Where I fell off my brand new bike.  Now mind you. My family decided this would be a safe bike for someone who has balance issues and vertigo.  It is a recumbant -  get ready of it --- 3 WHEEL bike...  Yes - it is a GIANT big wheel..  If you remember those from being a kid...  Well, I fell off going down hill.  I was going pretty fast (it is not fun to go slow) and I got caught by a wind gust and my vertigo started in and I tumbled over and skidded in the pavement and gravel.  Well, I ended up with lots of stitches.  I had stitches in my mouth (I bit through my upper lip), outside my mouth, and both hands.  Now, I am also on asprin plus allergic to novacaine.  Remember, when my doc thought I had originally had a small stroke.  He put me on asprin.  Not baby asprin but full adult asprin - every day.  He has had me continue this.  I think this has alot to do with my father's heart issues....  So anyway - this is important because asprin is a blood thinner.  So I was bleeding like someone had just tried to kill me...  The amount of blood on the pavement - it looked like someone had gutted a deer.  Not kidding....  As you can tell I lived.  Without any help from the Pec ambulance team.  That is another story.....  Let's see where was I...  The point is, yes, you may get injuried but guess what you also heal.  Remember the old attive "no pain no gain".  I keep pushing myself because I am trying with every ounce to fight the MS and to stay mobile.  Someday I will have grandchildren.  I want to be able to go and play with them.  Not just hold them as I sit in a wheelchair.  Yes - that is a TRUE possibility.  But I am going to FIGHT this with EVERY ounce and piece of energy that I have.  Always moving FORWARD!!!!!!!

3/8/2012

Believe it or not...  I am over 90.95 miles since I started tracking on 2/6/2012.  WOW!!  That is basically one month - I (the person with MS and OVER 50 years old) has logged over 90 miles...  (I am currently in a challenge to get 1000 in one year.  So if I keep even this pace - I would definately have over 1000 miles, actually 90 x 12 = 1080.)  When I started tracking my miles (just for fun) I NEVER in my WILDEST dreams thought that I would log that kind of mileage.  That really blows my mind!!!  It just with determination and focus one can accomplish!  I would LOVE this week to break 100 miles - wouldn't that be COOL!!!  I will do it!  I did do a very odd thing this morning - slept in and took the morning off from running.  My body obviously needed more rest and tomorrow I will probably be back on the treadmill to rack up more miles.  The forecast for the weekend is still calling for warm weather...  OH - I am going for a REALLY long run... I am so so so very anxious.  I feel like the kid waiting for Santa to come...  I am counting the minutes, get real seconds, till Saturday morning....  Then off I go....  I wonder if I can do my goal run.  That is a 12 mile run outside of town - in the rolling hills of Pec/Ridott.  I love that run, I am out in the countryside and see so much wildlife.  I pass farmland, wooded areas, and the river.  Along the river I see the beaver's in their house.  I have always thought beavers were so cute and very cool.  How they make this perfect house out of mud and sticks that is so sturdy that it survives storms and other natural events.  I also pass a farm with horses.  The horses last year seemed to be used to me running past.  I had one that actually would run along side me.  That was fun!  Then there are the hills.  My area is definitely not flat.  We have some good and challenging hills.  Even to get back to my house - there is one mother of a hill that I have to run to get home.  I consider that my FINAL challenge of my run and curse the hill but I really love the challenge.  So why I have gotten so passionate about running?  The first thing - this is something I thought there was NO WAY in this lifetime I would EVER be able to do.  Let's get real.  I am over 50 yrs old, have been over-weight much of my adult life, and have MS.  So even the notion of running any distance was way remote...  So finding that I have accomplished this goal shows what can be done.  I am not saying that everyone can do this.  I just know what is right for me.  And yes - my doctors even know EXACTLY what I am doing.  They have even had to patch me back up after one of my MANY MANY falls.  But they do encourage me.  They NEVER have told me to stop.  I also run for ALL those with MS and other neurological disease that cannot.  When I started running - the number one feeling was like being FREE.  I was not tied down to the neuro pain or the heavy legs or the miss-stepping.  I was just running...  It is a WONDERFUL feeling.  Now, not every run is that good.  Sometimes, I start out good and very shortly my legs so "screw you" and they do not want to move.  Believe me if anyone ever had a recording device on me during a run - they would hear some very nasty language from time to time.  I do not direct this language to a person but to MS.  MS does NOT deserve nice language.  So I get my frustrations out by telling MS exactly what I think of it in very plain and colorful language.  See why I don't have anyone run with me????  I don't know if they would quite understand that... 
Today is run rest day.  I will go to exercises classes, yes that is plural, tonight.  So I will get my cardo and some cross-training in.  So it is not like I am sitting back and eating chocolate all day (oh - that would be nice...). 

How did I get diagnosed with MS?

Well, everything came to a head in the fall of 2006.  I was getting ready to go on a trip to California to see my son graduate from the Marine boot camp in San Diego.  A few weeks prior, I was feeling this squeezing around my midriff and running down my left leg.  It kept getting more intense.  After a few days (or weeks) I mentioned this to a nurse practitioner at work.  She told me to go see my provider - NOW...  I went to my provider and he dx me with high blood pressure.  He hoped that getting my blood pressure controlled would take care of my symptoms.  He was also thinking that with the high BP - I may have had a small stroke.  Well, I went on my trip and the feelings of the tightness around my midriff and leg was so intense.  When I got off the plane and walking in the SanDiego airport I fell.  My friends helped me up.  I was not sure if I could even walk.  I told my daughter about this event and she called my doctor and got an appointment for me as soon as I returned.  I did go to that appointment and he saw how I had declined.  He referred me to a neurologist.  He said there is something more going on.  I went to the neurologist in November 2006 and he asked me - what I choose having an MRI or spinal tap.  Now - let's see pain or just being unconfortable for a short time.  Yes - I choose the MRI.  The MRI came back and I had numerous legions throughout my brain and spinal cord.  I was then given a series of IV steriods to help calm the nerves and put on various drugs for MS.  At that time, walking was very very difficult.  The nerves in my feet were constanting feeling like they were on fire.  I could not stand or walk anywhere only for short periods because being on my feet was so very painful.  It would also literally exhaust me!   I then started to research and learn about MS.  I started working on changing my nutrition and getting into exercise.  It was a slow progression.  I started with swimming since this was something I loved and would not be too intense on my legs and feet.  Then I started seriously changing my nutrition.  Over the course of the years, I have lost over 100 lbs.  I maintain a diet of whole foods, low-fat, non-red meat and very little meat at all, no processed foods.  I make my own bread and we eat either vegitarian meals or poultry/fish.  I also eat ALOT of raw foods (fruit and veggies).  This has made a HUGE difference for me.  Not just the weight loss but also with my symptoms.  It has really helped!!!!   Then there is the exercise.  People tell me I exercise too much.  They do not understand that the way my muscle atrophy and spasm that every time for me is like starting from the beginning.  I have to be very deligent about this.  I started with walking at the gym on the treadmill in 2009.  Now this also the first time in almost 4 years that I have been able to tolerate shoes on my feet.  The nerves in my feet were so damaged and over sensitive that putting shoes on was HORRIBLE!  I found I could only tolerate CROCS.  In 2009, I started walking on the treadmill with tennis shoes on (big accomplishment).  Then I was encouraged to take an aerobics class by the instructor.  I thought, what the heck - so I did it.  Now, mind you not perfectly and not in step with everyone else but I DID IT!!!  So I continued and continued...  I kept working on my nutrition and exercise.  Then last spring (2011) I even joined the local running club.  Now, mind you - look at where I have come from - also I am over 50 years old.  I did the local 5k that May - to my amazement I actually placed in my age group.  Plus, I actually ran about 1/2 of the route.  WOW!!!  I did local 5k all summer.  It was not till about mid-July that I could run a FULL 5k without walking.  Right now, I am training for a HUGE goal... To run a 10 MILE race in Stoughton WI.  I have been running all winter on the treadmill to try help train.  Daily I try to run.  I even joined a 1000 mile in a year group - I figured what the heck.  Plus, it is interesting to see how many miles I have logged in.  My hope and prayer is that others see this story and it helps them to progress.  I do not let MS have me... There are MANY times that I literally curse MS with many many not so nice words.  But MS does not deserve nice words.  I WILL NOT let it control me!!!!!  I need to be in control!!!!

The beginning....

Like everything, we need a beginning to our story.  I have not meet anyone with MS or any chronic disease that does not have a story.  So where do we start???  How about what is MS - Multiple Sclerosis?  To understand my story you need to know about MS.  MS is a chronic, neuromuscular disease, what happens is that my body is literally attacking and working on distroying the insulation (myelin) that wraps around the nerves.  This causes numerous difficulties - since your nerves go throughout your body and controls everything.  So what kinds of difficulties do I experience?  Chronic fatigue is one - everyone says you do to much that is why you are tired.  No it is not like that...  A wonderful MS described it the best in a graphic way...  image being in a public place where you know people and suddenly having a bowl accident on yourself - you are SO TIRED that you actually do not care.  Or watching an I Love Lucy episode feels like work.  Chronic fatigue is debilitating and very isolating.  There is the constant feeling that my legs, feet, and hands are "asleep".  This makes things hard to determine true feelings - such as being truly injured.  I once had to have 2 cavities filled and I am allergic to Novocaine.  My very nice country dentist did not have the special numbing medication on stock to fill my two cavities.  There were both very deep and one especially close to the nerve.  I told him to go a head and fill it without any medication.  I did not feel anything only a dull feeling of him working on the teeth.  He was AMAZED!  You may say - well that is a good thing.  Yes and no... The other side is actually and truly getting hurt and not being able to assess how severe the injury is.  Another symptom that I deal with is muscle spasms and spasticity.  Sometimes the spasms at night are very intense - I can literally find myself all shriveled up in a ball. It may actually take me up to 1/2 an hour to literally unfold myself so I can get out of bed.  Another symptom is the restless leg.  This is a feeling where your legs HAVE TO MOVE - it can happen at night or when needing to sit still for a prolong period of time.  There are so many symptoms I deal with daily from the feeling there are fire ants running up and down my legs, to not being able to control my bladder, to not being able to verbalize my thoughts, to getting confused when over stimulated, to feeling like you are in a fun house and everything is unsteady, feeling and getting off balance, to not being able to control motor skills - sometimes my legs decide not move, and more and more....  Yes - so now you have read this much - do you see why running is such a big deal.  Currently, I am training for a 10 mile race --- YES 10 mile race in May of this year.