WHAT OUR DOCTORS DID'NT TELL US ABOUT STEROIDS

Valorie Diamond, Columnist, MSnewsChannel.com  

I was diagnosed in February of 1997. That year I had two flares that caused me to go into the hospital for 5 days of IV steroids. That was 900mg a day. The first time in June of that year and then again that year (was in the hospital when Princess Diana died). Well shortly after I got out I started having issues with my walking. I would take a step and fall to the ground from the pain that just hit me with that step. I never knew when this was going to happen and let me tell you that is very scary.

So I went to my Neurologist and he thought that I might have some tendonitis going on. So he told me to take anti-inflammatory medication for about 3 weeks and see if that helped. Well in three weeks I was back in his office and we were discussing what to do. We decided to send me to an Orthopedic doctor. So in the next couple of weeks I went and he did x-rays and said that he needed to do an MRI to confirm his thoughts. So it was scheduled and I returned to his office a couple of days after.

WHY DID MS HAVE TO TAKE MY SUMMER AWAY FROM ME?

I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year! I love the outdoors and want to be out there with everyone else enjoying the summer, but cannot because of the heat. If you want to see someone that is totally useless that is me after about an hour outside in the heat. Even 75 degrees is to much for me anymore.

I used to spend all summer outside doing things, tanning and just having fun. But because of my MS I can no longer do that. I feel like a hermit in the summer. Yeah I have a cooling vest but it only lasts 2 hrs if it isn't over 90 degrees. But here it gets in the triple digits all summer.

I really miss the outdoors. All winter I am outside without a jacket because I love it! I flourish then. Why did MS have to take the summer away from me? I even had to put an air conditioner in our kitchen so I could can! Now who does that? People with MS that love to can and summertime!!!

I guess we learn to adapt to what the MS has taken from us. I just wish I could enjoy summer again!

MY COLUMN INCLUDES TIPS THAT HELP ME DEAL WITH MS

I have found over the years (diagnosed in 97) that you have to learn to go with the flow.  If you get a new symptom don't panic as that will only make it worse. I call my Doctor and go in and see him and tell him what is going on. Now mind you don't think that everything that happens to you is related to you MS because it isn't.

EDUCATE YOURSELF! The more you know the less likely you are to panic when something new happens. Some people prefer not to know what could happen and that's fine because not

EVERYTHING is going to happen to you.  But educating yourself about symptoms, treatments and new research are powerful tools to help you through this.

This next thing is my personal way of handling what MS has done to my life.

I don't sweat the small stuff. I have a good day and I will push my limits. I am going to have a life regardless of what the MS thinks. I pay for it the next day when I do push it but I can honestly say that I have lived my life like I want to. 

I am not letting MS take that away from me. Yeah, it may not be what I envisioned for myself when I was younger but it is still living. And I will do whatever I need to do to do that. Life is short enough as it is. And always remember you are not alone. We are here to help you through the rough patches!!

HugZ