msers, to just be polite I have been strongly told that I should inform people a little about me. Basically, things that I am 'not" and how I come by my opinions and beliefs.
20 years having travelled this, my ms journey has given me the belief system that I have. I have learned that it can be rather scary at first, but most unforeseen life changes are rather scary. This is normal and part of the human condition. Life generally does not go the way I had planned it. At least not the first way maybe the sixth or seventh.
Having been strongly suggested that I should take Betaseron has turned out to be the smartest move I ever made. That can be read as given no choice by Mother and Grandmother, I was at their place in the beginning. Maybe the second, she who must be obeyed is really the first and I will admit that in public. Losing the x and moving back in with my Mother was traumatic at the time but did turn out to be really good. Changing countries was good as well. Situations that were rather difficult at first really did turn out to be beneficial. Needles that really do scare me turned out to be a very good thing. I changed once to interferon beta 1a (Rebif) but it hurt too much so I went back to 1b, Betaseron, but I did not stop. Disease Modifying Therapy (DMT) will not cure me but it will at least slow ms down a little.
Over time I developed an attitude or belief system that allowed me to cope with my ms. I was told that everybody's ms was different. I did not understand this so I learned what I could about the central nervous system (CNS) I think I have forgotten most of it now, but I can always go back and relearn, such are the joys of multiple sclerosis (ms) I learned that putting ms in capitals and spelling it out gave it strength. ms is easier to say and type than the other way. "YOU" are important so "YOU" get capitals, I am not yelling at "YOU" merely saying that "YOU" whoever "YOU" may be are important to me. Silly I know but it is one of my "MANY" coping strategies. ms is sneaky so if I can develop techniques that help me cope, I feel I am winning a little. Lots and lots of small victories make me stronger so that I can cope with the unfortunate parts of this illness.
My attitude has become one of being a chess master, constantly learning and adapting myself to thwart every move that ms makes against me. I do not see it as a monster, though some do. Relapsing-Remitting ms (RRms) is not a monster to me, merely an annoying inconvenience that I do not understand. I will not give it the strength of being a monster that I constantly fight against. 50 or 60 years of fighting I am not sure that I can do, but a few moves to thwart an episode, a few new habits. That I can do. I have found that a philosophy like this is easier and allows me to make gradual changes. Gradual changes are easier than major ones. So that I can build me back up slowly, one piece at a time.
This is a long-term disease, I have to take a loooong term view. ms can not be solved in the nest financial quarter, so I do not try. Everything a loooong term view. That is part of my philosophy, perhaps it helps "YOU" understand why I say what I say. I will say that I am not trained in any way shape or form as a professional anything in this disease. A professional pilot once. but really does not help very much with ms.
I hope that this rather long-winded explanation does help "YOU" understand that, opinionated chap "Royce" that "YOU" see in your inbox every day.
This I enjoy and can do. There is somebody somewhere who finds my words a little helpful in their day, and that is my goal. To help just one person for just one minute. Just once, I expect no more.
Your friendly Royce.
Just one person
My letter to the “normals.”
