What a lovely day it is today. The sun is shining, and a breeze is blowing, gently. My back hurts, and I peed myself at the gym this morning, but it is a really nice day. I am alive, my aches and pains are due to my silliness, I am sure of that. Poor form at the gym leads to my backache. I am not sixteen anymore, and I should not try to lift so heavy a weight. My ego does get in the way, and I know better ,not to do these things. It is fun to try though, and I accept the consequences.
A lot of my actions have negative consequences. Is this because I have Relapsing-Remitting ms (RRms), or is because I am a hard-headed, stubborn older (50) man. Your guess is as good as mine. I am going with the stubborn hard-headed old bloke. Not everything is RRms as much as "YOU", or I would like to blame it. Sometimes it is merely us making dumb decisions. That is not a bad thing if we learn from it. It only becomes dumb if we keep doing the same thing again and again and expect a different result. If we do not learn from our mistakes, learn a different way to achieve our goals. RRms is an enormous learning experience if "YOU" let it be, of course, your choice is to ignore it and suffer the various consequences of this condition. As always, my ms sisters and brothers it is your choice.
I might suggest that "YOU" do a lot of research and learn about this condition. There can be a lot of negative things that MAY happen in RRms, but most certainly they do not all have to happen to "YOU". Progression of our illness is not guaranteed. Secondary Progressive ms (SPms) is supposed to happen after RRms. Twenty years and it has not happened to me yet. I have heard that wheelchairs and mobility aids can be permanent, she who must be obeyed went from her scooter to driving a car again. Never give up upon yourself. If something stops working, give it a little time to calm down and find a way around your problem. Act like a research scientist, an investigator. Look, look do not stop looking until "YOU" get the result that "YOU" wish to have. Do not cheat merely find a different way to get from point A to point D. There are lots of different ways to do things. Having RRms, for potentially years and years of your long life gives "YOU" an opportunity to find new ways. Not every mountain in our way has o be climbed. Sometimes a turn to the left or right, and a walk around the base of the mountain ends up with the same result.
Because we have RRms does not condemn us to a life of permanent unhappiness and suffering. Make the choice to do what "YOU" have to, to make your life the best one that "YOU" can possibly have.
Royce (the ms writer)
RRms is doable
