I am not a trained medical professional. The advice I give is based on my 20+ years as a male with this condition and She Who Must Be Obeyed 23+ years living with ms
G’day my ms family. The end of another week, where does the time go. I can say that because old people say it and I am thinking that being 50+ I am now officially old. Okay, I was asked today by a new family member (newbie) about what may lay ahead and is a wheelchair a likelihood, I will answer them and anybody else that may need to hear this.
The easy answer is NO, categorically and most definitively NO. A Diagnosis (dx) of Relapsing-Remitting ms (RRms) does not in 2020 mean that a wheelchair is in your future. Does not have to mean, it may but it is not guaranteed. What is in your future is years of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) to slow the progression of your illness, a wide and varied range of symptom relief medicine and tears. I am a huge fan of crying to help release the pain a little. This is a Central Nervous System (CNS) disease so your emotions will be all over the place, so let yourself cry when “YOU” feel the need, I most certainly did and have.
When you are first diagnosed (Dx’d) “YOU” have a thousand things to do. Firstly and perhaps most importantly is starting on a DMT. I suggest in my non-medical opinion Ocrevus. It is the strongest and “YOU” want to start at the strongest, if “YOU” have to change then change. It is easier going downhill than up in my opinion. All of the medicine has some sort of side-effect, all medicines do and DMT is serious medicine, very serious. Do not fret about side- effects, ask about them, but do not base your decision upon fear of them. Frequently an antihistamine or panadol can solve the problem. I took Benadryl for years with my first DMT, mostly from fear of the dreaded headaches. Actually taking it with dinner eased any problem but I still took Benadryl.
I have found the best way to keep out of a wheelchair is exercise, I walk around a lot. I am not totally steady and do feel the want to sit, but I am writing this at my standing desk which I have used for the last ten years or so. I wear in public Depends, ms bladder and bowel issues are an ms inconvenience for me. I do not wear them at home but going out I do. I know where the toilet (bathroom) is at all my usual stores. RRms has never held me back and it shouldn’t “YOU”. If “YOU” have to achieve something set your mind to it and achieve it. What holds “YOU” back is “YOU”. Not this illness, “YOU” can still achieve your dreams with some modification and willingness to let your ego go. “YOU” will fail, “YOU” will humiliate and embarrass yourself that is life and if one day, IF, “YOU” use a scooter or wheelchair it is not so bad, do it on your terms, and be at ease with it. Be careful what “YOU” believe and what “YOU” let worry “YOU”. This is a very confusing condition, nobody has all the answers. The best meaning people, me included, can be wrong. Take your DMT, eat healthily stop smoking, drink a little less, exercise a lot more and just live your life calmly and observantly.
Royce (your ms writer)
if I did not answer your question or if you have more personal message me. Do not fret YOU can do ms it just will take a little adaption
