G’Day family. I hope everybody is well today. I was going to go to the gym, but changed my mind. It is to hot outside and with all this China virus garbage (my opinion) I just stayed home. “YOU” can translate that to being lazy and I am fine with that. Sometimes a lack of motivation to do anything is fine. I have no children, no responsibilities ex kept to “YOU” and that is self imposed. So doing nothing is very okay.
That leads me to todays talk. “YOU” my sister or brother are responsible for yourself. Yes, to the best of our knowledge we did not choose to have ms, in any form. When I am being spiritual I would argue that, but that is another talk we might have one day. No, “YOU” have been diagnosed (Dx’D) with ms, any form. NOW, it is your and only your responsibility what happens next.
Option 1, sit in a cold dark corner and whine, cry and do nothing, not real effective in my opinion.
Option 2, CRY, but slowly devise a plan for your new life. I did this way back when.
Option 3, DENY DENY DENY, some do it. I am not sure that this works out in the long run.
I am responsible for me as “YOU” are for “YOU. Nobody will take away the pain and questioning at 3am in the dark of a sleepless night. We have to take responsibility or suffer the consequences. With that responsibility WE must choose our ms treatment. Of course we are choosing Disease-Modifying Therapy (DMT), Which one there are many, today. The strongest that “YOU” can get, Ocrevus, and I believe there is a new one that somebody mentioned yesterday. The older drugs, Avonex, Beta seron\feron rebid, tecfidera copaaxone have a longer history but are less effective in reducing relapses rate. So “YOU might want to look at the two newer ones I mentioned. “YOU” are taking responsibility for yourself, so do your research. If “YOU” do not understand what “YOU” are reading, ASK. Open your mouth and ASK. Chances are that “YOU” are not a fifty year trained Neurologist specializing in ms in all its forms. SO ASK, and keep asking until the right words are said for “YOU” to understand. Something I learned long ago, just because “YOU” explain something to me, if I do not understand that does not diminish me. “YOU” or whoever need to explain the problem again in different words until I understand, that is an explanation. Read it again and remember it.
Ms is new to “YOU”, if the first explanation does not make sense to “YOU, perhaps the 5th or 20th with different words will. Do not merely accept the first answer and follow along like a sheep to slaughter. ASK until “YOU” understand. This is your life, “YOU” are ultimately responsible for it. “YOU” and nobody else suffers if “YOU” make decisions based upon things “YOU” have no knowledge of. Read a book, contact msAA the NmsS and learn about your illness. Personally I try to avoid books written by ms people which are not based in science and research. I will tell “YOU” often. Take your DMT as directed, eat, exercise, smoke and drink less and “accept that there will be changes and “YOU” will come to terms with your life with ms. It will be a bumpy path, “YOU” WILL MAKE MISTAKES, BUT.
“YOU” can come to terms with this illness. “YOU” do NOT have to give up everything in your life.. Some things must be put on hold for a little while, but if something is important to “YOU”, after things have stabilized a little maybe “YOU”. Or perish the thought try something new. Funny thing, I thought I was a pilot and now look at me. I have written to “YOU” a 650+ page book, and it still goes on.
Believe in yourself. Take some time to ground yourself, to reestablish “YOU” then go forward, live your life. Be content even happy
Royce (your ms writer and brother)
ms will not kill you, it will change you, even make you stronger