Post 706 RRms is a lifelong experience 25 Pct 2020

[RoyceNewton]

Good morning and good Sunday to “YOU’ all, my beloved ms family. A good nights rest and few if no Relapsing-Remitting ms (RRms) gremlins annoying your sleep I hope. Be gentle with yourself. They really do go away, eventually. One day “YOU” will look back and say “WOW, I was scared, I cried BUT I got through it”. “YOU” will, “YOU” can. What “YOU” look like and what “YOU” are when “YOU” come out the other end is up to “YOU” but rest assured “YOU” WILL. “YOU” take Disease-Modifying Therapy(DMT) to reduce your relapses. In 20+ years of this illness YOU” WILL come out the other end, but “YOU” will find no miracle cure. Feel free to look hard for it. Do not bankrupt yourself trying to find it.

RRms is lifelong. I will tell “YOU” that there is no cure. Yes, there are treatments. Some better, some worse. Some involve needles (my own personal fear), some involve tablets, ALL have side effects. Everything has a side effect. Life has a side effect, death. “YOU” do realize that don’t “YOU”? Pick the medicine that “YOU” can tolerate that has the lowest annual relapse rate. This is the most effective and what “YOU” want to achieve. “YOU” take DMT to reduce your relapses. To get worse slower.

I started on DMT within 6 or so months of being diagnosed (Dx’D) and I have been on it none stop for the last 20+ years. I have changed my medicine three times, but I have never missed a day. Take your condition that seriously and with that determination to do what “YOU” can to manage your illness and stay on your two feet.

There will be setbacks, “YOU” make progress and get worse. Take heart, that is the nature of this disease. We do not know where it came from, why we have it or to how to make it go away. BUT “YOU” can live with it. Not everything is gone from your life. Some things, sadly are. I will never fly again, I will never dance until 2 am, again BUT I have found other great things in my life, and so will “YOU” I know “YOU” are sad, unhappy, in despair for a decision on where to turn next. between the tears rest assured that with a little sensible action on your part “YOU” most assuredly CAN live with this illness. Go easy on yourself, take your time “YOU” will get through this.

“YOU” will find your path. “YOU” CAN do this. HONEST, relax, cry hard, do your research then forget it. “YOU” my ms sibling are going to live with this condition. I have, others have and “YOU” are going to as well.

Royce (the ms writer and your ms brother)

believe in yourself as I believe in YOU. YOU CAN do this

[Sandydemop]

Thanks Royce for writing so consistently. Are you OK?

[RoyceNewton in reply to Sandydemop]

Mostly yes I think just a little sad

[Sandydemop in reply to RoyceNewton]

I was thinking you sounded sad but I didn't want to say anything first. It sucks to feel sad but it probably lifted by now I hope.

[Amore55]

May I ask, why do you always capitalize the word you?

[RoyceNewton in reply to Amore55]

Because my sister YOU are what is important and YOU should never forget it

[Violonchelo]

Yes, It is true. And now , because of the covid19, we have doctors and nurses without time .

[RoyceNewton in reply to Violonchelo]

the world upside down turned on its head

[twooldcrows]

you always can write all the right things to put others at ease ...sure hope they do take the time to read your posts for they are the truth and always can help people to understand our new lives with this but again we do go on and can still live a great life ...i also have been on several medicines but ha they are so much better now and don't have to use that needle that was my biggest bad thing about this stuff but now it is only twice a year and it is given by a nurse in the hospital ...love the infusion ....been on meds for it since 2004....feel great and do and love life ....take care and thank you for telling others that it can be managed ....love and much happiness....

[jorrell]

Royce, you always seem to find the right things to say, that is a talent that so many people lack, including myself .I have done the past dozen or so years with RRMS, even before I knew I had it. I will say that for the past 10 or so years I have only had minor relapses, but you have to remember MS is "sneaky" as it appears that I have come out of RRMS and slipped very gradually into SPMS. The difference now is an ever so slight degradation over time vs. getting out of bed in the morning followed by a spontaneous face plant (I got an award for that!).

The definition of what stage you are in is just a label, it does not define you, or anyone else, it just means we keep fighting and stay strong to enjoy the good times and help others when we can.