Good Morning beloved ms Family. All are as well as can be expected this day. “YOU” like me do have a chronic progressive mysterious medical condition so I am not surprised that “YOU” may not have leaped out of bed, put on a 50Kilo (100 Pound) ruck sack and ran 10 miles. At least “YOU” got out of bed and that is a good start.
ms, Relapsing Remitting ms (RRms) in particular is a progressive disease. That does not mean that a wheelchair or being automatically bed ridden is in your future. 20+ years and it would have to be along way in my future, so do not panic, it is likely not to be in your future either. What will be in your future is likely ton be a slow gradual degradation of your abilities, to complete tasks, your skills. A little like old age I understand. Not necessarily always scary but most certainly frustrating.
I say this and suggest to “YOU” that your goal, being Newly Diagnosed (a Newby) is that “YOU take every opportunity to maintain yourself at what “YOU” have today. Be like a Scout, be prepared. Start doing things that “YOU” may have never considered having to do beforehand. Exercise as much as “YOU” can whenever “YOU” can. Let the ego go and head to a gym. Find out what times the sexy young people are there and go a different time so “YOU” are not intimidated. Get a personal trainer to show “YOU” how to do things. Your aim is not to have a body of an 18 year old, your aim is to maintain what “YOU” have for as long as “YOU”can. READ THAT AGAIN. MAINTAIN WHAT YOU HAVE FOR AS LONG AS YOU HAVE IT. Allow yourself to be prepared for anything that RRms may throw at “YOU” in the future. I always wear protective underwear when I leave the house. Not because I always need it but for that once a year that I do. I have a chin-up bar in my door, so I walk into my office and it is there. I do not use it everytime, but it is there. I am prepared and “YOU” need to be as well.
I remember a few years back on one of my many trips to Australia, I was asked where some utensil was in the kitchen. I paid attention over the years, and visualized where it was exactly to find it. If ever I could not see for a day I knew where to get something. My habits allowed me to find it. I was not helpless. I had designed and memorized my environmeant to support my needs. I know exactly where the toilets are in my four regular grocery stores. I know where to go when Need to go. I am prepared. It takes a little time to learn these things, but they are so very helpful. Open your eyes and make the effort to memorize things. There is no need to be totally helpless. The aim is to make yourself as able as “YOU” possibly can. NOT to be helpless and pitied. Be prepared as much as “YOU” can. Be a strong Sister or Brother, not a hopeless person left in a corner and ignored by the society that we live in.
The aim is to have nobody see your tears, to ask for and allow help on your terms. Never too have to be unable to help yourself. Not to be unable to do anything that "YOU” want to do. Do not allow yourself to slip away into the gloom of a chronic illness.
Royce (your ms writer and Brother)
Maintain yourself and always be prepared
