Living with MS: I have MS for 23 years. I... - My MSAA Community

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Living with MS

BABYFACE3 profile image
26 Replies

I have MS for 23 years. I was in a wheelchair for a few years in terrible pain, but now I'm much better. I'm disabled, but I have use of my arms and legs now. I was told to get out of the cold weather of New York, so my husband and I were lucky enough to move to Florida. It took many years of good doctors, lots of medicine, and an IV every 3 weeks in the hospital to keep me strong to fight the MS. I do get fatigued, but I do take vitamins to help that. If I do too much a day I feel great, I sleep late the next day, and relax. I'm on a few medication's morning and night. I am on a Pain Patch which helps me with the pain, but it never really goes away. I try and be a positive person. I recently became a Widow, so I've been dealing with that. The worst is over, and I just need to take care of myself now. I MS friends to talk to. You understand what it'slike going thru the ups and downs of our lives with MS. My normal friends don't understand why I have to sleep so much, have to stay on my diet re: inflammation. Also have trouble getting to sleep, and have so much pain, but look so good to them.

I'd like to find a meeting near where I live in Florida.

Thank you for reading this, and please say hi to me.

DIANNE

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BABYFACE3
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26 Replies
Kit10 profile image
Kit10

Hi and welcome

goatgal profile image
goatgal

Try contacting a local chapter of the National MS Society (or the MS Society of America. (MSAA) which sponsors our forum. Both have websites and 800 numbers; they can answer your question. Visit with us here as well. Though we are a virtual community, you may find friends here. Many of us have.

BABYFACE3 profile image
BABYFACE3 in reply to goatgal

Thank you for your suggestions goatgal. I will get in touch. Hope you have a good day.

Greentime profile image
Greentime

Sounds like you have had to deal with a lot! I am sorry for the loss of your husband. I hope you find a group.

BABYFACE3 profile image
BABYFACE3 in reply to Greentime

Thank you for taking the time to say hello . I'll keep looking for a group, but will get

busy answering some of these wonderful people on MS sites. Hope you have a good

weekend. babyface 3

CatsandCars profile image
CatsandCars

Welcome!

BABYFACE3 profile image
BABYFACE3 in reply to CatsandCars

Thank you for your Hello! I'm a dog person, but one of my daughter's loves cats.

Hope you have a good weekend. Pain free would be nice!

CatsandCars profile image
CatsandCars in reply to BABYFACE3

Pets definitely add to our quality of life. You have a good weekend, too!

falalalala profile image
falalalala

Welcome!

BABYFACE3 profile image
BABYFACE3 in reply to falalalala

Thanks for your Welcome. It's nice to get some replies. My MS is calling out to

new friends. Just taking one day at a time. It's a beautiful day today. I'll be taking

my little dog out for a walk. That will give me some exercise. Have a good weekend.

Babyface 3

falalalala profile image
falalalala in reply to BABYFACE3

Thanks! You too!

mrsmike9 profile image
mrsmike9

Hi from Indiana!

Tazmanian profile image
Tazmanian

Welcome

DM0329 profile image
DM0329

Welcome! I've been living with MS for thirty years now. Fortunately, pain hasn't been a constant symptom for me; it's just sometimes a twitch or two of pain from neuropathy or spasticity.

I'm sorry that your husband has passed away. You seem to have accepted that he is in a better place now and that you are coping well.

I'm confident that the resources at MSAA can help you with any concerns that you may have. The MSAA Chat here is a wonderful resource for information, guidance, venting and laughing. Folks here get it. I stumbled across this site a few years ago and the comradery here has been great.

Again, welcome! 😇🙏🙂🤞

Fancy59 profile image
Fancy59CommunityAmbassador

Hello and welcome to our family BABYFACE3. The phone number for the National MS Society is 1800-FIGHTMS. That number will direct you to your regional chapter. And they can tell you about local chapters, et cetera. I would suggest you check into an MS walk in the spring because that is a great way to find people with MS in your area. Last but not least, check with your neurologist. Between the neurologist and the Physical therapist in the office they should know of different groups that are in the area. Where ever you go and whatever you decide, don't forget to remember us. We're always here. We have many people who have been in the chat room for years and consider each other dear and life long friends. There's no saying you can't have local friends and long distance friends in the chat room. Above all else remember together we are stronger! Fancy59.

anaishunter profile image
anaishunter

Hi and welcome. It looks like you've had your hands full. I hope the future will be kind to you after so much.

Warm welcome to this community. We're all in this MS nightmare together.

Raingrrl profile image
Raingrrl

Welcome! I’m sorry for your loss. It sounds like you have a good grip on how to handle your MS. It’s always so interesting to me that some MS’ers can handle the heat of places like Florida but for others, like me, heat is an enemy to avoid. (Especially humid heat.)

hairbrain4 profile image
hairbrain4

Welcome & sorry for your loss. MS can be hard when you have help but much harder when alone. Were here when you need to talk, laugh, or even vent.

lbenmaor profile image
lbenmaor

Welcome to our group!

Leslie

Keyamodifyallday profile image
Keyamodifyallday

Well that's different… I am heat sensitive I would never dream of living in Florida! It'll be like Fish out of water every time I woke up. Kudos to you though Florida is a beautiful place! Great scenery helps because MS can be pretty dark! Enjoy your weekend

ummyasmeen profile image
ummyasmeen

Hi I like your picture

AquaZumbaFan profile image
AquaZumbaFan

Hi and welcome.. I really feel this is a good group of people who are respectful of each other’s opinions and stories.. hope you find locally what you need but this forum really has helped me not feel so alone with MS..after many years of keeping it a “ secret “ for as long as I could so I wouldn’t be pitied or my children wouldn’t be treated differently.. now we put it on the porch and give it a cocktail- in other words I no longer try to hide any of the symptoms or the disease.. I’m now comfortable in my own skin 😊

twooldcrows profile image
twooldcrows

welcome and thank you for joining this great bunch of people of all ages and sexes ...we do enjoy life in many ways and families ...love and happiness filled days during our journey with MS ...sometimes not great but ha it is our life...enjoy it...

1yoyo profile image
1yoyo

Try B Complex and or magnesium

kycmary profile image
kycmary

Hi Diane my name is Mary I have RRMS for 30 yrs come March 2024, sorry you are having a tough time. I am sending up prayers for you as I write this. Hope you get to feeling better soon. Mary

Mollyabigail profile image
Mollyabigail

Hi, Dianne! My youngest son and his wife live in Crestview (panhandle), FL. Are you anywhere near there? So glad you are here! Welcome!

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