How I do it… living with multiple sclerosis
MS invaded my life without my permission. It simply moved in and took over. It’s not something I can simply choose to no longer have around. If only it were that simple. To just say to MS, “Get lost.”
Author Archive for: penelope
Entries by Penelope Conway
Not being able to communicate can be frustrating
I lose words more than I lose my car keys…and they’re harder to find too. I think conversations with me are more like a game of charades than actual conversations. I’m sure it frustrates those I’m talking too as they try guessing the word I’m fumbling around in search of. It can become quite comical too as I point, make hand motions and slap my leg in an attempt to help the process along.
Be a butterfly soaring in the wind
Do you ever feel weird? Like you are not normal…if there is such a thing? I know I sure do. I tend to think differently than most people. I find humor in just about everything. If you hung out with me, you would find me laughing at dropping my plate full of food on the floor, joking about falling over while sitting and putting on my socks, and giggling because I lost my keys for the hundred-millionth time.
You can’t control multiple sclerosis
Living with multiple sclerosis isn’t as easy as some people make it seem. It’s not like I can will my body into behaving or talk my muscles into working. Mine seem to have revolted all on their own.
We are living with a forever disease
We live in a messed up world in a messed up body with a messed up disease, so when things get messed up around us…why are we so surprised? Don’t let the messes mess up your day.
I was born a fighter
I may not wear a cape,
have my initials emblazoned across my chest
or leap tall buildings in a single bound
but I do wear pajamas even on my good days
and fall faster than the speed of light.
Don’t judge, that’s just the tools I have to work with.
The struggles dealing with multiple sclerosis
I call the struggles we go through in our life with multiple sclerosis “storms.” Storms because although they have the potential to turn our lives upside down, send everything into chaos and create massive devastation, they never last forever. Every storm has an end, no matter how fierce or destructive it may be.
The choice is yours
When was the last time you struggled with a choice? Maybe it was at the doctor’s office looking over different MS treatment options.
Are you feeling better?
I don’t know if people realize how difficult being asked “Are you feeling better” is to answer. Am I feeling better than what? How I was feeling yesterday? Last year? Five minutes ago?
Yes, Multiple Sclerosis Is Real
Most days it seems I am fighting a never-ending battle. There are times I wake up thinking all is good and that the spinning is gone, but as soon as I get up and start going about my day…boom, it’s back.
1. Simplify your life.2. Watch your thoughts. What goes in, comes out.
3. Surround yourself with positive people.
4. Take time for yourself, even if it means saying "no" to others.
5. Be grateful, laugh and celebrate life.
6. Think more about what you have as opposed to what you don't have.
7. Help others.