Dear Diary - December 2024

Dear Diary:

I've been dealing with a recurring comorbidity much of the last month.  Interesting word, comorbidity.  The Oxford dictionary defines it as:  "the simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions in a patient."  When I look at the word, I see "co-" and "morbid" which translates in my mind as, "with" and "gross-ness."  I'm no linguist, but I think someone could have come up with a term that doesn't sound as gruesome.

Two new prescriptions later, x-rays and a referral to physical therapy, I am hopeful that this persistent issue can once again be coaxed into submission. 

When I was first diagnosed, I was very unclear about what was MS and what wasn't MS.  I didn't know what to expect and I don't think my medical team did either, long-term.  And rightly so.  MS is such an unpredictable disease.  Although my first neurologist did not think I would become gravely disabled, I didn't believe her (and truthfully, I still don't).  She also said during those early years of RRMS, that I could have a "relapse from hell" so things could change dramatically.  I also didn't know what symptoms might be considered "red flags" that should be quickly addressed.  So consequently I sounded the alarm pretty frequently.  

Comorbidities can and will occur with MS.  Our bodies succumb to lots of medical issues and can accommodate multiples.  Lucky us.  Don't discount the "normal aging" stuff because it's a reality that everyone has to come to terms with.  Lifestyle choices can cause lots of other irritating issues over time.  With the population at large spending hours on devices, staring into their hands, slouched at a desk, you can rest assured neck pain and low back problems will increase.  Now, let's add MS or any other chronic disease and, voila!  Co-morbid yuck is upon you!

I think the important thing for me has been how to recognize what symptoms are not MS but be aware of their impact on MS issues I have like balance, gait or cognition.

The first advocate and care-taker is me.  My neurologist's advice in 2005 when I asked her how I should approach managing my life with MS was, "... understand your needs and limitations."

Love Letter - November 2024

Dear MS Friends:

Now that we are headed into winter and the early darkness of the season, it’s a good time to be more aware of your mood.  Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that occurs during specific seasons; usually fall and winter.

Depression is very common in people who live with MS.  Living with MS often means not knowing how or if your body will function when you need it to.  That uncertainty gets reinforced by all the annoying symptoms and sensations that the human nervous system can produce.  The MS body can be unpredictable, unreliable and uncooperative.  Not what you signed up for, right?   There are no replacement parts and the service department can't guarantee repairs.

The good news is, depression is treatable.  What might be more difficult to overcome is the stigma associated with anything perceived as even vaguely mental health related.  So here's a cliche for you:  It's okay to not be okay.  Don't let shame or pride keep you from enjoying life.

There are plenty of tried and true remedies to help boost low mood that don't require a prescription or a stiff drink!  Think about the things you enjoy and seek them out.  Music?  Nature?  A good movie?  Books?  That hobby you keep stashed in the closet?  Make a mess.  Smile.  Be good to yourself.

Here's a flagrant plug for exercise - get some endorphins on board.  I know, I know .....  but hear me out.  Moving, in whatever way possible for you, is helpful in combating depression.  Physical therapists can facilitate an exercise program for you.  With some consistency and time there can be great benefit.  No need to join a gym or become a weekend warrior.  The most mundane activities of daily living can be effective too. 

 
Endorphins can also: 

• "Reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression
• Improve moods
• Boost self-esteem
• Support cognitive function
• Promote immune system health
• Reduce inflammation
• Regulate appetite
• Improve sleep"

Depressed mood, anxious ruminating and worry will aggravate symptoms that you would otherwise be able to ignore.  If you find yourself gravitating to worse-case-scenarios and catastrophizing it's a habit you'll want to reign in.  Are you spending your downtimes of the day searching the web for the health condition that's going to kill you?  C'mon now...... cut it out.

Smiling Can Trick Your Mind Into Being More Positive

MS and Vets

Mood Changes in Multiple Sclerosis  

MS and Depression

Exercise and Stress

If all your best self-care strategies fail you, it might be time to talk to your health care provider and take steps to help pull you out of the dumps.