MS Update

Ahh! So this is what it's like to reacquaint oneself with adequately working mental faculties again. Deep breath in...and out...much better!

After a fairly exhaustive few weeks, I finally made the plunge into cane-hood and kind of wish I had done it sooner. It takes much less energy to walk when I have something to help support myself, whether it's because my leg is feeling weak or because I feel off-balance, and I've found that I am able to get around quicker and more easily now.

Since it's been rough going MS-wise lately, I went through another round of steroids last week. All five days were done on an IV so that I wouldn't have to follow up with anything orally. This round was different than the first in some big ways, although that probably has a lot do with how I was feeling at the beginning. I was exhausted this time and had no trouble sleeping. In fact, I spent most of the week more tired than I was before I started the treatment. I did still take some hefty sleeping pills for the bulk of the treatment, though, just in case. I also felt really, pretty down all week, but I've rebounded since then. Finally, my back and neck feel horribly bruised, which, while I can't say specifically is related, my nurse said that anything "weird" can be blamed on the steroids, so there, that's what I'm blaming it on. ^_^

Perhaps the best part of the week was the Vampire Hunter D novel that I read during my treatments. I can gush and gush about D as anyone who knows me knows, but this book was by far the best that's been translated yet and it is going to be a long few months until the next one is released in March. It's a four part novel being released in two parts so I finished this book right in the middle of the story! Man...I have to wait how long? Agh! I have to know what's going to happen. I can't possibly wait...I just can't....

Okay, enough about D and back to me...My evening meds are kicking in so my living room is starting to spin around me. Guess I should make this quick. ^_-

My legs are still bothering me - both with weakness and pain this weekend. The pain started a few weeks ago and tends to settle into my hips and knees with some burning and cramping in the muscles. I expect it'll take some time for the steroids to help, but I am hopeful. My doctor wasn't 100% that the treatment would help with my cognitive issues (more with the legs), but I've noticed a lot of improvement. I'm not nearly as spacey, my memory has been better, and I haven't been struggling for words or to form a coherent thought without losing it along the way. I haven't been tiring as easily as before and I don't really feel as exhausted as I did. I've been able to sit still without feeling restless and actually took a nap yesterday! Not only that, but I stayed in bed after my nap, finished my VHD book, and then fell asleep at 8pm and slept until morning! I haven't slept a whole night through that well in months. And on a Saturday night no less...I actually DVR'd my cartoons instead of staying up to watch them. I'm still having vertigo issues, but dramine usually works, so if it persists I'll just go back to that. The tremor in my right hand has been worse, but my nurse said the steroids could be aggravating that, so hopefully it'll subside a bit this week. Oh, and we had already increased my gabapentin a few weeks back to help with an increase in headaches, so I should also note that my headaches are better and that additional relief should come with the steroids, too.

On Tuesday, I'll meet with a physical therapist for official cane stuff. She'll evaluate my needs and go over the proper techniques for walking with one. I know I'm not using it correctly, but I do have issues in my left arm that have caused some problems with using it the proper way. Hopefully, she'll be able to address everything and get me on my merry way. At least for now I'm getting along okay.

Finally, some kitty news. Jonny's been in the house for 3 weeks now and he's settling into indoor life. He's found a snuggle buddy in my husband and enjoys sleeping on his side of the bed. Lucien is horribly jealous of him when he gets near me (his eyes widen as he frantically rushes over with a little pink mouth crying for attention). Oof! Speak of the little devil, he just jumped on my stomach! Little Lu isn't so little anymore! Well, at any rate, Jonny still has a lot of adjusting to do, but he's coming along fine. We've discovered that cars on the tv scare him when they're driving toward the screen (or in his mind, him), so he runs away from them. Other than that, he's fascinated by the tv and watches it frequently. Other than the sad reminders of his old outdoor life (such as running from real cars), it's cute to watch him discover things about indoor life. He seems happy at least. It'd be nice if we could keep him from killing all the toys, though. There is a sad, sad trail of fur and stuffing down the hallway. It doesn't matter if it's the catnip sack, Neko's mice (most of which are naked now), or Lucien's pipe cleaners. Jonny loves to play. He will play with anything and he will rip it to shreds in the process. Poor Sake's scratching post has been around for years and after a few weeks with Jonny is on its way out. I suppose having a Christmas tree will interesting. Will all those ribbons, lights, and ornaments survive our energetic Jonny? I suppose we'll find out on Friday.

Happy thanksgiving!