Changes.

When I first started having problems, I was so used to being fit and capable that it was really hard for me to manage "the new me." However, over time as the symptoms progressed I naturally adapted. Because I am hoping to see a neurologist soon, I've been paying attention to how I manage things with the hopes of better explaining my life to him/her. Little things that I didn't even realize I was doing have been coming to my attention. Here are a few examples.

I have a lot of problems with balance. I used to be a pro in the kitchen (literally), however MS has stopped that. As things have been progressing, my duties in the kitchen have become less and less. When I am in the kitchen, however, I recently noticed that I lean against the counters for support. If I need to bend over to get something out of a lower cabinet, I hold on to the counter while bending. When I'm at the stove, I hold on to the over door handle. I never stand or walk unassisted. When did I start doing this? No clue. But that's what I do all the time without thinking. 

I have a big problem walking down stairs or walking on uneven surfaces. Recently I noticed how I walk down the stairs: I hold on for dear life and spend all of my brain energy making sure my feet and legs are doing what they should be doing. This attention was definitely heightened when I sprained my ankle because of these issues. I no longer carry anything down the stairs, but am comfortable enough carrying some things up the stairs.

For the uneven surfaces, like say walking to the pasture or barn, I use a walking stick. This helps tremendously.

My right side is very weak. I noticed I lift up my right thigh to clear my right foot (so it does not drag on the ground and cause me to trip). This gets worse and worse as the day goes on, which causes my left side to start hurting from the extra weight. This is amplified even more when I sprained my left ankle. It sure would have been convenient if it were my right ankle (the bad side) instead of the left (the good side)!! This has prolonged the healing of the sprain. 6 months after the fact and it's still in pain and often visibly swollen.

Along with my right side weakness - I've noticed that when going up the stairs I do this "step, clunk, step, clunk, step, clunk" thing. I automatically put as little weight as possible on the right leg and then kind of hop up as quick as I can on to my left (that's where the "clunk" comes in). At the same time, I use my hands on either side to help pull me up.

There are other things too, but that's all I have time for today.

5-27-18 Update

Has it really been almost 3 years since I've last posted on this blog? It was really interesting for me to read through all of the previous posts; thankfully there are not too many, so it was quick.

In the past 3 years not much has changed EXCEPT everything has gotten worse. More progression. Still no visit to the neuro, and still no official diagnosis. I am still really leaning towards PPMS, but am now committed to seeing an MS Specialist once I get insurance. I'll update on that when I know more.

Why PPMS? Well, let's look at the definition of RRMS from the National MS Society:

Clearly defined attacks of new or increasing neurological symptoms. These attacks are followed by periods of partial or complete recovery (remissions). During remissions, all symptoms may completely disappear, or some symptoms may continue and become permanent. However, there is no apparent progression of the disease during the periods of remission.  

That is 100% not me. Either I have PPMS, SPMS, or something else, but not RRMS. I can pretty much rule out SPMS though, since it follows RRMS ... if I've never had RRMS, then why would I have SPMS? Or maybe I'm wrong?

It is said that in PPMS lesions do not necessarily appear in the brain, but usually there will be some spinal chord activity sooner or later. I am going to make sure the new neuro does an MRI of the spine as well as the brain.

Hopkinsmedicine.org has this to say:

PPMS is identified by steadily worsening neurologic functions in the beginning without distinct relapses (attacks or exacerbations) or remission. The rate of progression may vary with occasional plateaus and temporary minor improvements, but declining neurologic progression is continuous. 

Totally me.

They go on to say that people with PPMS usually have problems with walking that worsen over time. Again, that's me.

There are more reasons why I think it's PPMS, but those are the ones I care to share right now. I've never actually seen an MS specialist; just general neurologists. I'm hoping the MS specialist will either see right away that it's MS, or see right away that it is not. Nothing gray. The first neuro I saw way back how ever many years ago said I had a textbook case but nothing specific was on my MRI yet. I liked her, but she was not a specialist. I want to get to the bottom of this.

Anyway, nothing has changed [meaning no new symptoms] but everything has gotten worse. The way I live my life has had to be altered quite a bit over the years. I do not think I ever shared on here that I used to run, hike difficult trails, walk 4 miles daily, and so on. I was very active, very fit. Not only did I do all of that, but I also was a single mom (they are adults now and such awesome people), homeschooled, and very much in to healthy eating. I cooked nearly everything from scratch using whole foods - even made my own crackers, pasta, tortillas, and so on. I have had to learn to compromise and take short cuts. I'll share about this in a future post.

I also used to cook supper for several people each week night. Now I make supper for a small few once or twice a week, and I keep it very simple.

I used to have a lot of responsibilities around the farm. Now I just do what I can and everyone else does the rest. All of my children live near by, and I live in my own apartment on one of my sons' property, so help is always close.

I rest a lot during the day - I do a little bit for about 15 minutes or so and then rest for at least a half hour, sometimes more, until I get up and do something else for another 15 minutes or so, rest, and so on. This is the only way I am able to get anything done.

I hardly drive at all now, and when I do it's only around our small town when I feel able.

I need a walking stick. I can only walk a short distance without assistance, and I must go slow. I mean slow. Like, I can look normal to the unsuspecting eye as long as I am walking really slow like I'm lazy and don't care, and have been honked at in parking lots for not walking faster across the road. My children and I used to go to the zoo frequently and use that as a place to walk and get exercise. Recently I went back to my home town and went to the zoo, only this time I had to be pushed in a wheel chair. I'm 42 years old. I used to walk around that zoo for hours on end.

I'll post again soon. I think.