Cotswold Village

Cotswold Village
Started May 27, 2011

Monday, April 18, 2011

Getting on a bike - after 30 years

After reading many of the MS blogs in depth, and I mean in depth (having been up all night, I just couldn't stop reading some of them), I have come to realize that I need to write more about my life with MS.  While I haven't felt the urge to write about my MS and it's consequences, I feel that by my sharing it will a) get some stuff off my chest, b) maybe help others with similar problems and c) get to "talk" to more of the MS bloggers.  I spend my mornings home alone, just me and the three dogs.  Hubby gets home around noon or 1:00pm but that makes no difference because as soon as he steps out of the shower he takes a nap for a couple of hours.  He does get up at 5:30am and comes to bed pretty late at night so no biggie to me.  I get pretty bored although I do have my cross stitch to keep me occupied but some days I just don't feel up to it.  And talk about energy, I have NONE.  I tried walking around the block with the smallest dog but it is so hot here in Florida, especially in the afternoons.  But today I am going out to look at a bicycle.  A two-wheeler.  I haven't been on a bike for about 30 years so maybe some future stories will be of some "falls".  I want to get a basket on the front so I can put Lulu in for the ride.  Now I just need motivation to get up and go....

Two and a half months to go before Medicare kicks in (can't wait).  I haven't seen a doctor or had an MRI for two years (since Cobra expired and while waiting the 29months for Medicare to kick in).  I'm kind of dreading all the dr visits but I guess it's got to be done.  Although it's going to hurt monetarily, at least I can see if my MS has progressed in the past two years with being on no medication.  I tried the LDN route, but it didn't work for me.  The Copaxone, forget it, I could not physically do the shots day after day.... I stopped after three months.  The Rebif caused major relapses with a steroid drip for three days which I'm still getting the bill for so who knows what, if anything, I will try next.  If there is no change in the past two years I will most probably stay off every MS drug, although I have a feeling it has become worse.  The pain in my left leg comes more often now and the pins and needles and numbness are almost constant.  I am hoping it may be because I don't do much during the day and hopefully the "biking" will help.  I really really want to exercise but I just have no energy.  I tried doing the exercises on my Wii game but the jumping up and down (I don't wear a bra) ha ha is no good and the bending up and down is even worse... I feel like such a failure.  I am putting on weight but not from eating... from not exercising.  I rarely eat enough, although what I do eat is all wrong.  Went food shopping Friday and bought nothing for myself to eat because I wasn't really in the mood to shop so I just bought the essentials.  At least with a bike, I can ride to the store if necessary before hubby comes home with the truck.

I have blocked all unknown numbers from my phone as I can't take the stress of debt collectors.  I know I owe... but what can I do, you can't get blood from a stone.  But if you really want my blood, come and get it.

I hope you all have a good day.  Thanks for reading my blog... i will keep you updated on the biking.  (My biking partner (below) - Lulu)




5 comments:

  1. Exercise is really important for anyone with MS. Hi Mandie,
    I can't take the chance of riding my bike, but I do have a stationary one, plus I do yoga. I have never taken any MS drugs, and don't plan to. I do follow a MS diet, I don't know if it's making any difference, but at least it's a low fat diet, so it sure can't hurt.

    Lulu is a cutie! I hope she enjoys biking with you.

    Cheers

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  2. I commend you for your willingness to try some biking. I'm in Florida too so I know about the heat. That's why I have an indoor stationery bike, which I try to use often. But Karen is right. It's important to exercise.

    Judy

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  3. All anyone can do is the best they can with what I've got to work with and still live that's good enough. To me it sounds like you given all you have to give. Now it's time for you to just take of you. Good luck on the biking, looking foward to reading your posts Lulu is a very cute biking partner! take care

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  4. i have to start excersing too... ugh... i have a bike but am terrified to hop on it... my balance is not what it should be and with my luck, thrown together with Murphy's Law... i'm sure to break something... i've been thinking about swimming... but the thought of putting a suit on this whale i call me is horrid! i know i need too.... i've also been looking for a good yoga video to do at home... once i get home from work i just don't have the gumption to go to a class somewhere... but it's time to do something... i've sought comfort in food since my diagnosis and this is definitely not the right path ha!

    i look forward to reading more of your writing... it's nice to have the other MSers out there to bond with... kind of reassuring for me...

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  5. p.s. please forgive my typos... my fingers are stuttering today haha

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