Positivity…

May 3, 2018May 4, 2018 Tracy12 Comments

This whole positive, optimistic thing is really new to me. I grew up in a somewhat negative family. Don’t get me wrong, there was a lot of love, but also negativity. These type of behaviors are learned. When you’re around negative forces it rubs off on your psyche. Now there were happy, positive times for sure, but looking back a lot of negative as well. And it was ‘taught’ in previous generations. It didn’t just start in my family, and it took me 53 years to realize this. The realization came while I was in rehab. The positivity train that that took over during that time made me re-evaluate a lot of of my life.

Again, there were a lot of positive things in my life. Unfortunately, negativity always took over many of the positive aspects. The issue I am running in to now is others in my life aren’t in the same place I am. I’ve also realized that the so called positive people in my life, truly were not all the positive. They preached positivity, but honestly didn’t live it. I have had to rid myself of many toxic things and/or people as of late. And while it is sometimes sad, I am actually okay with it. I finally understand the concept of, you have to take care of yourself first, or you cannot help anyone else.

I have found myself more than once falling back into that angry negative place. When that happens, I pause, take a breath and move on. I just give myself a little space from the negative forces that be. It’s been a very hard journey to get where I am at today. I will not let anyone take away my new outlook. Sadly, I feel like there are a few out there trying to do just that. Like I said, they’re still in that not so good place. I truly hope they can find their way out of it, but either way I will not go back.

d7a51b48621909d116597e862a0721ec

We truly are in charge of our own happiness no matter the hardships in our life. Believe me, it would be very easy for me to just lie down and die. And, I almost did just that. I will not go back there and I will not let anyone steal my happiness. I will not let anyone takeaway my new positive, optimistic, and determined heart. I have worked too hard in the last two months to get to this place. I also will not apologize for it.

Just a small glimpse in to the life that is me. I will get back to the journey that got me here… eventually. I hope those of you following/reading my blog are living your life to it’s fullest potential. We ALL deserve to be happy, no matter the circumstance.

Have Courage and Be Kind

Anger · Family · Fear · FUCK · Happiness · Health · Hope · Medical · Multiple Sclerosis · PAIN · Primary Progressive MS · Quotes · Ramblings · RANDOM · Sarcasm · Strength

Being Defeated is NOT an Option!

April 27, 2018April 27, 2018 Tracy4 Comments

Yesterday was not one of my better days. I had in-home physical therapy in the morning and then my appointment with Dr. Nasser in the afternoon. I was feeling okay in the morning and after physical therapy. All of a sudden it felt like a Mack truck had run over me. I just started feeling queasy and was having a hard time sitting up. At around 1 PM we started getting me ready for my appointment. I am unable to dress myself so I need to be rolled and moved a lot. The pain was unimaginable. By the time I was dressed, leg braces on, and Hoyer lifted in to my power chair, I was done! I could’ve canceled my appointment, but I knew I needed to go. He deals with my pain management, so I needed to go badly. The drive was excruciating. When we got there it was 83°, and heat is not my friend. The combination of everything started to bring about a little bit of depression. I was angry. I’ve been trying so hard to get better and to feel better… then this hits me. I felt like I was being punished for getting dressed. LOL I know that sounds crazy, but that’s how I was feeling.

Bottom line, I was feeling defeated, I’m not gonna lie!

By the time I got into his office I felt like I was going to be sick. Then I realized that my Hydro flask had leaked water all inside of my purse. It looked like I peed myself. Which, I’ve done before, but this time it wasn’t me. LOL Roger took my purse outside and dumped all the water out. He left to go upstairs this doctors appointment and I went into the room for my doctors appointment. The room was so small and it was so hot in there I thought I was going to pass out. Thankfully Roger’s appointment finished before my doctor came in the room, so he came in with me. Sometimes I just need my hubby. Sometimes! 😉

My doctor finally came in the room, we exchanged pleasantries, and then took care of business. I got my medications refilled and hopefully four more physical therapy appointments. I explained I was a little perturbed that someone had dropped the ball because it took three weeks before I even got physical therapy started after I left the rehab. But, I have to let that kind of shit go because all it does is upset me. Those of us that deal with chronic illness and doctors know that many times we are not the priority. While my time in rehab was awesome, follow has not been the best. Luckily, I am a little bit of… okay a-lot-a-bit of a bitch, and when I set my mind something… nothing will stop me!

We wanted to go grocery shopping after our doctors appointments, but that wasn’t happening! By the time we got home my pain was so intense I just wanted to get into my bed and hide under the covers. And that is what I did! There were a lot of tears and, again a lot of feelings of defeat. I started second-guessing myself. All I could think was, if doing the little stuff that I did was going to knock me the fuck out like it did, then what’s the point? Is it ever going to be easier? Do I want to keep putting myself through the horrific pain every time I move? The answers are: I’m primary progressive and yes the little things probably will kick my ass, it’s probably not going to get easier, and I do have to put myself through the pain if I want to get better.

I may be down right now, but I will never be out.

Have Courage and Be Kind

** again, I’m sorry for bad grammar, typos, run on sentences. I’m a business major not an English major. LOL PEACE!

Craziness · Hope · Love · Multiple Sclerosis · Primary Progressive MS · Ramblings · RANDOM · Strength · Stupid Stuff

Sofa King Tired!

April 23, 2018April 23, 2018 Tracy2 Comments

Randomness:

I went to the doctor last Thursday. After the doctor we went to Walgreens to pick up my prescriptions and then we went to get something to eat. I’m still exhausted from that day. I’ve had two in home physical therapy appointments and the pain is intense. Nevertheless, I got through them both. On the days where I feel like I just can’t go on, I just want to stop everything. I ask myself why I’m doing this as I know it’s going to hurt. I start to second-guess myself. I truly am my own worst enemy!

So, instead of quitting, I push on. I remember why I’m doing this, and that makes me focus.

Just had a surprise shower after PT day 2. [not my normal shower day] I am back in my bed resting and re-charging for tomorrow!! Peace out … for now!

Have Courage and Be Kind

Craziness · Family · Fear · FUCK · Happiness · Health · Hope · Love · Medical · Multiple Sclerosis · Primary Progressive MS · Ramblings · RANDOM · Sarcasm · Silly · Strength

Must re-charge…

April 18, 2018April 18, 2018 Tracy2 Comments

Yesterday I went to see my neurologist. I finally got to use my new wheelchair.

When the doctor came in the room he looked at me and said, “You look so good!! No one would know you have primary progressive MS.“ I’m never really sure what to say when I hear something like that, so I just smile. We discussed the infusion, the newest DMD (disease modifying drugs), Ocrevus. He said he would get an appointment for me and the drug rep as soon as possible. He is very worried about the ‘serious‘ side effects. We all know that the medications for MS do come with very serious side effects. The problem for me, is my urostomy. I am prone to kidney and bladder infections as well as kidney and bladder stones. Because my immune system is overactive, it’s fights off some of the infection. If I am put on a medication that suppresses my immune system, I could very easily become septic. So I’m kind of screwed. At least he is giving me the option and I will be talking to the drug rep about it. Hell, I haven’t had a cold or a flu for so many years thanks to my overactive immune system. The only time I have gotten sick was when I was on a couple of the DMD‘S many years ago.

Then I did my normal, “I need prescriptions“. The main medication I need is the daily antibiotic I have to take, twice a day, for my issues. Rapture! LOL and we definitely cannot forget my antidepressants. Without those no one wants to be around me. 😈

After that we went to Walgreens to pick up my new prescriptions and then we went and got some dinner. I was only up for about three hours, but it totally kicked my ass. Today I am running on empty.

Sadly that is what MS does to us… At least the majority of us. It’s very rare that we can go and do things, and then be able to go and do things the next day. It’s very depressing, especially when you were someone who was always on the go. This disease changes is and takes away everything we once were. That is why we must be stronger than our MS. We must fight it every day, which sucks hairy balls, but that’s what we have to do. And we do it because we are warriors!

Have courage and be kind

** I will be back with my positivity journey very soon. So much love to all! ♥️

Anger · Family · Fear · Health · HELL · Hope · Love · Medical · Multiple Sclerosis · PAIN · Primary Progressive MS · Ramblings · RANDOM · Strength

The Strength Inside – part II

April 11, 2018April 11, 2018 Tracy7 Comments

I’ve been thinking of a way to approach the week after I hit my crossroads. When the ambulance dropped me off at the Antelope Valley Hospital I wasn’t sure what I was going to do or why I was there. I explained I had a bad infection [captain obvious], but I said nothing about my suicidal thoughts. So they did what they always do, hooked up my power-port, and filled me up with morphine. Then, of course, they started a treatment of antibiotics. I was in and out and of it and was feeling pretty good with the morphine. At some point, and this is where gets hazy, a doctor that I had not yet met, showed up in my room.

And so it begins…

He was completely shaven, bald as a billiard. Tanned skin and quite good looking. It was very obvious the man takes very good care of himself. But, then he pissed me off…for a minute. He proceeded to ask me why I was there. WTF, look at my pee bag dude, it’s dark as fuck. Yes, I said that. He then asked me ‘why I did not go to my doctor since obviously it had been this way for a while’. I just looked at him like, seriously?!! Then he kept asking me over and over again, why was there, why now, why was I there, why now!!! Those who know me, know I do not like to be pressured or put on the spot. So I looked at him like he was fucking crazy and an asshole for asking me that over and over again. Then, he asked me again, ‘WHY ARE YOU HERE!!! I snapped, and 21 years of my MS diagnosis came out like verbal diarrhea, 21 years of frustration came pouring out. I was screaming at that point… ‘Do you want to know why I’m here, do you really want to know!’ I was screaming and crying telling him, “FINE… I wanted to kill myself is that what you want to hear. I was 32 years old with 3 babies under 3 when I was dx’ed. Why did God forsake me?!! Now I’m 53, and my kids have never known me well. Now, I’m paralyzed from the waist down and for the last 4 1/2 years years completely bedridden. Now my arms stopped working. I told my my family when my arms go, I’m going too!! I could hear my daughter asking me if I was going to go now? My family is dying because of this disease because it has taken over my house. My family will be better off without me! I’m a burden and all the doctors did was throw me in bed and drugged me up and ripped open my stomach because nobody wanted to help me. Instead they threw a colostomy and a urostomy bag on me and left me in the bed to die. My husband is dying inside my children are dying inside because nobody gave two shits about us, no doctor wants to really help us! I didn’t go to the doctor because I can no longer afford a caregiver and I had no one to drive me!” As I was screaming I didn’t realize that there were about 20 people in the room and people walking by. I just kept screaming how I was thrown away and nobody cared. It was easier for the doctors to just put me in bed because that’s what primary progressive MS does. You just progress and then you die. I’m sure I looked a sight, as I was ugly crying. I know that snot was running all down my face and most likely in to my mouth. I know, I know…TMI! This guy called me on my shit, no one does that!! And how did he know? How did he see my pain and how did he know I wanted to end my life? How did he know why I was really there?

Then, silence. I was breathing so fast and looking around the room. Some were crying, some just looking at me like they wanted to hug me. Someone handed me a lil’ box of tissues. Then his voice broke the silence. He said, “We’re going to make you happy again.” I looked at him like he was crazy. Didn’t he know, I have primary progressive multiple sclerosis, there is nothing he can do to help me or make me happy again. He smiled and said he’d be back. A few minutes later a woman entered the room. She was the psychiatrist on call. She looked at me and said, “You never sleep, do you?” I looked at her and said, “No.” She looked at my file saw that I was on Effexor and explained she would leave me on that, but she was going to add something else. Something that would, help me sleep and make me happy again. I looked at her like she was crazy too. I didn’t think they understood what they were dealing with. Dr. Muscles [I’m trying to find his real name] came back in the room to see how I was doing after my meltdown. I just looked at him and said, “Thank you.”

The next doctor he sent my way, changed my life!

Part 3 tomorrow. Sorry if my writing is not perfect. I never said I was a writer. LOL

Have Courage and Be Kind

Fear · Hope · Multiple Sclerosis · PAIN · Primary Progressive MS · Ramblings · RANDOM · Religion

Why do we blog?

April 19, 2017May 3, 2017 TracyLeave a comment

Really, why do we? Why do so many put their thoughts and emotions out the for the world to ‘read’? For me, it breaks the monotony of my daily bed-ridden life. It allows me to bitch, if you will, at the world and not my family. lol I have a story, it may not be much to some, but it’s my life. I hope that in some small way others in my position can find some hope, or at least have a laugh.

Even in my more depressing blogs, I think it helps others to know they are not alone. It’s ok to cry, scream, and lose it… once in a while. 🙂 We don’t always have to ‘hold’ it together and be strong every second. Sometimes a good cry is cleansing for the soul, and I’m talking ugly crying! lol

I also hope to bring awareness to others on how we can fight back against those who try to hurt us. Hospital treatment and the treatment we sometimes have to endure by big companies, i.e.; Insurance Companies, and big Pharma. We have to be tough and find our inner strength so these people do not run over us like we are nothing.

We are the strong. We deal with more in one day than most deal with in their lifetime. We smile through the pain, the losses, and the inhumanity of some. So believe it, we are the true Warriors!!

There are days I want to give up. There was a time, not long ago, I tried… When I awoke I was angry, I wanted to be free. Then I realized, maybe I am here for a reason. If I am able to help even just one person, maybe that’s why I am still here. I’ll be honest, the thoughts linger in my head every day. I fight like hell to never let them ‘almost’ get me again. It has nothing to do with any God or higher power. It’s my will, my power and inner child that keeps me going. We all have the inner child of strength. I truly hope you can find yours and hold on tight.

Love and Light to all

Family · Love · Ramblings

I miss you daddy

April 12, 2017June 14, 2018 Tracy1 Comment

On March 7, 2017, while holding his hand, my daddy took his last breath. I can’t express what the loss of my dad has done to me. Even though we lived a few hours away from each other and I didn’t get to see him as much as I would’ve liked, thanks to my illness, I always knew he was there. And somehow that gave me strength. I knew he was just a phone call away… unfortunately they don’t have cell phone service in heaven.

Right now it’s very hard with all that is going on in my life. The Home Depot fiasco as well as all of my medical issues and all the bills that are taking over our lives. And I can’t seem to find my strength to deal with it and take care of it and not let these people walk over me. My dad always taught me to be strong and always fight for what you believe in and what is right. And I know I have it in me, but I just can’t seem to find it right now. I can’t just pick up the phone and hear his voice. I just want him to come back. He would give me the strength and the pep talk I need to not let these despicable people hurt us.

My daddy was the best person that I’ve ever known. I’m not sure, I’m just not sure of anything. I miss him so much. And while it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, I got to be there holding his hand when he finally found peace. ❤️

I miss you and I love you dad. We all do!

Craziness · Family · FUCK · Happiness · Health · HELL · Hope · Multiple Sclerosis · Primary Progressive MS · Ramblings · RANDOM · Sarcasm

The MonSter…

April 1, 2016 Tracy4 Comments

MS is an evil bitch! For the first time in a very long time I’ve been feeling “happy”. I haven’t felt this way in quite some time. I learned many years ago to downplay my emotions. It always seemed to go bad when I’d mention the “H” word. lol Like the other shoe would drop if I even thought of it. And, BAM, it seems to be par for my course. The MonSter, that is MS, always jumps in to harsh my mellow. And the bitch is jumping on a trampoline right now. I’ve been doing pretty good. Home Depot is going to get my window issues fixed [knock on wood] and life in general is good. So, I should have expected something to happen. I always expect the worst and then when the best happens I get giddy. 😉 I know that seems like a bad way to look at things, but for me, it keeps me sane. Well, I tried looking for and expecting the best this time, and damn if MS didn’t pop up and mess my shit up again. I was actually feeling less fatigued and wanting to do things. But, no, she had to pop in and remind me of my ‘disability’. I’m feeling drained and out of sorts. Depressed and tearful.

I hear the saying, I have MS, but MS doesn’t have me, all the time. But, um, nope… MS does in fact have me. For me it’s all about how I handle it. I can fall apart and give in to it, or keep fighting. I chose to fight. I have PPMS [primary progressive]. My MS is no longer ‘invisible’. It’s out there and in your face visible. I am in the 10% group with my PPMS, and many have no idea there are different types of MS. This page, here, quickly explains the types.

I’ll get through this and keep pushing forward, but sometimes it gets so frustrating. I’m going to throw my pity-party for now, and everyone is invited! 😛

Now I am going to try and find that ‘happy place’ again. I may have lost the battle to MS, but I will win the war!!

Peace!!

Family · Halloween · Happiness · Holiday · Hope · Ramblings · RANDOM

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

October 31, 2015October 31, 2015 Tracy4 Comments

Have a fun and safe Evening! Keep your furbabies safe and away from opening doors.

****************************

Last night was the pumpkin carving party at Don’s house. Here are the wonderful pumpkins that were carved. It was a fun time for all.

I started out dressing like a Vampire, but the wig cap/wig gave me a headache. My fitted Vampire teeth were a pain in the mouth! lol

So, ended up as a Witch. The lace on my hat is over 90 years old. It was my Nana’s. There is also a black rose with it. This is my favorite Witch hat. Yes, I have more than one. 😛

My fabulous make-up was done by Steph. She made me look damn good for a 51 year old. lol

Even with the pain, I had so much fun! I have let fear, being self-conscious, and embarrassment from my illness stop me from doing so many things. I know there will be times when my condition will keep from doing certain things. It makes me sad to not be able to be ‘normal’. One thing is for sure; I am blessed with a support team that always has my back. They never give up on me, even when I give up on myself. I am one of the lucky ones!

A Happy Halloween to all!

Love and Light!