Fundraising raffle!

The time has come, folks! 

I've got 5 wonderful items up for raffle.  All to help get my fundraising blazing in the last month before the walk. 

And all items have been donated by incredibly talented Canadian artists.  Hint - not art in the traditional sense... but some music, some fiction, and something beautiful to wear...

The items will be introduced each day, starting tomorrow.

Every donation to my walk page gets an entry into the raffle.  I'll keep track of the donations and number them in order.  On Saturday, May 2, I'll have a draw to reveal the winners!  And I'll personally deliver or mail the items to you.

It's win-win, right?

So, if you are tempted to win something really awesome, or just want to support MS research, click here to donate!

Oh, and one more not-so-subtle hint...

MRI and diagnostics

I would never have received my diagnosis without Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

And it took years of strange symptoms to have it done.

MRI is a modern medical tool - invented only in 1971, with the first human scan not performed until 1977.

Today, MRI is the most definitive method used for MS diagnosis.  There are no blood tests and no uniform set of symptoms.  Neurological abnormalities are often not present on physical examination.

The Evoked Potential test can aid in diagnostics by recording and mapping how electrical signals travel throughout the body.  And a spinal tap can help by identifying abnormalities in white blood cells or antibodies that are associated with MS.  Despite their usefulness, however, these two tests can have drawbacks.  The results they display can be indicative of many diseases (and not just MS) and false positives and negatives can occur.

I am very grateful to have regular access to an MRI machine.  I'd probably still be rotating through Neurologists who thought I was "just stressed" otherwise.

----

I went for another MRI today - brain and spine.  Ninety minutes enveloped in a giant clanging beige tunnel, head and neck cages on, Hannibal-Lecter-style.  With no swallowing for the neck portion (which psychologically makes me swallow... ugh!).

I always put their headphones on over my ear plugs, in hopes that between the rattles and thuds of the machine I'll be able to hear some music.

The only lyric I could pick out today:

"Back to life, back to reality..."

Thank you, Soul II Soul - your ironically fitting late 80's song took me waaay back and added a few giggles to my day.

WAMS BC Launch

This week WAMS (Women Against MS) was successfully launched in B.C.

It was a networking event held at the Centre for Drug Research & Development at UBC, and was attended by a wide mix of people - the MS Society, people living with MS, MS researchers and specialists, CDRD staff and directors, politicians, and community members.

The one thing bringing us all together - the strong need to increase and support MS research.

Canada has the highest rate of MS in the world, and 75% of those people are women.

Thank you to all the dynamic speakers, Karimah Es Sabar, President and CEO, Centre for Drug Research & Development, Jody Wilson-Raybould, Liberal candidate for Vancouver Granville, Dr. Cornelia Laule, WAMS grant recipient and UBC researcher, and Jennifer Sweeney, MS Advocate and MS Society group facilitator.

I was there in my role as MS Society Ambassador to get updates from MS researchers, to spread the mandate of the MS Society, to encourage people to participate in fundraising events, and to speak on behalf of the 100,000 Canadians living with Multiple Sclerosis. 

I hope to see many of the people I spoke with come out for the MS Walk in Vancouver on May 24th!

If anyone would like further information about WAMS, or would like to get involved (there will be many upcoming networking events and a gala luncheon in November), visit www.wamsbc.ca

In all - A very worthwhile evening promoting a very important cause.

The E word

Exercise.

I always say my kids are my cardio.  And for the most part, that's true.

I was lucky to be gifted with skinny genes and a high metabolism.  But as my age increases and my abilities and energy become affected by MS, staying fit becomes much harder.

I decided to up my (non-kid) cardio.

But no swimming.  I hate swimming.

(and no Zumba, or anything different, as I'd break an ankle again).

I sucked up any apprehension I had, dug out my old workout clothes, took a deep breath, and just did it.

(Luckily I am still somewhat workout-fashionable.  Cause that's important too).

I knew I had to take it easy.  Not just because I'm not in fantastic shape, but because my head can go from ok to drop-to-the-floor-dizzy in seconds. 

I did the bikes and the treadmill (inclined, fast walking only).

I noticed my balance was incredibly off on the treadmill.  I had to hold the supports the entire time, and if I let go even for a moment, I couldn't move forward in a straight line.  I took lots of time to ensure I stayed cool and drank lots of water, so it wasn't from common MS triggers like overheating or dehydration.  It was simply my brain's reaction to being jostled around.

How things have changed.

Now I know I need to stick to machines I can sit on or hold onto. 

Or get buckled into.  Ha.

To bad couch-potatoing doesn't burn calories.

Despite that, I enjoyed it.  I felt "normal" and healthy.  Well - by the end of it, mostly just dizzy.

Here's to next time!

Reeling in the expectations

I have a very guilt-filled relationship with my MS.

Mostly to do with my kids.

Life was always go-go-go for me.  Career, kids, balancing the two.  Add in the incredible MS fatigue, and it's so hard to stay above water.

We've talked about fatigue before, but I'll mention it again now.  It is one of the most common symptoms associated with all forms and stages of MS.  And can be severely debilitating.

It's hard to accept that.

Being so stubborn, I attempt to continue on with life - determined to make everything just like before. 

As if my life is now defined into two stages - before MS and after.

I struggle to keep up with my former self.  Activities, trips with the kids, producing the energy parenthood requires.

And after the start of a very busy spring break with my energy-filled kids, it catches up.  And I feel horrible.  Sick and tingly.  Foggy.

I know the process well.  It's been happening for at least a year now.  But I just don't catch on.  Perhaps I'm clinging to the hope that maybe, just maybe, today it'll be different? 

I probably haven't fully mourned the old me yet.  The woman who was healthy and had only positive life plans. 

And letting go of that order and control.

I can't change what I have been dealt.  And I do my best to be accepting and gentle with myself.

But man, adaptation is hard.  Even years in process.

Today's going to be a restful, quiet day.  And I am grateful.

Going for broke...

With the persistent walk-talk...

I've been taking a break from blogging for a while now.  For a few personal reasons, none of which need to be mentioned here.

But I want to keep the MS Walk fundraising momentum going.  This is my third year participating, and my third year of living with MS.  This cause means more to me than ever.  I can see potential treatments and discoveries this close to becoming reality.  On the cusp of changing my future, maybe?

My MS hasn't gone away, and it's not going to.  That's why this year should be just as successful as our previous efforts. 

If you haven't joined or donated yet - click here!

A huge thank you to those who have donated, joined the team, or supported me so far!

   

The necessity of comfort

I have a permanently numb foot, toes that sometimes hurt, and a new foot cramp that stops me in my tracks.

I have poor balance, and regularly stumble around.

I have weakness and decreased sensation in my legs.

I have MS, yes, we all know that.  But I am also a typical mid-30-something Mom of two boys who just won't stop moving.  Ever.

The above combination was proving too much for my poor feet and legs.  So I searched high and low for comfortable shoes in my size (what's up with size 7?  There are never any left...)

I sucked it up and paid for shipping, and they arrived today. 

And let me just say - Skechers, your Memory Foam has saved my life.  Even if just for now.

I am floating away in these shoes!

(and no, I don't plan to "run" in them or anything...)