I enjoyed the article and sent it on to several folks not on the list.
I think this illness--and any chronic illness, or chronic pain--is just like
having someone else move in with you, uninvited, and going to stay forever. It
takes on its own character. You get up in the morning and wonder "how will it
be today?" As with any relationship, you think about it frequently; it's
important to you, whether in a good way(I'm having a good day, yippee!) or bad
(having a bad day, yuck). This put it in perspective for me; having to learn to
live with this uninvited "guest"and the way it affects me and those aroound me.
Sam.
Robert and Marabeth wrote:
> When I first read the article in question, I realized that coming down with
> a disease such as TM, and in my wife's case, its turning into MS, that it
> affects both parties just as intensely.
> And when I read Mandy's plea and the exchanges that followed, I saw how
> intense such relationships could become. I just _HAD_ to share the article
> with y'all.
>
> Marabeth's affliction is just in its beginning stages, and it already is
> affecting both of us. It's affecting her in her ability to carry on with a
> lifestyle she'd been accustomed to.
> She becomes tired sooner and needs to sleep more. She can't do the 12-hour
> days at the office as before (and for that, we are both glad). She's
> become somewhat depressed and refuses to deal with it via a shrink
> prescribing her anti-dep medication to combat what he called a chemically
> induced depression, whatever that means (but I'm pressing, albeit not too
> hard).
> Right after her second episode, her left arm went numb and her left hand
> was hard to unfold and flex. Her typing speed at work went down to almost
> zilch. After a massive dose of methylprednisone, her use of said hand was
> regained. And now she's on Avonex, and we hope that she won't suffer
> another exacerbation, or that it is less severe if it comes.
> As for me, I am still dealing with my anger.....how could this happen to
> us, etc...etc...etc..., and the frustrations I've experienced when Marabeth
> has been in pain.
> I am still trying to figure out how much I should do for me missus without
> giving her the impression that I am babying her or taking over too much.
> I know, I know, I have it much much better than a whole bunch of you out
> there, as she can still do almost everything she could do before, but not
> as intensely; but still, our lives have been disrupted for a long long
> time, and changes must be made.
>
> I think this article is helping me put things in perspective. I hope it
> helps other as well.
> If anybody wants another copy to read over again, just let me know.
>
> Robert