Wonder Woman Syndrome
"Having dissenting views on the verb ‘to pace,’ it is one I need to add seriousness as well as a lot more thought into. Having a Wonder Woman Syndrome is a term I sometimes carry with pride."
Kids? Not right now, please…
Children and multiple sclerosis? Although life was good in my last relationship, I secretly decided that having children would probably not be on my list of things to do. Not because of the lack of love, but because I didn’t want to pass on my illness to my future son or daughter. When we eventually talked about possibly mixing my illness with his screaming babies and hectic lifestyle, I realised that in quiet, I made the right decision. Being broody comes with being female, and despite my decision, I still get broody sometimes. If it wasn’t for MS, I absolutely would’ve wanted children. One of the few nice things about being chronically ill and being childless is however, when looking after children of friends and family, you can give their…
The social swing of life
"It’s easy for relationships to become frayed because people interpret your life from their own 2-D perspective on a laptop, smartphone or tablet, and not from shared, interpersonal communication or experiences. Perhaps active listening has become unintentional hearing. Feeling compassion every so often turns to judging."
MS News: June 2014
Research results Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis Linked to Regional Brain Damage Multiple Sclerosis News Today – Fatigue, a common symptom of multiple sclerosis, could be a result of regional damage in the brain. Multiple sclerosis Reactivation of Epstein–Barr or herpes viruses not associated with MS relapse Nature.com – Infection with the Epstein–Barr virus or human herpesvirus 6 is associated with the initial onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) SLU researchers see possible answer to chemo pain in a multiple sclerosis drug Science Codex – A medication called FTY720 (Gilenya) is FDA-approved as a therapy for multiple sclerosis. Researchers publish one of the longest longitudinal studies of cognition in multiple sclerosis Medical Xpress – The article, “Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis: An 18-year follow-up study,” was epublished by Multiple Sclerosis and Related…
Game, set, relapse!
"In short, if I’d have to sell myself with these words, I still wouldn't receive a Booker prize. I could post “Another MS Relapse” award on the fireplace mantel, but they’re just a waste of space. I thought of referring to a relapse as something you just have to get your teeth in, but I don't want to steal Luis Suárez's limelight."
Volunteering, a worthy cause
"In fact, for anyone interested in volunteering, research shows it can be beneficial in improving mood, self-esteem and quality of life, and in reducing stress, pain and depression. It also shows that ill people who volunteer, become better at managing their own illness in turn and volunteering can strengthen their immune system."
Not my face!
In a world of selfies and size zero clothing, a negative body image can weigh heavily on healthy people, never mind disabled people. Being ill in itself often makes you feel less desirable. In the world of MS, where wheelchairs spread doom and gloom to those that get hit with that tag, body-image requires a whole new level of acceptance. I firmly believe beauty is limited to time and space. In addition, it only runs skin deep and definitely doesn’t reveal true worth.