World MS Day 2025: Early Diagnosis after 200 days
"To many, life with MS can seem like a book where letters have been replaced by numbers or where the cover can be too hard or too soft for its content. Because of this, I don’t want them to see what MS can turn into. I refuse to show them that there is no cure, I refuse to give them a reason to give up on me. In my view, it is very much a case of the illness being mine, but the tragedy theirs if I let them."
Being real!
Despite chronic pain and fatigue issues, I am making the best of my life, and I am doing everything possible to be the best version of myself as I can be. All I ask of you is some understanding of what I am going through, and know that every bad day is only making me stronger. Some days, though, I want you to hold my hand or hug me and tell me that everything will be OK.
Conversations with myself
Nevertheless, positivity, when faced with chronic illness, is not a cure. It never will be. That doesn’t mean I can’t slander myself, right? Hitting the nerve, as it were. If my central nervous system is allowed to hit me, I am as authorised to hit back. Three times over.
I want…
© Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me, 2011-2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner are strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Ignorance
Oh, people will stalk you on Facebook on their smartphone, but do not ask them to find unprejudiced, trustworthy websites to learn something about your condition on that very smartphone. Quite often, they "will do so when they have time," despite having their phone in their hands 50 times a day.
But you don’t look sick!
We have all been there, at the receiving end of ignorance and unwillingness to understand what life with an invisible illness is like. 2018 Winner Best Blog Post with ‘3443 Needles’, Blog Awards Ireland, Ashville Media Group, Dublin, Ireland ◾ MyTherapyApp: Multiple Sclerosis Blogs: 10 of the Best in 2019 ◾ Ireland Blog Awards: Finalist 2014, 2015, 2017 ◾ MyTherapyApp: Best MS Blog for Simplicity 2018 ◾ Everyday Health: Top 10 MS Blog of 2018 ◾ Feedspot: Top 50 MS Blog 2017, 2018, 2019 © Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me, 2011-2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and irelandms.com with…
Let’s be frank
"Too many times we like to blame others for our own problems. Situations and people create our experiences, but these situations and people don't create you. Understanding our past helps us to distinguish why we hold on and repeat self-destructive behaviours. When we feel anger, resentment and other non-positive emotions, the only one we annoy is ourselves. So, choose taking ownership over blaming others, happiness over negativity, a new way of life over just remaining in a rut."
