MS Journey

Yesterday, despite an unexpected injury, turned out to be a day full of small joys and accomplishments. The day was dry but hot, and though my activity was limited, I made the most of it by staying in the shade. Even then, I found myself sweating, with my hair sticking to my back, a constant reminder of the summer heat. In the morning, after taking the kids to their swimming class and treating them to ice cream, I managed to plant three new plants. It felt satisfying to see them in the ground, adding a touch of green to our yard. Later, I covered the trampoline with a tarp, creating a perfect shaded spot for the kids to play all day long. Their laughter was the best background music as I moved landscaping lights and tidied up. As the evening approached, I was busy cleaning up and organizing tools, ladders, steps, and wires. I used the right side of the house to move items from the garage to the basement. The day was winding down, but my tasks were not yet complete. I gathered the kids...

Yesterday, I experienced the fastest infusion ever. Despite being on antifatigue medication at just 9 a.m., I fell asleep shortly after my steroids started. The nurses woke me up periodically to check on me, concerned about my vitals. My blood pressure, typically low at 100/60 with a heart rate around 50, was even lower. Despite their concerns, I drifted back to sleep each time. When I finally woke up, it was to the sound of a beeping IV pump. The nurse informed me that my infusion was complete, and my waiting time was already over. Remarkably, I had slept through the entire process, including the video playing, nurses coming and going, the IV pump beeping, and other patients in the unit. As a light sleeper who normally wakes up to my dogs’ morning sounds, it was surprising to find myself so deeply asleep, especially with the medications that usually keep me awake. After leaving the infusion center, I returned home feeling surprisingly energetic. I mowed both the front and back lawns, ...

It is that time of year again for my second infusion of MS medication. As I settled into the chair in the hospital’s infusion center, the rhythmic hum of the machine began to fill the room, pumping the meds into my veins. The Benadryl made me drowsy, but my anti-fatigue medication keeps me teetering on the edge of wakefulness. It was just another day in my life. Most of the day will be spent in the hospital, hooked up to the machine, with the wonderful nurses tending to my needs. The familiar routine brought a mix of exhaustion and a strange sense of comfort as I navigated another chapter in my journey with MS.