I've had Symptoms of MS since I was 23/4 and am now a Septuagenarian(sp). Good Lord, I don't know how I had the guts to make it this long, w/o calling Dr. K.. There have been moments, believe me.

Now, I'm growing older with MS and want to tell you, it is deffinately not for sissies.. Every day brings a new challenge, just to get my tired, lazy butt out of the bed. Grrrrrrrr. I live in fear, that one day, I will not be able to get up.

I know I'm the oldest old fart here, but can anyone else relate to what I'm going through? I admit I haven't felt this extra struggle until the last few years. My recent fall and trip to the hospital, brought it screaming and skreeching to the forefront.

It's hard, dammit. OK, end of rant....

" I know I'm the oldest old fart here "

Maybe, but I`ll bet mine are longer and louder!

Got a feeling I'm the second old fart in line.

Another tough old broad
kicker

I'm 51.....do I qualify? Apparently I qualify for the Senior Discount at Publix.

I think about what I'll do later in life alot but I don't worry about it. I pray about it all the time.

Sally, something you said triggered a memory. My Dad had MS, diagnosed (I think) in 1957 after at least a couple years of mystery and random symptoms. He was 39. I can remember that we lived very, very frugally with the spectre of his potential disability hanging over us. Mom would say, "We never know if tomorrow will be the day your father will wake up and not be able to get out of bed."

Only now do I understand how it must have felt for him, and for my Mom.

It never happened, by the way. He retired at 62, and died at 79 of COPD. He used a cane, but was still getting up and down stairs under his own steam a few days before he died.

Sal, you've been a very strong woman all these years...I am not near the 70s yet, but I also worry about these things.
iMO dr. k provided a service to those who didn't want to live life in bed. I don't understand how Stephen Hawking has lived as he has all of these years...especially watching my FIL deteriorate, and him wishing it was over.

I sit sometimes in awe wondering what keeps us going when we reach that level of disability. Time magazine is going to feature an article on how we die by Joe Klein. He discusses his father's passing and all of the issues involved with the quality of life vs. Fighting to lengthen it. Sounds like something to read & ponder...

Sal, I’m not that far behind you, now that I am in my mid sixties. I figure that I’ve had this disease for soooooo long (since I was in my teens), that I should count myself lucky to still be able to get around as well as I do. As Doris Day would say, “whatever will be will be”, the glass is half full, and yadda, yadda, yadda.

Another old fart to another.........I'm only 2/3(?) years behind you......and wonder how that happened??? It seems like once a month or so I think it may be time to consider an assisted living place since I live alone, like you Sally. Seems as though my ms has advanced quite a bit these past five years so that I can no longer move my legs. Spending all the time in my "chair" is really a challenge, especially knowing there's nobody coming home later in the day.

I've not been able to use my bed for a couple years, so sleep in my lift recliner. Of course I have to "waterproof" the thing first with "piddle pads", another story, other pads, blanket, etc. Thank goodness the thing can go up and down since my legs become really sore staying in one position. It definitely would be easier with someone here to help most of the time.

Some days moving doesn't sound like such a bad idea, especially on "10" pain days, but in reality, I don't want to leave my home. Being a Christian, I'm praying for the rapture to happen soon so I won't have to face that decision. This disease sucks no matter what our age!

Judy, I am also praying for the rapture. I cannot afford a GOOD assisted living place, one with good food which is so important to me, as I am on the Swank diet as my only MS therapy. I think my neurological status is not radically changed in the years since dx, but since then I have two more diagnoses, Porphyria and Polycythemia Vera. The Porph is making me have a very bad time with the smoke in New Mexico at this time.
Sally, I am around your age. I am still walking, although my numb feet also caused me to break a knee when I fell down stairs at another house. I have not considered Dr. K, but I would dearly like the Lord to take me to a better place where my husband is. That's the worst part of being old, being a widow. The very worst part.

Thanks Sleeper, I needed that..
And I won't argue with you..