My dad is now 68 and my mom is 62 and I am 38 having trouble keeping up with them! OMG! I wish those teenagers would slow down a little!

I won't lie...it is progressing more than I thought it would and the last MRI was ho-humm...not great at all. I haven't rode the bike in a while, but manage to still get out on the raft. I get out as much as possible, pending how friggin tired I am or factoring in the heat....and other crap. Like to day was fine...cloudy, cooler and tolerable... didn't feel too bad at all.

I hear you Eric, I am 28 and 70 year old people can out-do me any day. I do as much as I can, but it seems to be less each day.

I wish I could say something to help, but I can only relate. Hope you feel a little better soon.

I feel so bad for you, cause at least I had 10 more years without any MS trouble..All began at 35 or so. I've also met a 24 year old dude that is power chair dependent....can't do much of anything due to how bad his MS is.

MS to me is so random...doesn't care what age or anything, 20's 30's 50's....it doesn't matter.

I was diagnosed 5 1/2 years ago, it has been quite a ride.

You don't need to feel bad for me though. Yes my body cannot keep up with people my age, or even my husband who is seven years older than me. I do have many struggles.

I just try to remember that everyone has struggles, this is just mine.

This is a random disease. So many very weird and horrible symptoms possible. I have a friend who was diagnosed eight years before me who's symptoms are minimal compared to mine. She always tells me she feels so bad for me because I am so much worse than she is. But I try to tell her that she has struggles too, just because mine seem worse to her doesn't make hers any less relevant.

I have a great support system and it makes all the difference in the world for me.

Sorry you are having such a tough go! That boat sounds like a blast though!

I turn 62 in January. At my age my mom was recovering from colon cancer surgery, having just got her ostomy reversed. And then she was off, traveling everywhere from Cape Cod to Hawaii. She even did a little hiking with me when she visited years later. I am lucky if I get to see my grandkids 3 or 4 times a year, who only live 3 hours away, because travel and pain control are so difficult. Staying the night is a nightmare, as the guestroom is on the second floor, and the bathroom is not conveniently arranged for all my G.I. madness. All I want to do is be a grandma . . . I have even given up hopes of taking my grandson on his first hike on Rainier. I just want to enjoy my grandkids, and I am often too out of it from pain control to even do that . . .

Okay . . . didn't mean to hijack thread. Personal pity party over. We are never prepared to meet the emotional challenges that come with the physical ones . . . and I think they are the more difficult of the two.

I think we all need that hug right now! Sorry you're hurting, physically and emotionally!

((((((Lefthanded))))))

Well, it seems that most of us can relate...me too. It is a drag when plans get cancelled because the body is not up for it. It is especially hard for people to understand when you look fine.

When things are going well for both of us my 80 year old Dad and I usually move at the same speed and have the same level of endurance. I'm 53. Sometimes his arthritis slows him down and sometimes the MS slows me down. Such is the nature of these types of inflammitory auto-immune diseases.

I'm happy that your spirits are rallying Eric. That's the toughest for me...to not get into the dumps when things aren't going well. Having something to do as a distraction is really useful and helpful in that regard. The radio controlled boat sounds like a blast and I hope that you get out to play with it. I also hope that soon you will be out on the raft again, enjoying the fall colors.

With love, Erika

Im sorry to hear that you're having a rough time

At least you're responsible with your ms. It sucks that we have to think of landscapes, bathroom access, etc. But I feel you made the right decision. Not thinking ahead and just going could have led to some accidents.

It sucks that this disease dictates everything we do.

Bladder urgency/frequency along with walking difficulties is a dangerous combo.
be careful as to not get tangled up on the way to the bathroom.

Its crazy how our brains function, but the message getting to the legs is so slow that your brain thinks you have taken the three steps when you're really only still on step 1.

I get yelled at by the bf all the time -"slow down! You're gonna fall!"

Stupid ms. Hang in there!

"Its crazy how our brains function, but the message getting to the legs is so slow that your brain thinks you have taken the three steps when you're really only still on step 1."

AynaDee, you nailed it! I often have trouble explaining to people when they ask what it feels like. Thanks. This will make it easier.

I also tell them that it feels like the legs have been packed in ice and are just thawing out to describe the incoordination, stiff-weakness, numbness and fatigue symptom.

With love, Erika