I finally found out how many PT visits I get a year from my new "improved" insurance. I used to get 65, now I get 45.

I'm going to have to give up the PT pretty soon, just in case I need more later this year. At least the PT place has an exercise program that you can do for $30 a month. I'll probably have to start doing that. My only problem with that, is that I can't make appointments for it. They like it better if you go in early in the day. I'll have to start trying to get up to go in there and do the exercises.

It would be easier if I could drive. Finally got myself a new car last summer, and I only got to drive it for a couple of months. I've got to get hand controls put into it to drive it now. Which means I've got to get the controls installed, and then go to the driving classes for learning how to drive with the controls. Can't wait to get that done. Then I won't have to have my dad drive me everywhere like I'm 14yrs old again.

The good news is, I beat my UTI, before it got bad.

The bad news is, I broke my toilet and now, I can't flush it, cuz it leaks out onto
the floor. Just try to get a plumber in this frigid weather (everybody is having
water/freezie problems). Not to mention, the keeping it all clean and sanitary
work.

Other than that, It's was 15WC below zero, this morning, when I woke up.
But again the sun is shining, which means, no new snow. Me thinks it
sneaked in another inch, overnight.

Needless to say, I woke up in a little funk today and just didn't ever
want to get up....ever.....

Hope Y'all's day started better.

Let's just pass some chocolate and chicken soup around.

Sally,
What a bad mix...a UTI, a broken toilet and plumbers in high demand/short supply. Hope that you got it all sorted out. No wonder you got into a funk and feel a little cabin feverish.

Erin,
Sorry about the limitation on your PT visits. Can you do the exercises at home on your own? Improvisation goes a long way even if you don't have exercise equipment, so maybe the PT can give you some ideas in that regard.

I had a day with the HUG, along with the usual Sx's yesterday, so spent most of the day on the bed. Usually that makes the HUG worse, but yesterday that gave the most relief. Its still firing up when I'm walking (with crutches), but at least sitting isn't bad today. Probably having to gimp around on crutches set it off. Stupid left ankle and knee have been really inflamed and swollen the last couple of days, along with the hand and wrist joints.

I have to go in for more lab work and also have a doctor's appointment today, which means going through the extra work and effort it takes to get the body washed, dressed and presentable. I'll get that done, then will take some more Baclofen & Ibuprofen and just rest until my friend comes to get me.

I can't drive in this condition, so have to rely on the kindness of my friend.
That's the worst part of all this...loosing Independence .

With love, Erika

Erika... you're too young to have to deal with losing independence…I hope you can get some type of treatment to reduce these horrible symptoms…

Despite my earlier post, I'm not about to take this laying down, and am not even close to giving up. The dermination (OK...stubborness ) goes right through to the bone.

With love, Erika

Is this the thread to post happy happenings on? I'll get to that after commiserating with the various miseries described. I am so glad I have two toilets, in case one gets in the condition of Sally's. It's one advantage of NOT having downsized. My house isn't huge (1680 sq ft) but it does have two bathrooms, and when the toilet got stopped up--there was the other available.
My happy happening was last night when I went to be nanny for Rusty at a jazz venue Rusty's parents went to. I was supposed to take him home early if he wanted to go home. But both Rusty and I were enthralled with the jazz group, called the Craig Martin Experience, a group of locals playing in a restaurant. They played great music from the 40's, 50's and 60's, and not the usual hysterical whine on National Public Radio, which I listen to in order to get the news in my car. Seven guys in black suits with ties. Rusty was also wearing a black suit and bow tie (he is 8), as he is a lover of clothes, unusual for a boy. Several friends of my son and his wife were there, with three additional children, one of them a high school senior who, his father said "also loves clothes and is going to go into law", which his father is worried about. It was so nice to have a beautiful venue with nice people and a great band. And I really appreciated having this unexpected blessing.

I'm pretty good the past few days and have been catching up on sorting papes and dusting. I finally dusted my grandmother's china.

I try to be a positive person most of the time. I lead a good example for my son and it shows in his interactions.

But my current co-workers make me insane. I have this nasty, snarky, rude inner monologue all day long to everything they do and say. It wasn't so bad until a year ago.

I tried and tried to find something to like about them but I just can't. I feel like such a horrible person when the snark starts flowing. At least I don't say it out loud, I suppose that's something.

I am sick and tired of hearing them complain. ALL they do is complain, complain, complain. Their life sucks, their drowning in debt, they never get any breaks. Like they're the only ones on the planet with these problems. Well every last bit of it is their own doing by the choices they make and the way they live their lives.

I am sick of hearing one of my co workers talk about how fat she is and wishes she wasn't. I just want to scream at her "You are fully able bodied, I would kill for that so I could exercise the way I use to."

The other one is a size 0 and constantly starving her self so she doesn't get "fat."

I am grateful to have this job, once I don't I won't be able to work. There is a ton of down time and I could do the job in 4 hours a day.

I try to stay positive but some days, like today I just want to stab them with a pencil.

Thanks for the vent.

Constant discontent can be more of a disability than any physical ones. I feel sorry for people who get caught up in that way of thinking, for I know that their suffering is profound; and when I can, I try to help them through prayer and through compassion. Sometimes just saying that I am sorry that they are sufffering so much seems to help somehow.

With love, Erika

kerOpi, do they know you have MS? Sometimes it jsut takes a single reminder of what they do have instead of what they don't have to make them have a change of heart in their own habits. Do you have the ability to have your own music on? I would try to at least have some quiet uplifting music, some very positive words in some art work hanging, flowers, anything to keep your workplace happy. Everyday find something nice about something nice they are wearing, have done or anything.