Hello and welcome! I'm not on here regularly, but I try to check in when my brain decides to work. I'm sure you know the feeling! If you ever have a question you're embarrassed to ask on the open forum, PM me - I'm your no-boundaries answer woman! I managed to stump the "Dr. Ruth" of Mayo Clinic!

I was dx'd in 2006 right after the birth of my 2nd child, when my oldest was two. I was on Copaxone until this year, and just couldn't take the lumps and itching any more. I am not currently taking any DMDs. I'm trying alternative medicine - chiropractic, acupuncture, nutrition, massage, etc. I also have been dx'd with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Fun times!

I'm sorry about your husband. That just plain stinks. I hope he remembers that karma is a b****, and what goes around, comes around.

I wish you wellness!

I do know the feeling! Lol I'm finding I have pretty interesting memory issues these days. Actually I've been having several issues a of late but I'm too stubborn to give in. But that's just me I suppose lol

I work from home so that is a very good thing for me, although I have recently been put on mandatory overtime, and having to sit in one position for some 10 hours a day is rather hard on me. I've also noticed that at home I have become a wall walker so as to keep my balance. It's kinda funny actually to watch lol. I try to put on a good front on the outside. When in all honesty on the inside just the normal things a person has to do in life is very painful. I do not hide the fact that I have limitations to everything I do. This past year I am finding that when I go to a store I can no longer walk through the store but I have to be in a wheelchair. That was not something that was easy getting used to! But if it means it doesn't mean I'm hurting badly for the next couple of days, I'll do it lol.

My ex husband and I remain friends and I suppose it's best for the kids to not having us fighting or anything. We haven't seen each other in a long time but are civil when we talk. And I suppose that's a good thing too. There are a lot of hurt feelings there but nothing that I can change so I just try to suck it up and put a smile on lol.

These days I'm finding that harder and harder to do. This will be my first thanksgiving in 38 years that I have to spend alone. My kids will be with their dad and that new family, and my roommate will likely be with his family and loved ones. I don't have any family around here and have come to find that I really don't have any friends anymore either. I don't mean to feel bad for myself but it is the loneliest feeling.

Anyway, thank you for letting me ramble and whine lol. It's good to get it out there sometimes. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Awww poohy, that stinks, Pinky... At least, they could have invited you.
To leave you without your kids on TG is unforgivable ...Booooo!!

I'm going to be alone too, for most of TG. DD, also divorced, and my
5 Grands are going out for TG dinner, BUT, they are bringing a, full of
everything, turkey dinner, back to me. If you lived closer, I'd have you
over. What's one more dinner for her to deliver..

Have a big pizza delivered and eat the whole thing yourself...
Most kids would rather stay home for the pizza.

Lol i just figure I'll test my art skills and try and do a carving of a turkey out of peanut butter and call it good. This is just another thing I have to get used to I suppose. My sister told me I could come to her house, but that's in Michigan and I really can't drive it by myself. It's not terribly far, but too far for me alone. I'll figure it out. I'll have a breakdown when I'm alone and call it a day lol. At least I'll be given some rest with all the MS symptoms acting up.

hi pinky,

i can relate to the gradual loss of abilities and having to make accommodations. the first i made was to use a cane. the next was to get a handicapped sticker for my car. that was earlier on in my MS journey.

then i couldn't walk the grocery store anymore and have been using the carts ever since. all these little tweaks reminding me that i was giving up something.
but i came to realize that these accommodations actually made my MS life easier and saved me energy to use on other parts of my day.

i hope your dr knows of the problems you stated. maybe there is something to be done like PT or some home aids. you could call your local MS society to see if they offer any helpful classes; 1-800-FIGHT MS.

you also might look into ergonomic seating in front of the computer. my brother used to talk to me about that. it might help. and, get up every hr for maybe 10 min's. sitting too long really hurts me.

well, i'm raising my glass to you in a Thanksgiving toast for a better one next yr. take heart pinky. we're here for you.

My doctor knows of some of my problems but I haven't seen him since March. I'm going to have to get in to see him though as some of my issues are getting worse. I've done PT and OT in the past when I had some pretty bad relapses. It helped some but I think I just learned how to do things my own way to make them work. I will check out some ergonomic seating for my desk. There has to be some relief out there I'm sure. As far as getting through the holidays I'm sure I'll figure that out too. All of that is still pretty new to me, so it'll just take some adjustment being alone. I'm getting good at it lol

I do wonder though, of anyone has trouble sleeping? I have pretty bad fatigue but I still have a hard time falling and staying asleep. I have a lot of nightmares so I understand why but I'm starting to wonder just how tired I have to be to get a good night sleep lol

Pinky I don't know wow many employess at your work place but I thought the American disabilities act took care of your employer making sure you had adequate seating.

When an employee works in the place of business yes they do take care of providing the correct office equipment. (Or they are supposed to). However, I work from home so I have to provide my own desk and seating. They only give me my computers. I am very thankful for that because right now I use two computers for my job, and several of us are trying to talk my employer into giving us a third monitor. (It's no wonder my eyes are bad and I constantly have a headache LOL)

My neurologist wrote a letter stating that I can only work 40 hours a week and no more. I was told in order for this to go through I must open a FMLA claim and my neurologist has to submit it through there and try to get it approved. So, I will have to deal with sitting at a desk for 50 hours a week until it gets approved. I know that doesn't sound like any big deal... It's just sitting while I work. But wow does it hurt! My MS doesn't seem to like if I sit or stand for any length of time and it's making my spasticity much worse, as I'm sure many of you understand and deal with the same thing.

All I keep telling myself is that I have to keep pushing through. Things are bound to get better eventually, right?

Have you ever tried sitting on an exercise ball. Some swear it helps, my daughter, but I can't quite get it coordinated

I have tried an exercise ball yes. However I find it very uncomfortable and my lower back is so bad and my legs so weak I have a hard time with it. My coordination is not do good either, and I kind of just topple right over a lot lol.I need to find a good office chair. The search has been on for some time now, and eventually I'll find one.

I will be calling and opening an FMLA case tomorrow so that my neurologists work restrictions can start being looked into and hopefully approved.

Thanksgiving actually turned out OK. After my daughters left this morning my roommate took me with him to his families house for dinner so I didn't have to be alone after all. I hope all of you had a good holiday.