Feel like I could use an old friend...
 

... a cup of hot cocoa... and someone to just out and out lie if need be and tell me that everything is going to be okay. :Dunno:

Are any of you ever "fine" one day... all upbeat and ready to help the rest of the world??? then... the next day... you're not so sure you believe all that "everything's fine" talk that you are so famous for reassuring the rest.

I'm just having a little pity party... nothing in particular. All of you are my NEW friends... but sure could use an OLD friend kind of a hug tonight!:hug:

Thanks for listening!

I'm a new friend (handing a cup of cocoa) and a :hug:

My new friend I just want you to know that everything will be okay. Do you want to talk?

:hug:

Well, I don't know about "Old"..:wink:
But hugs-a-plenty for you F2U! :hug::hug::hug:
Been there (still there)..Feel great, make plans to accomplish all kinds of wonderfull things..Next day, "What was I thinking?"..
But, all in all, it's all good. Take advantage of the up days, make the most of the down.
Like Red Green says, Keep Your Stick On the Ice!

There really isn't alot to talk about. Just the whole MS thing. I just get tired of pulling up the ole boot straps on a daily basis... you know. Hate feeling depressed... been there, done that... don't want to revisit. I was there for years, before the dx. Just trying really hard not to find myself there again.

Also, I had the gallbladder surgery monday, maybe that is still just part of it all and how I feel.

As I said, nothing in particular, probably just everything in general.... I'm sure it will seem brighter in the morning. See how good I am at this little pep-talk?!?!! I have it all memorized!

Thanks for the hug... and the chocolate... I actually made myself a cup... wan't a bad idea! Thanks for caring enough to answer! :hug: That is what I needed on this cold, lonely night!

Well, now I know who to call when I need the pep talk..:)
You're probably right about the surgery, too.
I hope tomorrow is a better day!!

Awww.....Friend....hang on...
 

Friend... I hope I can be considered a friend....I'm not old and not an old friend of yours...but I certainly feel very old these days. Does that count?

I'm glad you made yourself a cup of cocoa - what a fine idea.

Yes, like you, and I imagine like many people dealing with MS (especially those of us more recently dx)...I have days where I am in fight mode - confident that I will beat this - it won't take me down....and then the next day, I'm ready to surrender. (To be honest, sometimes I go through these two places in the same hour and several times a day!).

I just wanted to say hang on...but I'm not always sure what it is we are hanging onto! I guess just hang on to knowing that the sun will rise again tomorrow and maybe it will be one of the days where you have the energy and fight in you to keep your chin up! :)

~Keri

ps/did you put marshmallows in the cocoa??

Thanks Red,
 

Marshmellow creme...

Oh the fun we could have with that.

*No smiley available for what I'm thinking*

Tee Hee,
 

Thanks for the laugh! :Bow: I hope, above all, the sense of humor is the last thing to go, if there ever must be a last thing to go!

You are too funny! How can I be depressed now :cool2:?!?!?!?! :hug:

I see Moose already came to your rescue. I wuz gonna offer my Dad -- he's 94 and single.

Well, you wanted an OLD friend, right? And he's crazy about choccy milk!!! :p

Friend...I'm sorry you are in the midst of a pity party. Maybe it is an extension of the one I had a few days ago. Is it contagious?? I understand how you feel but just know that I think :You-Rock:

Remember too, that it is not uncommon to have a bit of depression following surgery with anesthesia (anesthesia is a depressant after all!) Your body took a wallop--physically and psychologically. I am confident you will feel much better in the morning. It takes a bit of time for your mind and body to recover from a surgery.

Sleep well! :hug:

Lol!!!
 

Darn the luck!!!! :Crowded: Could be too many cooks in the kitchen... :wink: I am assuming that is the room we are talking about?!?!:cool:

Now, how can a girl still be sad after this?????? :Thanx:

This place is TOO MUCH!!!:grouphug:

Natalie,
 

I was wondering about the anesthesia, if it could do that. I have been in a pretty good fog all week. Thought I was lifting out of it, until tonight when I hit the brick wall! :Bang-Head:I'm sure that is most likely part of it, as you have explained. Thanks so much!:hug:

Oh, that has to be a HUGE part of this. It's not so much the MS per se but purely physiological. Like I said the anesthesia is a depressant -- all depressants bring you down, down, down. I had a tonsillectomy a year ago. (DON'T ever get one of those). And I felt out of sorts, funky, and depressed for many days afterward. It took awhile to come out of it. Just make sure you are getting enough sleep and eating healthy. Stay away from sugar this week -- that can also cause lows (after the highs). :winky:

Well, I've ruled out rest tonight...
 

...but, aside from the hot cocoa... I have been eating nutrionally this week. Thanks!

Most of the time I'm upbeat, if realistic. Once in a while though...I can go from "Everything is gonna be all right" to "We're all gonna die" in the blink of a teary eye.

I try really hard to find a balance. I feel the need to be realistic: everything is NOT going to be just like the good ol' days. But I can choose to make the best of what I've got.

When the dark times hit, I remind myself not to let my emotions rule my thinking, and I hold tight to God's unchanging hand until daylight comes.

Some sound advice and good humor in the other posts you've received. Looks like you have lots of friends, old and otherwise. Step away from the hot chocolate for a moment--I'm going to get a running start and dive in!

Ew, Ew . . . :Excited: . . . I'm old! :D

I always find I recover slower from just about anything now, especially surgery. I think that we don't have a lot of excess energy at the best of times, then add on some drama, and down we go.

It's a bit of a rollercoaster, friend, but what goes down, must come up. :D

Cherie

Geez, I slept through the whole party. Any better today, F2U? It's a new day with a wide-open amusement park and no lines. Choose your ride and hop on! They all end eventually.;)

~~~~~~~~
Moose,
You always a-moose me.

((((((((((((((((Friend))))))))))))))))))

I was very depressed after my GB surgery.:( It does get better, in time. In the meantime...sending love and hugs and prayers.:hug:

i was having a super bad day at work and then made a new friend
 

out of the blue one of my work-friends revealed to me that his wife has ms....so
it is only month 3 of my dx and i haven't really told many people but it did really help to reach out (like you are doing)...now i am learning a lot from his (caregiver) perspective and i have her contact information so i can reach out to his wife...they are already giving me hints (fish oil???yuk!) they have been dealing with ms for 11 years...

i am certainly having some good mood swings...trying to move into acceptance but some days are more acceptable than others!:cool:
it is nice that my dbl vision is getting a lot better--i even wore contacts for the first time...but still hating the avonex shots and tiredness and ms....

Say...you got chocolates? (puts arm around F2U)

I hope everyday gets better for you and besides...we are all here for you!

:grouphug:

That is PAW....fully nice of you!
 

How sweet!!! Thanks for the pooh-bear hug! :hug:

Reality is good...
 

...mixed in with a lot of hope ... and just a "splash" of fun!!! Thanks for this!:hug:

Tante,
 

It is a sun-shiney day here. Two wild geese are at the pond in the back yard. One is "setting" on the bank under a tree, and the other is floating. How right is the world with them???? So, things can't be all that bad, can they?

Still cool enough for the last of the m.c. in a cup of hot cocoa, though! I'm thinking that may come before an afternoon nap!

Thanks for your positive thoughts!:wink:

Cherie,
 

I like your rollercoaster version...:) I think I've had it backward... forgetting the part that it does have to go back up! I'll hang on to this thought!

I think you have a point about the whole 'less excess energy' thing. Seriously, it really does seem to make the pendelum swing a whole lot lower on it's way down, which makes the way back up seem even longer.

I seem to be having an "Ah-ha! moment" more often these days. So either I'm learning a lot here lately, or just forgetting day by day, and learning things all over again..... Either way, I guess it kinda makes life surprising... don'cha just luv surprises?!?!

Hey Cheri, BTW, you had helped me out more than you probably are aware. I posted some replies to you on the "Crumbling" thread. But that thread is pretty old, so you may not have gotten them. I'm going to just half-time next school year. It is such a sense of relief, as hard as it was. But, for me, it was the time of year to make that decision with contracts coming out. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks!:hug:

Cindy,
 

Yes, it is a much brighter today.... thanks to God and a lot of newish, oldish, friends!

Oh my, decisions, decisions.... a ride of my choice. Think I would today, take the old standby, a little rowboat ride on the pond to take a closer look at those geese! NOW THAT REALLY SOUNDS OLD!!! But, wouldn't that be just loverly??? :wink: Unfortunately, I have no rowboat. But one could wish.... I'll leave the splashing water rides for B2U, since she jumped into my hot cocoa!!! :D

Thanks so much! You are (all) the best!:grouphug:

Thanks Sally,
 

It good to know, there is a reason for the depression and not just more MS junk! Not good that you had to go through it, so that is how you knew, though. :(

Thanks for your :hug: and prayers! :Girl(angel-flying): You are an angel!

BTW, you have two pretty cutie angels in your photo! I'll bet they make everything worthwhile, don't they???!!!:wink:

Dear Volada,
 

This is all STILL SO NEW to you. And here you are reaching out to me... how nice that you made that connection at work. This is why NT is so great for me, I haven't made a real personal connection yet. But even if I did, everyone here is STUCK WITH ME now!!!

I am sorry about your vision problems. I hope you Avonex shots go well. I was taking Beta, but am off it for now. I see the neuro tomorrow. Maybe he'll have an idea of what to do next. Good luck to you! You are in my thoughts and prayers!
~a friend

Taffy Likes Chocolate???
 

... come on over!!! Chocolate is ALWAYS A GOOD THING!

Thanks for being there... everyone just doesn't know how much that means!
:grouphug: Well, actually, you all do know!!! You are the best!

Hi F2Y~ I'm not a night owl, so sorry I didn't see this sooner. I'm glad you came online and found "friends" to talk to though. Isn't that one of the best things about NT?

Please take care of yourself and it would be a good idea to squeeze a nap in today, as your body is still healing. :hug:


http://dl2.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...tm7oztj31v.gif

Well, I might not be an "old friend", but I am old and I would love to be your friend!

And I just wanted to tell you that everything is going to be okay!

Yes MS sucks. Yes your life is different than it used to be...

But your life is going to be different than it used to be even if you DIDN'T have MS.

Life is constantly changing...and some of the changes are harder to deal with than others.

But given enough time, you'll adjust. How could you not, with all these new friends you have! :grouphug:

:D


I'm glad you are starting to take care of number one, which is a very difficult transition for many of us. But just think of how much spare time you will have (to take care of others ;)) when you aren't working full time any more . . . :D

I do have one concern though, friend. Do you have LTD coverage at your company? If you do, could you lose that benefit if you move to part-time work?

My LTD plan did not have the option to collect "partial benefits", which actually worked out best for me in the long run anyway. If I had down-graded to a p/t job along the way, and still had to leave the workforce, I would have either not received LTD (after working p/t for a while), or I would have only gotten p/t LTD benefits (by the time I finally retired).

As it was, I worked from home for the last two years, on a full-time basis, and when I couldn't do that any more, I moved to full-time LTD (first short-term, then long-term).

I would just hate for you to miss out on that benefit because you down-graded your career along the way . . . when you perhaps should have just left the workforce and collected full time benefits from the get-go. . . :hug:

Sounds like you still have a bit of time to do some inquiries and re-think your decision, if necessary.

Cherie

Cherie,
 

Cherie,
You make a very interesting point. There is SO MUCH TO THINK ABOUT... but I do have to think about my LTD. I AM DEFINITELY GOING TO CALL AND CHECK ON THAT... I 'think' that I could still take full time disability at anytime. But now, I'm not sure. Thank you for mentioning this. Sometimes, the facts can all get muttled when an important decision is at stake! Yes, I do have sometime to work with, which is a good thing. It's a tough decision, as you know. And I know, I will find a good use of my time. Probably spend almost as much time, just doing other things at a less stressful level.
Thanks!:)

Thanks!
 

That is a good point, life is always changing. I've heard it said,
"CHANGE IS THE ONE THING YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON!"
More than ever, I believe that now.

Thanks for your kind words!