I know, I know, you think I'm talking about my house and normally that would be the case, but today I'm talking about my recent diagnoses of MS and the shock of it all.

But the dust is settling, I'm slowly getting a grip and am starting to take charge of it all. WOW!!! Just think if I was female - I could be WONDER WOMAN!!!!!! One of my favorite shows as a kid I might add

Anywho, I need to say THANK YOU to all of you for such kind words as always in helping me get through this. This is only the beginning and I am sure there are going to be some real challenges ahead.

But Dana, Condor, Debbie3674, Liz, and absolutely everyone else. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and everywhere else!!!!

Chin Up as always!!!

Mark xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Mark,
((Hugs)) Sweetie. I am so glad to see this post from you. I can't even say how glad. I was pretty worried after your last post, and I have 3 or 4 different replies that I started, but couldn't finish, as I just didn't know what to say. On top of everything else, I was also very worried about you getting "stuck", if you know what I mean? I get "stuck".....and it sucks.

I wanted to tell you to go ahead and cry....because that needs to be done, but I wanted to tell you to not let yourself get overwhelmed, and get "stuck" and only be able to cry....and nothing else. Does that makes sense? I have had that happen....and it is a bad thing. And, it is sometimes an easy thing to have happen. All TOO easy, at least for me. But, every time that I tried to say this.....it came out sounding so wrong. Sounding like I was being hard, or cold, or something? Or, maybe I was just worrying about it too much, I don't know. I do do that a lot; worry too much about saying things, and how to say them, and how they sound when read...so much so, that most times, I just wind up being quiet, rather than possibly making things worse for someone because I word things weirdly. But, then that makes it seem that I don't care...and that is wrong, because I DO! Very much.

Hmmm. Need to work on that, don't I? LOL

Anyway...I am very glad that you posted this today. I am glad that you have gotten over the initial shock of the dx, and have gotten your chin back up again. One of the things that I kept trying to say in the many posts that you never got on here, is that the dx you got sucks, but...at least you now have a name for the things that you have been dealing with for a while now. Now you know what you are up against, and how to attack it from here. You aren't in the dark anymore, wondering what is wrong, or what is going on....and neither are your docs. NOW you can get on the warpath, and FIGHT! And, Sweetie...you know that you have this WHOLE forum standing right beside and behind you, to carry you through this as best we can. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!

Can't you just picture us all? Standing there with all of our Chins Up defiantly, ready to take on the world and whatever else it decides to throw our way? We aren't Three, we are Many..but we can still borrow (steal..ROFL) the "All For One, and One For All"..(dang..I forget what you call that? Not a slogan....? Crap! Oh well..you know what I mean) Thingie!

Like Dana asked you...what can I do to help? You just let me know...I am here, and I am ready to do anything that I can. ((((Hugs)))) Sweetie.

I hope that you have a good day, and an even better weekend. And remember.....Chin(s!! LOL) Up!

Love and ((hugs))
Jose

Hey brudda,

howzit? so ya tink ya cn handle. Not wit out ya ohana (family). Ya see you at one kind side of da mainland, I over hea in da middle of da ocean. So far away. All points covered ya see inbetween wit da kin...(people) ok...hard to write pigeon...broken english. So on to regular writing.

In other words. I'm glad that you had a day and 1/2 to get over the initial shock of your new "reality"...of the diagnosis of MS. But as we know this is going to be a rough road.

I'm sure you are really leary of knocking on the door of the MS board. But, of course, when you get some time you should go say hello. Introduce yourself and let those good people give you some pointers, some instructions, some some good old fashion help. Hopefully they will be nice, supportive and not be a bunch of goofballs. laffs.....and if anybody here from the MS boards read this...I'm just saying goofballs meaning arguing. Mark, you are a just such a lovely man, I only want them to treat you gently! So go there with your "chin up" and if you find them not your "cup of tea"...log on to the Yahoo Boards and find a group that is more suiting to you....maybe a cup of hot cocoa or coffee, instead.

In closing I will say...Try to look and find something good, funny and beautiful in every day. This is a hard task under the circumstances. But you know how laughter and smiles is so important in keeping our stress levels down.

Shaka!

Dana

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Hi Mark,

I'm sorry to hear of your new diagnosis - but glad to hear that you are
beginning to accept it.

Chin up!

Hugs,
Judy

I don't drink. But it sure is about time I did! And I need Condor to set me up with a subscription to his magazine I'm gonna take off all my clothes and run through the streets singing "I wanna be freeze".

Paula Abdul needs to be ***** slapped for not taking advantage of her access to the media to help us. She owes us this much and I stand on my ground about it.

I love you all. Jose, Dana, Condor Dana, Debbi3674 and everyone else and I stand my ground on this as well.

I'm angry, sad, frustrated, and motivated all at the same time. I have so much more to be thankful of. You guys for one (especially you guys). My family, friends here in New England, My health as it is today, my pets, and so forth.

I have a brand new car sitting in my driveway loaded that I can't drive anymore, Anyone interested?

Losing your independence and relying others for everything really sucks but that is a thread for another day. Take care everyone please?????

Chin Up?????? Lets kick some RSD Buttock!!!!

Mark

Hey Mark,
I know you are familiar with this one. Life is like a rock, it's hard all over. My Drs at the VA made me feel real good one day. They told me just because I had TOS/RSD, doesn't mean I won't get something else. Made me feel wonderful. On a serious note, one of my friends has Fibro, and 2 weeks ago she was told she had MS. Primary Progessive 1 is what they told her. Her hubby and her own a mortgage company and were ready for retirement in a couple of years. She is now a cardholder and is staying away from some of the drugs the Drs prescribed. In Oregon, if you have a serious disease, you have more options on meds. Lots of articles on the news lately about MS and MMJ. It is not a joke, it really helps with the never ending pain. I wish you the best, and hope you don't ever give up. Lets see how this ride turns out. Everyday in Oregon is another day in paradise. Probably the closest to Heaven I will ever get. You know the old saying, Heaven don't want me and Hell won't take me. I'm stuck here for the duration.
stephen

When I was first Dx w/ Syringomyelia, I was feeling like this was the end of the world. Then my son was Dx w/ it as well. Two years later I severely fractured my radius and ulnar, resulting in RSD. Now I have a useless claw hand and am unemployed. Point is I sympathize...but it can get worse.
PS- What kind of new ride. I can drive w/ one hand E

like you always say mark, keep your chin up and continue to find out all that you can of the ms.......you will probably find many new friends on the ms board, but us oldies are still here for ya too.....
sure wish i had a script for condors magazine too.......

since you can't drive your new car, start a nice new 'virtual' trip for us all to enjoy...............
i will start with the chips and dips///////////////