Thanks, all of you...you mean the world to me...:hug:

Barb, when I read your post I thought you wrote you were going to back your car into the mailbox...I wondered what you'd gotten in the mail lately that would make you so mad at the box:rolleyes:
Glad you seem to be improving...:hug:

Jenn, what are your clues re: a flareup? I hope you can get rid of the sinus stuff...lots of that going around:hug:

Kelly, aren't you going to bring the kitty in? You are a sucker for those little furballs, aren't you?;) Do you have a vaporizer or something like that? My inlaws run one, and it's helped, even a little thing like that. I turn my heat down from 68 to 66 at night, just so it isn't so dry in here.

Hope everyone stays safe and warm this weekend...January thaw is coming next week:D

We're getting more snow today. Not really sticking, just dry powder that is swirling around. Winds have the stuff going completely horizontal as it falls. I had to venture out in the stuff. I decided I had better go see my nurse practioner and get antibiotics for the UTI. I hurt so bad from my waist to my knees all night. She also fixed me up with foams and potions for the other end issues.

Finlady, I hope you kick this stuff. My UTI is really aggravating some MS symptoms..particularly the muscle fatigue, cog fog and my thighs have spasms for the time ever. :hug:

:hug: Barb, glad to hear your pain is lessening... gives me hope:o . I have never used the foam medication before, so that will be an ugh...interesting adventure.

Debbie, I hear you on the inlaws! My DHs mom has very early Alzheimers. They started her on Aricept, but she watched the TV commercials for it and decided she had all the side effects and stopped it. :rolleyes: My poor sis-in-laws battle with her daily about it. I sat down with her and explained how it could slow down the memory loss and we could find other things to help with the side effects...she's mulling it over. Now I have my mom who is in denial about having diabetes. :hug:

Sandy, there are days I would love to go find a bed and breakfast somewhere and hide! :hug:

Kelly, there may be more snow on the way, we are still getting it and expect more tomorrow! Warm days coming next week though.

:grouphug:

Most of the flares I've had come with no warning. One moment fine, and then the next I've got a new symptom. But once in a blue moon I get warning with old symptoms I haven't seen for awhile coming out and being uber tired. It also happens when I'm just plain sick, so I'm just hoping it's my sinuses. Which is why I'd see the GP first.

Pam, I sent you a pm regarding the foam.

Jenn, Are you using some type of neti pot? It seems to help me a bit.

Spasticity has been much worse the past few days. I assume it is due to the cold. I wake up in the morning and it is not too bad, but by afternoon my rib cage on the left side feels as it is being crushed and my left leg feels like a board.

On a different note, I went to see "It's complicated" last weekend. (Can you believe I took a pillow to sit on?:o I have lost all dignity.) Anyway, I am glad I went to the movie. Laughed a lot -- Alec Baldwin was a hoot and Meyrl Streep is always good in my opinion.

I totally agree, Barb...it takes a man really happy in his skin to reveal it the way he did;)
I enjoyed seeing Steve Martin again, too. I always liked him. And Meryl is the queen, IMHO...
We laughed so hard...it's so much better seeing a comedy like that in the movie theatre...

hi all ...

just real quick .. been thinking .. again! :eek:

I didn't have a meltdown since chit-chatting with the lawyer on wednesday - no one could ever ruin that day ... 15 years ago, I held my mom as she went to a new world ...

the lawyer now (although word is that the appeals hearing is coming up in February) ... wants me to find a new PCP and neuro, so that they are 'local' ... nope, I'm not stressing ...

I see my PCP on Monday - and will inform him .. see what happens ...

lots to do ... thinking of a new art level ... okay - bye for now!! :D

Hi Everybody! :grouphug:

I made it home and hugged my kitties. Rocky is having urinary symptoms, the guys didn't notice the signs. :( I gave him some dry food soaked in water and pushing the water tonight. If he doesn't improve by tonight and better by morning he's going in for a vet visit in the morning. My poor sweet little pumpkin. :(

Everything else is ok. Daisy is bigger and has changed in just five days. :)

The training went great this week and I held my own with the twenty-somethings. :) I was very proud of myself.

They give very detailed and advanced sales and customer service training and I enjoyed it greatly. I think I may have found my niche. :)

Sleep well everybody and have a good weekend. :grouphug:

Wiz, I hope Rocky feels better. I remember when Tigger had those problems. I'm so glad I took him into the vet....even though it was Saturday.....because a cat's condition can worsen so quickly especially with these types of issues. It's been several years since his initial attack and, with the help of special dry food (Royal Canin Urinary SO) he hasn't had anymore issues. Keep us posted on Rocky! :hug:

Wiz, sorry to hear about Rocky. :hug::hug:

~~~~~

Good news on the sinus front - the congestion is breaking up. Of course, my nose has been running non-stop since late last night. But definitely like that better than the pressure. :)

Take care everyone! :grouphug::grouphug:

Jenn -- glad you are feeling a bit better.

It is 4 degrees here. I am not sure what the wind chill is. I am beginning to think that the hot, humid summers in Austin, Texas would be better than winter here. Still dealing with pain in the *** and increased spasticity. I need to go to the drugstore to get a prescription refilled, but ... Not in the best of moods right now:eek:.

It is sooooo cold here today. Right now the thermometer says it's 11 degrees. It's supposed to get up to 27, tho! I have the water dripping in all faucets in the house trying to prevent burst water pipes.

The fire department was in our cul de sac this morning......lots of black smoke coming from the woods in the neighbor across the street's house. Still not sure what was going on but it's stopped now and the trucks have left.

Our county did pretty good but other counties in the NW area weren't so lucky. Lots of stranded motorists and fender benders. Why can't people just stay home unless it's an emergency?

There was a story on the news about a dog (cocker spaniel) that fell through some ice on a pond and the fire department rescued him. He was so cute....looked so cold but they said he's doing fine now and his owner has come to get him. Bless its heart.

I put some bird seed out for the birdies this morning. I don't know how they manage to keep warm but they're all out there pigging out so I guess they're doing okay. Their water bowl has frozen and cracked! :eek:

Everyone stay warm. Even the folks in Florida are getting a taste of this arctic blast.

Rocky is better today now that his mommy is home. :) He had some icky stuff stuck to his fuzzy bottom too and I had to trim it because he wouldn't let anybody else do it. He's clean and his bladder symptoms are clearing up. He just needed his water mixed in with his food. I also gave him some fish oil last night because that helps with inflammation. The vet said the urinary problems are due to inflammation and that he could have 500mg of fish oil daily as a preventative.

This is my fault because I didn't educate the guys well enough before I left. They're all going to have detailed instructions in the future. I don't want my little fuzzy babies to suffer.

Today I need to do laundry and repack my stuff for next week. I also need to do the taxes for the home office and finish up the last details of the old company.

They gave me a demo phone for training purposes and I want to play with that if I get the time. :)

Everybody have a good weekend and stay warm. :grouphug: Hugs, love and healing vibes going out to all who need them. :grouphug:

hi all,
update on me!! well, headed to work Friday, feeling fine, a bit of a cold coming on... well wham WHAM, started feeling a bit OFF< eye a blurring... (I did take the Migrane medicine neuro wanted me to try when this stuff starts.. the dizzy starts... he was just wanting to make sure they are not migranes... nope does not help) anyhow...so eye a blurring... then start feeling weirded out... within a bit, balance becoming off.. and my mind lost, and then wham... dizzied out!!
my eyes become where they just want to close... :eek:

so bad, once again, had to call home for a ride, and leave ASAP!! this has happened over the last few years like 2 or 3 times a year... uggggggg

at one point I thought maybe it is caused stress, the vertigo stuff... as a few times were always when at work... you know when thinking of all I gotta do in short spans.. never having enough time. But then when thinking back I had one when on a work trip that was a fun time... nothing bothering me... or once happened when home on vacation, laying outside in nice weather for december...68 and relaxing.. then wham. So, who knows.

Been thru ENT stuff, and ruled out stuff inner ear wise I guess... some positional testing.. (never have it again... tests that end up making you dizzy uggg but passed those as well)

anyhow.... just seems like only thing that helps is sleep!! I have done the antivert, and dramamine for it.. no luck... oh I guess I could try valium script they gave me to try... but might not have anymore expired... but might have tried it gotta read my notes lol...

I come home if not here when happens, and wall walk myself to the bedroom... and fall down... sleep usually 6-8 hours and then wake and fine.

any tips from anyone that gets vertigo let me know...

anyhow that is my update... now today though suffering from sore throat and stuffy nose... hugssss,sarah

Good Morning! Am I the first person here this morning?!

Still very cold here and won't even get to the freezing mark today. They're saying next week, by Thursday, we'll be in the 50's. I'll believe it when I see (and feel) it. Having the heat on so much in the house is drying my skin out. I'm itchy and have to keep applying lotion.

I threw some birdseed out this morning for the birds and the bluejays are making the biggest racket you've ever heard! They're either announcing it to their friends or warning other birds to stay away. I can't tell which!

I'm not doing much today. DS has stayed the weekend with some college friends so it's been quiet here. I'm not venturing out anywhere alone till this ON clears up. I do okay in the house, where I keep it fairly dark and know my way around. Once I get out into the bright sunlight and unfamiliar territory I start stumbling around. My big outing was Friday when DS drove me to the grocery store! :o I ran into a Tylenol display with my buggy and nearly knocked the whole thing over!! :eek: I'm glad he saw it.....now he knows why I won't drive right now!! :cool:

Ya'll stay warm and be careful if you go out anywhere. Make sure you have blankets, gloves and hats in the car "just in case". I sound so much like my mother. No......I AM my mother!! :rolleyes:

Uber cold here today. Brrrrrr. single digits thus far. Want to crawl back under the covers until spring. :)

Stay safe everyone! :grouphug::grouphug:

Sarah, It is good that you are able to sleep off the vertigo.

Kelly, Itching here too.

Jann, Still single digits here too. Yesterday, the temperature went all the way to nine degrees. Of course, that is without factoring in the wind chill.

I have not been out since Wednesday. I have to go out today as I ran out of one prescription. I am going to wait until about noon; hopefully I can navigate the sidewalks. I really need to switch my prescriptions to Walgreen's as it has a drive through, but I like the folks at CVS. If I am feeling adventurous, I may go to the grocery store too.

Classes start tomorrow so my hibernation period is over. Hopefully, the forecasters are correct in saying the temp is supposed to be in the low thirties soon.

Hope you are all doing well. My one problem is slowly improving. Spasticity in rib cage and leg seem worse.:rolleyes:

Hi Everyone!

Sarah - DD18 gets vertigo. When I had her in the ER they gave her the Antivert as well as Valium. The ER dr was explaining that Valium works directly on the vestibular nerve and is one of the only meds that will do that. Her 2nd major attack we treated with just Valium and she did great after a couple of days.

All of you in COLD weather - It is "uber" (Jenn's term) warm here. It is supposed to be in the 70s today. I will try to send some your way.

Today DD18 and I will be tackling her laundry and packing. She goes back to school tomorrow. She is so, so excited to get back to her friends and college/dorm life. It makes me feel good that she is so happy there. :)

Have a great day everyone!

I wish I were as excited as your daughter about classes starting.

Sarah, my hubby gets vertigo like that with migraines. He said if he gets sparklies there is no headache. IF he gets the zigzagged lines in his vision, then his head hurts. He also gets really tired and HAS to lay down and sleep.

Have you been tested for food allergies? We narrowed down that his are caused by nuts. Mostly peanuts, but almonds and pecans also can trigger one. We later found out that nut allergies run his family. For his grandmother it was citrus fruit and nuts that caused her migraines.
:hug:

It's still cold here. The birds have been flocking to my bradford pear tree eating all the little buds and berries. They were in my garden picking off bugs and seeds.

I'm still battling the UTI. THe antibiotic is making me nauseated, so I'm not eating. At least the little red pills knock out the pain and I can sleep.
:grouphug:

Feel better soon, Pam. I'm still battling this darn ON so I'm under "house arrest", too. Wish we lived closer.....we could visit and share our misery!! :cool:

The weather forecasters are predicting warmer weather next week. I doubt it will get into the upper 50's like they're saying. But even the 40's would be nice. It's still very cold here today.

Made it to the drugstore. The sidewalks are still a mess around here.:mad: Spasticity seems to be getting worse, especially around my rib cage and back (just the left side). I never know if this is considered the "hug" or not. I just took 1/2 of a clonazepam; hoping it helps.

Pam -- What are the little red pills? I want one!:rolleyes:

Barb, does it feel like you've pulled a muscle in your ribcage? That's what my "hug" feels like. Mine was right after I had my yard sale so I figured I had pulled something lifting and moving stuff around. Duh......after it didn't get better in a few days it dawned on me that it was the "hug". You'd think by now I'd recognize it. I don't get it very often.

I think the little red pills Pam mentioned might be the cranberry pills? I'm not sure.

LOL, Barb I wish they worked on the other problem. The little red ones are Pyridium...bladder pain stoppers!

I do need to get back on the cranberry pills. I forgot those the last few days!

:grouphug:

Hello! I better check in before you call the search squad out! LOL We're all Ok here.

To all those having stiffness, Jim feels your pain. Even mj isn't touching it at times. I swear the cold weather is brutal on those with ms. So is the heat but the cold seems to stiffen up the muscles so much more. That's what Jim says about him. The heat makes him a noodle though.

Anyway huge :hug: to all those having pain and UTI issues. :hug:

I have some good news though! I booked our cabin for our 25th anniversary! It's in Pigeon Forge Tennessee and the owner gave us half off! And he's letting Bergie stay in the cabin with us! WHOOHOO!

Here's the pics. I will be broke from now until April paying for it. It's Ok though because we never had a honeymoon so this can be the one we never had. We didn't need such a large cabin but this is all they had with wheelchair access. Our bonus! We'll get lost in it. LOL

http://luxurycabinrentals.net/photo-galleries/22/

If you can't see the images good, just right click and hit zoom in.

Sandy -- OOOH! Looks really nice!!!

Kelly, My first symptom prior to my first flare was a feeling of pain/tightening in my rib cage. Then the left side of my body from the rib cage down went numb. I do have a lesion in the T area of my spine. The feeling of tightness has never gone away, although at times (like now) it is worse. I feel a constant squeezing pain in my rib cage and back on the left side. It has been gradually getting worse over the past week. I hope that it is due to the cold weather. The clonazepam seemed to help a bit. It also bothers me less when I am laying flat on my back. I don't think I can do that in class tomorrow:).

Good morning. Have been up since 5:00. I am getting ready to leave for school. My break is over. I know I am really lucky to have had three weeks off, but I still could use another week. I wasn't able to sleep last night-- think I am dealing with the first day jitters. I can't believe I still get them after teaching for 24 years. I hope that I have good classes. It seems that everyone is a bit grumpy during the first few months of "Spring" semester. and then it will be Spring Break!:rolleyes:

It looks like I have been talking to myself on here.:)

Hey all!

Sandy...that cabin is beooootiful. You two are going to have a great
time.:)

Kel...I hope it warms into the 50's for you real soon....feel better!:hug:

Sarah...feel better...maybe pam is right and you have some food triggers.
My son's girlfriend has those problems and needs to go to bed straightaway
and then she is fine!:hug::hug:

tricia...Im glad you had a nice time with your dd.:hug:

wiz....good luck this week.

barb...happy back to school!!!!:hug:

Pam...How are you feeling today?

fin, moo, holly, weav,vonn, debd...everyone have a great day!

my update: still struggling with hip/back issues...they cranked my excercises
up at pt so I am having a lot of difficulties. Beyond that things are good
and busy.

We went to a football party at my brothers yesterday...oooh, bad game.:(
But the food was good. I made my famous Captn Crunch chicken fingers(well,
famous in my family, lol), they were yummy.:)

Well, I have nothing going on until pick up at school, so I have to put
away the Christmas(I know, its about time). Then an evening meeting later.

Everyone have a wonderful week!:grouphug:

Barb, hope the first day of classes goes well for ya! :hug::hug:

Sandy, totally awesome cabin. Hope you guys have a great time!

Everyone, :grouphug::grouphug:

~~~~~~

Well, we've had evidence of how hard it is for animals to find food this time of year. This is the first time ever we had deer tracks in our front lawn. :eek: Of course, most of the stuff they planted in here attracts them, and bunnies (including the huge mutant one, guess he's been getting plenty to eat, lol!)

The past few weeks has been a learning experience with pain and figuring out which is Fibro and which is MS related. Luckily getting some relief here and there, but it's been fun!

Off to go putter around the house and do some chores. Hope everyone has a good day. :grouphug::grouphug:

Good Morning! Just fed the birds.......they're pigs! They can eat all day! Especially the blue jays.

Sandy, the cabin is gorgeous! I'd love to live in a place like that. I hope ya'll have fun and relax. You deserve it.

Not doing much today. Probably some laundry and filing away some receipts that I have stacked up.

Everyone stay warm and be safe if you venture out in this cold weather. :grouphug:

Morning all! It was another rough night with mom but we all talked again and things are calmer again. She constantly throws up to us she will go to a nursing home and quite frankly I am sick of hearing about it. Jim overheard it and told her if we are so bad then go on and go. I made her apologize to him and that about killed her. haha She's not one to apologize. It all started when I told my sister she was doing well except for her meds. She is really having trouble with acceptance. We told her she could live on her own if she would move by my sister and she refused to live where she'd need to which is close to sis. She wants to choose and it ****** her off that we said she'd have to live close to sis. So, I told her she has to live here or meet us halfway. That's when the NH came in. :rolleyes:

Anyway, like I told her she had food in her tummy, clothes on her back and a roof over her head. There are millions who would give anything to have that. Even those in a nursing home wished their family would let them come live with them.

I have two emails out to get her involved with something. Of course she says we should wait to see what the doctor says. I don't get that, we just saw him. LOL I think she's nervous about meeting others but she's too outgoing to be shy too long. It will do her good. We have a ladies club here at the lake that meets once a month and another sub part of that group that meets every Monday to make crafts to raise money. I also have an email to the local church for the food pantry. I think she'd enjoy the ladies club better though so we'll see.

Other than that, nothing going on. I need to do some laundry and switch out our sheets after I get Jim up and going. We are so exciting.

:hug;

fin...Im glad you are finding some relief. sometimes its so hard to judge the
reason for all of our health problems.:hug:

Morning everyone! Another busy day here. Finishing up laundry and then moving DD18 back in to the dorm.

Tomorrow will be busy as well. My parents lemon tree is overloaded with lemons. The day I was supposed to go over to take some off the tree, my mom had to cancel. It was not a good day for her as she was busy taking down decorations and my dad wasn't feeling too well. So, my brother and I will be going over tomorrow to take ALL the lemons off the tree. Anyone need lemons? lol There are places in town that we can bring them to and my SIL is going to juice a bunch and freeze the juice for lemonade, cooking, etc.

Hope you all have a great day! Need to get back to researching ideas to supplement my SSDI.:eek: A normal job is not an option for me and I finally came to terms with that. I think if the neuro hears me ask her that 1 MORE TIME, she's going to bop me on the head. :D

Have a great day everyone!:hug::grouphug:

Sandy, love the cabin! Ya'll will really enjoy that. We may move up near Tullahoma for DHs work and there is a log home up that way that we have our eye on. Sorry to hear mom is letting herself get worked up over the changes she has had to make.

Barb, I hope the first day back is going well. My son starts his class tomorrow. He's tackling a big computer programming class so he is only doing one this term. Plus he is going to work some this semester.

Sox, FIn, Weave... :grouphug: HOpe you all feel better soon. Kitty and Tkrk :hug:

I'm doing some better. DH is on a business trip to FL. SO I can be lazy and no cooking. My sons usually fix their own meals. Plans are to clear out my craft closet and get it organized and clean my sewing machine. I'm getting the urge to sew something. Maybe some pj bottoms or a coat. Can't decide.

Pam, Jim and I may move near Tullahoma if the Smokies don't work out. My cousin lives there.

Made it through day one. Going to go lay down. Stiffness/spasticity is making me really *itchy:(.

Sox -- What is your recipe for Captain Crunch chicken? I used to get it at Planet Hollywood and loved it.

Barb, hope you get some rest. :hug::hug:

Trish, that's pretty cool that they have lemon trees. That would definitely lead to a lot of fresh squeezed lemonade around here. :)

~~~~~

Happiness is finding a recipe that you thought was lost for all time. :) Found my grandmother's recipe for German meatballs. It goes with a variation of stroganoff sauce, so can't wait to try it out!!! Poor hubby and being my guinea pig for recipes, lol!

I'm hoping the weather man is right in a warm up later this week. Never thought I'd be looking forward to it being in the 30s again. :D

Take care everyone! :grouphug::grouphug:

Hey Barb...I had the chicken at their DC restaurant...the chef gave me
the recipe....yum. If you want it, I will send it to you!:)