And This Happened

I am on my last days of a Covid-19 scare. I say “scare” loosely because I was positive that I had not contracted the virus. “How do I know?” you ask. Well the way my health is set up, I would have easily known a while ago. Yes, I know people can be asymptomatic, but it wouldn’t have been me. On top of my health conditions, my MS medication also suppresses my immune system. I am a prime candidate for infection. A practitioner that I had visited contracted the virus and I had seen him within days of him being infected. I received a call from the health department saying that I had to quarantine for 14 days. Mind you, I had been free and socializing for about 7 days of my quarantine. Thank God my boss acted with precision and quickness when I told her I had been exposed. I had already been off work and quarantining before I received the call from the health department. My practitioner had let me know a few days earlier.

I dislike rules unless they make sense to me. I understand the need to self quarantine to keep others protected from a possible infection. So even though I dislike having to stay at home all day, everyday by myself, it is a rule I will follow. It became a little tougher when the lady at the health department said even if I test negative, I am still have to quarantine for the required amount of days. Booooo! Lol. I guess it is a good thing that I live alone. To have to quarantine in the house with someone else? I can’t imagine living in the house with someone and not being able to touch them? Eat dinner with them? Look at them? Have sex with them? That seems like a different kind of hell. I know a person who is going through that right now. Best believe this enforced isolation inspired me to reach out and check on them.

I am an introvert and slightly anti-social. I spend time with who I want, when I want. When you don’t have a choice though, it is a whole different story. I started to fall apart a little bit. I was fine earlier in the day at the start of quarantine. When the sun was shining brightly through my window. When I talked to my mom and my friend Shayla. When my friend Monica dropped off some fruit and a cupcake, which I didn’t need. But as the sky went dark and what looked like 9 pm but was really 6:30 pm, my mood changed. I started to get a little sad. I was actually suppose to have dinner and drinks with two of my friends over the weekend. These plans had been made a month ago. And I have 4 more days of this!?!?!?!

Listen people, I am struggling but I am okay. I don’t want anyone to think I am depressed or anything. Really, I am just being a brat. This is temporary. I wasn’t even going to write about this. But I got to thinking about people who are isolated due to the pandemic or any other life situation and I decided to be their voice. If I am struggling after only a few days, what are these people going through mentally, emotionally, physically? Human touch is so important. I remember when I used to deliver meals to seniors (best job ever!). There was a lady who lost her husband. I gave her a hug and I am one of those weirdos that don’t really get into physical touch. I just knew she needed it. A few days later when I went by she told me that I made her feel better with just a hug. Amazing, right!?!?!

My Covid-19 scare has solidified a few things. For one, it just goes to show how easily a person can be infected. Two, it also shows how irrevocably a person’s life can be changed. My practitioner is the only one in his office. His business is at a standstill and his employees are now laid off. There is even a chance that one or more of his employees may have contracted the virus as well. I am sure he will bounce back, but countless others have not. Three, people who are isolated from others are not okay. I don’t care if they are isolated due to the pandemic or other health conditions that are not allowing them out into the world. They are struggling even if they do not say it. Check on your people. They need to see you, if even through a damn window or door. They need to hear your voice. They need you!

It is so important for us to continue to stay on guard. This virus is not going anywhere people. Mask on and up in its proper position. Let’s protect each other. Let’s not be careless. But also, let’s not live in fear. Continue to be mentally (if I never said it before) and physically well and whole. Much love to you all ๐Ÿงก๐Ÿ’š

P.S. I did receive the results back from my test. I am negative for Covid-19.

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It’s Levels To This, MS Awareness Fall Edition

Happy Halloween ๐ŸŽƒ. This is the last day of October MS Awareness Month. I woke up this morning at 2:58 am, teeth chattering, whole body shaking and curled in the fetal position. Did I take my Aleve yesterday? Nope! So here I am experiencing flu like symptoms associated with my medication. As soon as I stretched out to get up to grab the Aleve I knew it was all bad. My right leg locked into place and my left leg had a cramp shooting up the back. This is one of those times I wished I lived with someone. Specifically a significant other. It was a small challenge getting off the toilet. Lol. I know, TMI ๐Ÿ™„. Anyway, lesson learned.
So it is levels to this multiple sclerosis shit. Lol. I am still on the lowest level, relapsing remitting. Or so I thought. Studies are now talking about Clinically Isolating Syndrome (CIS). It is identified as having symptoms of multiple sclerosis but cannot be confirmed through a MRI, yet. They may start a person on disease modifying medication to slow down or delay the progression into full blown MS. This information is new to me. I did know about the other types that I am going to discuss in this post. The next level is secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Then there is primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). And this level they rarely talk about any longer, progressive relapsing multiple sclerosis (PRMS)
Relapsing remitting MS is when a person will have an episode/relapse and the symptoms retreat/remit on their own or with the assistance of steroid medication. The majority of people, about 80%, who are diagnosed with MS start at this level.
The next level, secondary progressive MS, effects people who start with relapsing remitting MS. This level is determined by continued loss of function and abilities with little remittance. There may be times were it stabilizes and a person does well, but it continues to decline. A person with this form of MS may go from using a cane to a wheelchair.
Primary progressive MS is similar to secondary progressive but this is the level you start at. It is categorized by a steady decline of one’s health and functioning with no remittance. A person with this form of MS can have brief periods where the disease is stable or there is progression without any new lesions. This type of MS affects about 15% of people who diagnosed.
Then here is the obscure MS, progressive relapsing multiple sclerosis. Similar to primary progressive MS, this type steadily worsens from the onset. Symptom flare ups with or without remissions are present as well. As more research is done and types of MS are being reclassified, progressive relapsing MS is not being labeled as much. To me, it sounds just like primary progressive MS. That may be why they are getting rid of this label.
Well I hope that the information I have shared this month shined a little light on this growing disease. This is a link to the National MS Society that includes graphs of how each progress over time.
When I was diagnosed with MS I only knew of famous people that had it. Now I know about 6 people who either already had it or have been diagnosed over the last 10 years. Smh. I think I get so annoyed that more and more people are developing this disease and the researchers still don’t have a clue why. The information in regards to MS is stagnant. Really no new developments over the last 40 years. The only thing that has changed is a growing list of new medications.
If you know someone with MS or you have MS and would like to share your story, please email me at elsims27@yahoo.com. I want to share my platform. If you have any questions about MS after reading these posts, leave a comment below or you can message me at the email above. Be safe this Halloween night. And continue to be well and whole. Much love ๐Ÿงก ๐Ÿ’š

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Book 43, MS Awareness Fall Edition

*Quick update*
I reached my campaign goal on my crowdfunding page for my Alinker! I am so thankful to everyone who donated, shared my link and prayed for me. I couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you. Thank you so much. Now the team at Alinker will begin to create a bike just for me. It takes about 6 – 8 weeks before it is delivered. I will surely share pictures when it gets here and record my maiden voyage.

At 5:29 am on October 27, 1977, a little milk chocolate drop was born at Riverside Hospital in Toledo, Ohio. Twenty days past her original due date. According to her mom, she was dried out and hairy. Not cute at all. I believe I stayed in there the extra time to make sure I was born a Scorpio ๐Ÿฆ‚. Lol. It is my season and it has started off really well. Here it is, Book 43.

The morning of my birthday, I woke up early and prayed to God. I thanked Him for everything in my life up until this point. I thanked him for the blessings that are to come. I just talked to God. One thing I thought about as I talked was the decisions I have made with the free will He has allowed me to have. I have went left so many times on this path I’m not sure how many rights it will take me to get back on the original path. Or if at times along this journey I have cross corrected and I just need to make one more right. Just one more to get back on the correct path. Who knows?

When I was younger and I would see this picture of myself, I always felt like I was still in this moment. I had this weird feeling that I was dreaming my whole life out before I actually lived it. Honestly, I think I kinda stopped thinking this only about 8 – 10 years ago. Something in me still holds on to the idea a little bit. I think I am just so fascinated with the possibility of the idea. To this baby, my life is a quick nap in her carrier.

To this 43 year old woman, this is life in the matrix.

I love the saying, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience” by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. This saying allowed me to be so much more aware of what it means to live. I am experiencing life. And I get to decided if it will be a good experience or a bad one. I am determined to make my brief time here on this earth a good experience. How about you?

Though the majority of my goals were set on January 1st, I can say that a good portion of them have already been accomplished and that makes me happy. For once I am not feeling a lingering sadness at another year gone by. Wondering what have I done? And why I didn’t do more? I did some shit this year and I am proud of myself for it! I will continue to strive and reach as many of my other goals as possible before the end of the year and set new ones as I go. I won’t let MS or this pandemic stop me!

It was a great birthday. I spent time with my friends laughing, drinking and eating. Creating new memories to last a lifetime. I also received the best gift with the completion of my campaign. What a day! I look forward to the challenges and accomplishments this new book will bring. Book 42 may read more like a short story. Book 43 is going to be the size of our Britannica Encyclopedias from when I was a kid. Stay tuned. As always, be well and whole. Much love ๐Ÿงก ๐Ÿ’š

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