The thermostat in my house is currently registering at 77 degrees Fahrenheit. I’m melting at my computer with all the activity I’ve been involved in today. Meanwhile, Lynn alternates between being hot and cold but mainly stays cold. Before the days of MS, Lynn’s body temperature ran hot. It could be the middle of winter, […]
One Minute He's Hot; the Next He's Cold Read More »
There are a multitude of emotions that play into being a caregiver or being the one with a chronic disease that needs care. Which emotion takes the front stage on any given day is affected by how you feel, how the other person feels, how much sleep you got the night before, and what else
Put Guilt Back in the Box Read More »
I experienced separation anxiety as a child. I didn’t like to leave home, rarely went to sleep-overs, and seriously considered my college choices based on how close they were to home so I “get” that feeling of longing to be close to someone I love and the slight edge of fear that comes when you
The Challenges of Separation Anxiety Read More »
As I was taking my morning dose of Advil (4 tablets rather than 2), I was curious about my future as a caregiver and what being a caregiver was doing to me personally. So, I thought I would see if any research had been done on that topic. The Family Caregiver Alliance had a comprehensive
The Impact of Caregiving on the Caregiver Read More »
I usually write my blogs on Saturdays because it’s the only time I don’t immediately have another obligation once I’m freed from routine caregiving. Today is beautiful The sun is shining, the air is warm, and there are no clouds on the horizon. I see a few bees buzzing around, and there are daffodils peeking
Finding Time for Normal Read More »
Before Lynn was diagnosed with MS, my experience with the condition was from a distance. I knew of a third cousin with it that family members talked about in sympathetic tones of doom. I had a few encounters with colleagues who had MS and who shared some of their struggles with me when they asked
There’s always a lot of hype that surrounds holidays, and Valentine’s Day is certainly right there, keeping pace with all the rest. It’s supposed to be a day to celebrate your love for one another in some special way with gifts, dinner out, and other more intimate ways of expression. I’ve never been overly romantic,
I Like Ours Better Read More »
There’s a lot of talk these days about healthcare reform and making sure the uninsured have coverage. I don’t want to debate the strengths and weaknesses of the law, but I do want to comment on the struggles associated with having a chronic health condition and how much is not considered when adding up the
Personally, I have never been good at exercising. I hate it. I might feel much better if I stayed with it for a while, but I’m so out of shape that I feel awful doing it. Not so for Lynn. He has always been good about doing some type of exercise almost every day. The
My Role as a Physical Therapist Read More »
Early in discovering how to cope with MS symptoms, the nurse who works in Lynn’s neurologist’s office suggested that he might want to see a registered dietician. Lynn was feeling pretty rough all the time. He had no energy, and more than that, he just felt bad. She shared that her husband had been seeing
Is There Really Anything to Being On An MS Diet? We Think so Read More »
If there’s one thing I have learned in caring for my spouse, it’s that to keep him healthy and functioning at his optimum level; I have to take a holistic approach to his care. Taking drugs to prevent exacerbations helps prevent significant loss of function; however, if his body is not in the best shape
Arsenic, Mercury, and Lead – What do They Have to Do with MS? Read More »
For you folks who have lived in the northern states, the reaction of us mid-Atlantic residents to the threat of snow must look like a bunch of panicked rats in a maze. The reason for this panic is that most people are spoiled with the ability to run to their neighborhood [insert store here] to
Batten Down the Hatches! Snow is Coming Read More »