Back home again after being in Mayville for Easter. Kevin, Kari, Mary, and Marce' were all there (siblings) with their kids. I so enjoy seeing the nephews and neices. Mom is suffering from Shingles which she has had for nearly two months now. She seems to be one of those people (like me) who fall into the 'small caterory' of individuals in that 5% category who don't respond like others when it comes to treatments. She's on Lyrica and has had one laser treatment for the nerves on her back. She will be getting another or perhaps more than one more laser treatment. I hope that the treatments work--she wants to get off the Lyrica as she can't concentrate and it makes her tired. I hope that I never get shingles. I didn't realize that if you have had the Chicken Pox (which I have) that you carry the virus for this. My sister Joan has had them and now Mom. I guess there is a shot available to prevent them, though, but it is $300.00. I don't know what Shingles and MS combined would be like since both affect the nerves. I hope I never have to find out!
I will be going to the diabetes nutritionist on Tuesday. I hope to get back to a 'better' diet. Now that I've become 'accustomed' to MS (well, as accustomed as I can be),it's time to get back on track with my diabetes. I really need to get back to a healthy diet and exercise! I discovered a literal 'gold mine' of exercise equipment at the school I work at! I had no idea that we had so much of it--and so many different types. And it's free for me to use. Just need to do it.
I really haven't mentioned must about Easter. I so enjoyed seeing my brothers and sisters. We went shopping in GF on Saturday. Mike, Jack, and I each needed shoes and were able to find 1-2 pairs at Penny's. After shopping we went back to Mom's and played a new game that Marce' had purchased.
Mom, Mary, and I went to the Easter Vigil Mass which was beautiful. Today we had a marvelous meal with ham, lamb, and all the trimmings. Mom, Kari, and Mary each made wonderful desserts! I was completely stuffed. I'm still not real hungry.
Marce' advised me to take the disability insurance that I have and spend my time doing what I most enjoy. Since my job is stressful in terms of the workload, she feels that I should seriously consider disabiltiy. Yet I don't feel completely disabled. But will continuing to work make my MS worse? What happens to my identity? What about the graduate degree I'm working on? What to do, what to do! I guess I need to really pray about this and listen carefully to the answer.
Mike gave me my injection a few hours ago. This one really stung like crazy! I couldn't help but really flinch and he felt so awful. I wish he wouldn't feel so bad--it's not that he's not doing it right--it just hurts sometimes and that's all there is to it. I am just so greatful that he will do it. I am still feeling okay, but can feel myself 'fading' as in fatigue and am starting to feel a vague achiness. Hints of what is to come...
I will be going to the diabetes nutritionist on Tuesday. I hope to get back to a 'better' diet. Now that I've become 'accustomed' to MS (well, as accustomed as I can be),it's time to get back on track with my diabetes. I really need to get back to a healthy diet and exercise! I discovered a literal 'gold mine' of exercise equipment at the school I work at! I had no idea that we had so much of it--and so many different types. And it's free for me to use. Just need to do it.
I really haven't mentioned must about Easter. I so enjoyed seeing my brothers and sisters. We went shopping in GF on Saturday. Mike, Jack, and I each needed shoes and were able to find 1-2 pairs at Penny's. After shopping we went back to Mom's and played a new game that Marce' had purchased.
Mom, Mary, and I went to the Easter Vigil Mass which was beautiful. Today we had a marvelous meal with ham, lamb, and all the trimmings. Mom, Kari, and Mary each made wonderful desserts! I was completely stuffed. I'm still not real hungry.
Marce' advised me to take the disability insurance that I have and spend my time doing what I most enjoy. Since my job is stressful in terms of the workload, she feels that I should seriously consider disabiltiy. Yet I don't feel completely disabled. But will continuing to work make my MS worse? What happens to my identity? What about the graduate degree I'm working on? What to do, what to do! I guess I need to really pray about this and listen carefully to the answer.
Mike gave me my injection a few hours ago. This one really stung like crazy! I couldn't help but really flinch and he felt so awful. I wish he wouldn't feel so bad--it's not that he's not doing it right--it just hurts sometimes and that's all there is to it. I am just so greatful that he will do it. I am still feeling okay, but can feel myself 'fading' as in fatigue and am starting to feel a vague achiness. Hints of what is to come...
Replies
It sounds like a wonderful time with you\'re family, Michelle! Good for you!! That makes holidays so much more memorable. I hope you got lots of pictures! Sorry to hear about mom, shingles is VERY painful! I had them twice, just a small strip on my back. The pain that lingers is unbelievable, & lasts a LONG time! I pray your mom recovers soon. A better diet would be a good idea, I think we could all benefit from that! LOL!! That & a vitamin regimen has been known to help! Taking disability is a hard choice. If work is still enjoyable, & you don\'t have a hard time doing it, then it wouldn\'t hurt to continue for awhile. Or maybe cut back on your hours. If it\'s really hard to keep up, with alot of fatigue, then it probably is time to consider. Only You can make that final choice, & it is a hard one!! Best wishes with that decision. Love ya, Peg
My job has been overwhelming for years. I put in very long days--I have been at the school from 7:30 a.m. until nearly 11:00 p.m. straight. Now I try to \'quit\' work by 7:00 p.m., but then have work to take home. I became so behind on correcting papers that I spent around 5 hours this weekend doing just that to try to get caught up. Still behind, but better than I was. So...from my work hours, as you can see, I don\'t get adequate sleep...which makes me suffer from fatigue a lot. I try to catch up on weekends, but always have so many other household (and school) things to do.
I do not dislike my job, but really dislike all of the hours needed to do a good job. Teaching is something I take very seriously as it is a huge responsibility and I want to do it well, not just put my time in. So I\'m in a quandry. Physically, I can still do the job, although I have to sit down a lot! So I sit and teach. Emotionally and intellectually it is very draining.
I guess I feel that to not teach or be employed in some gainful fashion will take away my \'worth\' and most of my identity. This is a very, very difficult decision. I think my husband probably thinks I should keep working. My siblings and parents would probably be relieved if I were not working. I just am in a quandry!
I am thinking of cutting back to 1/2 time. I did do this several years ago and the result was that I wound up turning a 1/2 time job into a full time plus job! So would I do that again? Perhaps...probably!
Thanks for the input...I have a lot of thinking to do. In the meantime, more school work needs to be done.
Michelle