Keep on Moving Club: December 2017

[Stringz8o2]

Hello from a real old timer to this board. I first joined...hmmm guess around 1995. Then for whatever reason I left this group. Not to go anywhere else I just left
I believe I recall Howard. There was a Cat woman. And now I'm back on Tecfidera after 20 years on Avonex. I just recently joined a gym so when I read the heading of keep on moving it peeked my interest. I guess for now I'll just read stuff...hard to catch up 15 or so years of messages. Hope everyone is well.
Andrew

[stillstANNding]

Hi Andrew, welcome back!

That Cat is still here and also on Tecfidera. How is it working out for you?

Going to the gym? I'm impressed.
ANN

[Howie]

Hi Andrew. I'm still here, doing fine in that I can still walk, and drive, but little of either one. I'm taking nothing, just waiting on a cure. Welcome back!

[agate]

Hello from a real old timer to this board. I first joined...hmmm guess around 1995. Then for whatever reason I left this group. Not to go anywhere else I just left
I believe I recall Howard. There was a Cat woman. And now I'm back on Tecfidera after 20 years on Avonex. I just recently joined a gym so when I read the heading of keep on moving it peeked my interest. I guess for now I'll just read stuff...hard to catch up 15 or so years of messages. Hope everyone is well.
Andrew

back, Andrew!

I don't recall your name but that doesn't mean much. Maybe you had a different user name at the time? Sometimes for various reasons, as you probably recall, people had to reregister under new user names over time, and so you might have been here under more than one name.

Anyway, you probably do recall Howard and the "Cat woman." They're unforgettable! Cat Dancer is still here, and so is Howard, but now he's Howie.

Joining a gym really is impressive as stillstANNding said!

[Virginia]

Welcome back Andrew! I am so impressed that you are joining a gym. I guess Avonex did something for you and now Tecfidera. You would not remember me. I joined in 1999 or very early 2000 under another name. Our board went down and I was unable to get back on under that name. Anyway, it is good to have you back among us.

Tell those of us who do not remember you a little about yourself if you don't mind. If you read much at all on here you will see that we pretty much keep up with each other and what is going on in their lives. Some don't post as often as others, but they are always welcome when they do.

[Sunshine]

But, but, but, you don’t remember me me me! Ha ha! Just teasing...welcome back. Catch us up when u have a moment.

What do you like about your gym?

[Virginia]

How is Techfidera going for you Andrew? How long have you been on it. I have been on Rebif since it was introduced in the States back in 2002. Before that I was on Avonex. So been on medication about as long as you. I am expecting the Neuro to want me off the interferons when I go in January. Would like to know as much as possible about other DMDs.

[stillstANNding]

Re: moving, I'm doing airport walking again and lugging my 36 pound bag.

ANN

[Virginia]

Thanks for checking in Ann, sorry you are lugging at the same time you are walking. I wondered if you had any long waits today. Hope you rest up.

[Sunshine]

Re: moving, I'm doing airport walking again and lugging my 36 pound bag.

ANN

Oh man. Did you know you can tell airline when you buy the ticket you’re handicapped? They will show up with a transport chair, whisk you through security and to the gate and even the jet.

[Sunshine]

I went surfing today with two friends! It was a perfect day with sunshine and clean thigh high waves. It was hard to believe it was December but I was glad I had on a wet suit because the ocean was a bit chilly for me. Younger people though we’re surfing in bathing suits.

It is such an exercise in courage every time I go surfing. I get up in the morning dizzy and I coach myself through it and say that it is brave to get out of bed and get dressed but I don’t have to surf. I make it through breakfast and I start to take care of the last minute things to pack the car up. I tell myself it took a lot of courage to get off of the chair and pack up the car but that I don’t have to surf if I don’t want to.

My husband drives me to the beach. The beach wheelchair broke while I was sitting on it. I knew it would be at least 15 minutes to get another chair from the park ranger, and by then maybe the waves would not be very goodAnd I would be further away from taking my muscle relaxers. I time my exercise by when I take my muscle relaxer’s. So, with two friends by my side I decided to try to walk to the beach. I told myself it took a lot of courage to walk to the beach and that I did not have to go in the ocean if I did not want to.

As soon as we got to the end of the boardwalk I could see that delicious looking water and I knew I was going in.

I told myself I did not have to surf any longer than my body lets me. And that it was courageous to even paddle out.

My DH got the chair fast, and so I had a place to rest my legs as needed, and get wheeled back to the surfmobile.

Long story short, I was in the ocean for almost 45 minutes and I caught 4-5 waves. One was perfect and I couldn’t believe I was able to move my legs up and down when I was standing on the board, absorbing the energy from the wave. It is an indescribable and addictive feeling.

My husband finally got to see a shark leaping out of the ocean. Actually there were four separate incidents but he only saw one. He has not learned how to scan the horizon constantly for action. I am grateful that he even does this for me since he is not a beach person.

It was awfully sweet that so many of the local surfers came up and smiled and asked me how I was doing. It’s a lot ofPressure being an inspiration, but I am up for the challenge for now.

Today was a good day. I can still surf.

[Howie]

It sounds like you have a good coach to keep pushing on....yourself! A great day!

[Virginia]

BBS, what a morning! That is a long time to stay in. You have been swimming a little longer and now surfing a little longer. So happy you were out there this morning.

[Sunshine]

I swam 1/4 mile, 16 minutes this afternoon. I cut it short since I have more muscle relaxants on board in mornings. Pool has hard holiday hours.

[Sunshine]

I swam 1/4 mile plus 50 Yards.500 yard total in 16 minutes. It was warm enough to sit in sun after . (Sorry!)

In the locker room a stranger chatted about a painful and teensy cut on the bottom of her foot she got in the polluted river bottom. I didn’t like its look and told her to go to urgent care just in case. Another said, “lucky you don’t have diabetes”and she replied she does have diabetes....hope she went!