OT March Chit Chat

[Howie]

Virginia, we were getting worried about you. Glad to see you post tonight, but sorry things aren't going so well. Don't let it get to you. My strength is I can bounce back from anything. Sometimes it takes longer than other times, but the important thing is to bounce back.

It was nice to get some snow today. I love the look of snow....outside the window, while I'm dry and warm inside.

Glad you're back. Take care of yourself!

[Cherie]

Virginia,
Biotin does not work that quickly on positive energy. Average reports are 6-8 months to see a change in MS symptoms but many people have GI symptoms if they go up too quickly on dose that can have them feeling drained. Perhaps knocking one of the 100 mg doses back till you feel better? Sorry about the back strain. No shoveling if you are in the path of the storm.

Wind is picking up here and temp is right at freezing but radar shows the snow about 2 hours away from us. Supposed to get 3-6" over night and then another 6-10" tomorrow. All schools are closed. The hospital is closed for elective stuff and all ambulatory care staff is to stay home. Dr offices are closed. Banks and even grocery stores are closing as of midnight. I was due for a massage tomorrow (first in three and a half months and I generally go monthly) and the spa called to cancel all appointments. We brought in dry wood for the fireplace in the event we lose heat and the gas grill is right by the back door if needed. Plenty of candles and oil lamps. The trailer is a quarter full of downed branches from the last two Nor'easters that Dave picked up over the weekend.

I have a brother coming for a visit over the weekend who has not been here in 20 years! My sister's brain tumor is stable and she is having fewer seizures and less pain and more energy and improved gait than at any time in the past three years with only 1 round of chemo left to go. Another brother is having gastric bypass in Syracuse on Wednesday. One of David's clients drove up from just north of NYC yesterday to see a property and decided she did not want it so came by to pick up the paperwork and check she had written before driving back. She stayed to watch 60 minutes with us and decided to spend the night and left just before 10 this morning.

Only one piece left to organize for my visit to the accountant a week from Friday and I still have not put together my program for the MS Foundation in the Chicago area at the end of the month. Energy level is remarkably low for what I have experienced over the past few months.

Anyway....looks like we may have a lot of shoveling to do tomorrow when we get up. Y'all stay safe now!

[agate]

Virginia, it's good to hear from you! Too bad you had such a scary attack. With luck it was just a passing thing and won't ever happen again but it does sound unsettling.

Now that you've vacuumed under your recliner, you won't need to do that again for a long, long time, I hope.

People in New England who are due for more snow: the weather forecast talks about 2 more feet of snow about to fall. I hope that will turn out to be wrong.

[Sunshine]

Virginia, are you sure that leg issue is neurological? Hard to say from the description. Could it be vascular such as a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis?

In any event, good to see you post. When we aren’t posting, we all worry about each other as we all live on th edge of a cliff to some extent...

[Frog42]

Snow has already started here and will last until tomorrow morning. We're expecting 8 to 12 inches. I was supposed to get a delivery from Fedex today but I'll bet they can't do it. Eh. Hoping the power stays on.

[Lazarus]

Virginia, are you sure that leg issue is neurological? Hard to say from the description. Could it be vascular such as a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis?

In any event, good to see you post. When we aren’t posting, we all worry about each other as we all live on th edge of a cliff to some extent...

Virginia,
I am glad Sunshine wrote this. I can hear my neurologist telling me to not always think everything is MS related. Your story made me gasp so I can not imagine how scary it was for you. Be careful...don’t treat yourself lightly.

[Pegakafarmgirl]

Virginia,, this also scares me,, but glad you checked in,, a lot folks on this forum love you,, be extra careful in this crazy weather,,

{{Virginia}}

[stillstANNding]

Love to you, Virginia. Thank you for letting us know. You were wise to sit down. Be well.

We are now in the "brunt" of the nor'easter. They have changed their gestimate to 16-20" of snow and blowing w white outs. Peter has a rare snow day!

Last night we went to Roche Bros. grocery and got a rotisserie chicken for me and the cats; Pot roast to sustain me; and potato pancakes w apple sauce for brunch. Peter got eggplant parm and lemon pepper noodles. We are all set.

ANN

[agate]

Glad you have provisions, ANN!

Virginia, I agree that what happened to you may have no connection with the MS. It most likely has no connection, in fact. Time and time again I've been tempted to blame MS for something that's going wrong with me and it almost always turns out to be some other problem though if there's any problem, the MS acts up as well.

[Virginia]

Thank you to you all for your replies. I do believe it to be MS and not a deep vein thrombosis. It was like it was the muscles grabbing inside my leg and it was on my bad side. I think I do get too scared because if I get to the point that I cannot walk, I do not know what I will do with myself.

Cherie, yes I am aware that the biotin does not act that quickly, but I have had no GI problems at all. It has been, I guess about a month since I worked up to the 300mg dose and I hate to give it up until I see my Doctor. If I thought it was making me feel worse then I would do it, or at least cut back. I might cut back for a couple of days anyway to see what happens. I couldn't shovel snow even if I didn't have a bad back. My deck is iced over and I cannot get to trash. However, it is sunny outside and it looks like the snow has left all the streets already. It takes so long for it to leave my deck. That is one of the worse things about snow - not being able to get to my trash and recycling containers.

Ann, is your food already cooked food or do you have to fix the roast? I know the chicken is already done, but I guess you have to fix your roast and Peter's food. Glad he is home with you for a day or so.

My back is bad today - really hurting if I move. I keep thinking I can do things I did 20 and 30 years ago and I can't. I hope this goes away soon. I am going to try and dust this afternoon, but I will do it very slowly and move very gingerly. I already put linens in the wash and I am going to make my bed.

Well, the lady who helps me just called and she is coming today to do the mopping and clean my shower. She is running very late, but I was glad to hear from her. She will be here about 2:30 until 4:30. If she has any time left after mopping I will let her help with the dusting, but I will try to do most of it. I had to get up to answer the phone and I had to push on the desk and computer hutch and it still hurt real bad. However, I think I need to move around as much as I can and not let it tighten up.

Cherie, glad your sister is doing as well as she is.

I think we are all still waiting (a little anxiously) for Sunshine's trip for second opinion Doctor.

I apologize again for not posting sooner. I know how much I worry about all of you who are regulars on here when we do not hear from you, so I know that some others of you feel the same and I am just glad to have you.

[stillstANNding]

Virginia, because of the pain on standing and walking rather than all the time, I also think you should seek medical advice. If you get short of breath, call 911.

Our food is cooked and microwaveable. If we lose power, there is cold chicken for me and the noodles for Peter.

Vicky, Linda, Cheri how are you all managing?

ANN

[Frog42]

The snow is still coming down and blowing but the power has stayed on. There is an occasional flicker though. I hope it will stay okay!

[Lazarus]

Virginia, you said “However, I think I need to move around as much as I can and not let it tighten up.” in your post. I know what you mean. I think the same way and keep moving when things are bad. We are probably right and should ignore advice to””take it slow” or to “ sit down”. On the other hand.......it is a fine line between the sensible and the foolish in these situations. ��

[stillstANNding]

186 guests??

ANN

[Catdancer]

Well, Virginia, if it was "just" your leg causing pain...I might agree that it was MS related. But you also talked about sweating, blood rushing to your head, dizziness upon standing......

that could also be MS related...but also could be related to heart problems, or indeed a deep-vein thrombosis (in your leg) which restricts blood flow elsewhere, like to the lungs (I had blood clots in the lungs, triggered by a blood clot in in my pelvis, years ago), heart, or brain. Which of course is very dangerous! You really should go to your doctor and have that checked out, just to be sure!

As for your bad back..yes, we all try to do things now that we could do 20 years ago...and injure ourselves because we can't. :( You're right that if you just sit around your muscles can tighten up and be even more painful...but you do have to take it gently and easily until the back mends. Are you able to take anything for the pain? Ibuprofen sometimes can help with inflamed muscles.

But again..all the symptoms you mention around your painful leg sound like a lot more than "just MS". Even if it is MS=related, your doctor really needs to check it out!