A multiple sclerosis transformation
I originally posted this blog on 9/6/13 but ironically, with the heat and humidity and all, it still applies today. Except for the “it’s autumn” part. I have to wait a couple of more weeks for that.
But trust me, I’m counting the days!
I slept really well last night, despite the two nights of lousy sleep before last night’s night of good sleep.
I blame the two previous lousy nights of sleep on the incredibly obnoxious bladder issue that the meds don’t always help.
That pisses me off.
(Get it- pisses me off?? I have used that one before and it’s not my own but it IS a classic.)
Anyway, last night was a good night’s sleep so why did I wake up so crabby?
Well, first off, after my morning bathroom run I turned on my computer to discover that an email I expected and eagerly anticipated was not in my inbox. On top of that, for some reason, I couldn’t open my other emails, even after logging on and off a few times.
Things went downhill from there…
I turned into the biggest crabapple ever!
AKA, a sourpuss.
AKA, Oscar the Grouch.
Email is a completely silly thing to get that upset over, especially since overall, things are well.
I had a doctor’s appointment yesterday that ran on time, went smoothly, and all my results were good- miraculous.
After a miserable summer, autumn is here and the weather is fine. (Don’t you dare nitpick- I am in no mood. For Cape Cod folks like me, autumn begins the day after Labor Day!)
I was settled in my new place
I was making decent progress on a project I was enjoying.
So what was with the lousy mood???
When I don’t know the answer to something, I blame MS. And in this case, there is some merit to that blame as it was the morning after my MS shot.
In addition to my email annoyance, other things that could be MS related went wrong.
My lack of concentration caused me to have trouble saying my morning prayers.
I spilled tea all over myself.
My clumsy fingers had trouble opening my cereal box.
My lack of coordination dropped some of my breakfast on the floor.
My MS meds hangover was starting to cause my head to ache.
So what was I to do?
It occurred to me that I wouldn’t be very productive until I cleared my head some and I needed to be productive today. Since the weather was gorgeous, perhaps a walk on the beach would help.
It was at that minute that the sky darkened and scary looking storm clouds passed over my new home.
Then it started to rain. Not a light, pleasant, stomp in puddles rain. But a heavy, raging, life sucks with a vengeance downpour.
Oscar the Grouch was alive and well and had moved into my body and I was helpless to stop him.
I figured since I was now officially Oscar the Grouch I should do some research on him.
What I found was terrifying!
Oscar is not actually a monster, but a Grouch.
He was born in 1969- just like me.
He is rarely seen outside of his can. (Hmmm, when was the last time I left my can, I mean, my house?)
He complains, A LOT.
He likes to say things like “Scram” “Get Lost” “Go Away” and “Ding Dong- you’re wrong.”
And scariest of all, he used to be orange. And as most of you know, orange is the color of MS!
Oscar is actually MS and MS has actually taken over my body and turned me into Oscar.
Need more proof?
It has long been known that multiple sclerosis is associated with depression (what is more depressing than being told you have MS?) and also with major mood swings.
I looked into this further and learned that MS is also known to cause “frequent bouts of anger and irritability,” and “are likely to affect everyone in the family.” (Unless they run and hide.)
So what to do about it? My doctor already has me on mood drugs as I snap at her as soon as I get to her office.
Like Oscar, I was tempted to hunker down in my can and pull pillows over my head. But that seemed too unproductive even for the grouchy and unproductive me.
Plus, the remote control for my bedroom TV died.
So I wrote this blog instead.
Now, I will hide.
But not before first sticking my tongue out at the world and saying “Na, na, na na na!”
Do to legal issues that I may or may not describe in a future blog I was not able to include an image of Oscar the Grouch in this blog. Your imagination and emoticons will have to do!
Quotes on emotional changes with multiple sclerosis are from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s website.
Quotes from Oscar the Grouch are from Sesame Street and me.
Quote about being pissed off about bladder issues are from my sister Laurie.
“Na, na, na na na” quote is all mine.
Image courtesy of farconville at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of anankkml at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Mister GC at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Vichaya Kiating-Angsulee at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of nuchylee at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of at Stuart Miles FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of farconville at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
A bad day for sure. But, good thing is, you’ll have another chance to start over tomorrow.
Damn legal eagles—you can never see enough pictures of Oscar the grouch!
Right!!!!