Not Bad

I had another good day. Not as good as yesterday, but much better than earlier this week. Hopefully things are on an upward trend.

Sensory:

-Pins and needles: 0
-Tingles: 1
-Dysesthetic pain: 5, burning skin on front of thighs
-Paresthesias: 0

-Numbness: 2
-Vision: 0-1
-Nerve pain: 0
-Hearing: 1

Motor:
-Walking: 0
-Sore muscles: 2 until PT worked on my shoulder--ow!

-Spasticity: 4, especially quads, also calves and upper arms
-Weak muscles: 3

-Endurance: 4

-Fine motor: 0

Cognitive:
-Processing: 0
-Memory: 0
-Attention: 0
-Confusion: 0

General:
-Fatigue: 5
-Balance: 0

-Sleep: 4, six hours, still struggling with temperature--too hot, then too cold

-Bladder: 2, medication I am still guessing
-Proprioception: 0
-Swallowing: 1
-A: 5
-B: 0

Emotions: Fine. Calm.

Getting Normal

Gee, I cannot believe I forgot to blog on Thursday. I do not know what I was doing in the evening. I had a good day. I totally rocked PT. My balance has gotten so much better! The PT did note that it was much worse with my eyes closed, which means that I am partially relying on vision for balance. Maybe I am getting better at compensating that way. Fine, as long as I do not have a fall. Hmmm... Oh, I did not have a lot of pain on Thursday. I would rate it a 4.

Yesterday I had such a good day. I almost felt normal. I got tired sometimes, and my strength is still not what it was. But I am able to do more than I have been, and I am needing less rest during the day. I went to the temple in the evening, which was so enjoyable. I did begin to have some pain (the nasty, electricity/heat kind), but it subsided. I got tired toward the end of the session--it was late for me, because we started at 7:45.

I am walking so well lately! And I can go up the stairs upright. Using the wall or rail to help pull myself up, but NOT going up on all fours. Seriously, that is what I have been doing--and it has been a struggle. I guess I could get embarrassed, but whatever.

A few times I thought to myself, is my MS going away? Will I not have it anymore? Or did I not really have MS?

Kind of silly.

One thing that was tough was when I went skiing.... Yup, skiing again! I had awful burning pain. It felt like my feet were on fire. I guess they were hot, or the boots were tight. But I always make my boots tight. I do not know why it hurt so much that day. Maybe it was the socks. I usually use thinner socks. Anyway, it was very painful, but it did calm down when I took the boots off.

My shot went fine. I am getting quicker at the whole process. It takes less than five minutes, from alcohol wipe to band aid. I did not take Tylenol this time, just 1000 mg of ibuprofen before the shot and 440 mg of Aleve four hours later. Then I forgot to take more Aleve until 10:30 this morning. More than 12 hours! I think I may not be having a reaction anymore. I am almost wondering if I was really sick the first time and not having medication side effects.

Sensory:

-Pins and needles: 1
-Tingles: 1
-Dysesthetic pain: 0 much of the day.. of course 9 for skiing.. and 3 for evening
-Paresthesias: 2, buzzing and pulling in my right mid back. I told Alyssa and Dr. Rick; they said to keep an eye on it and let them know if it gets worse

-Numbness: 2
-Vision: 0-1
-Nerve pain: 1
-Hearing: 1

Motor:
-Walking: 1
-Sore muscles: 3
-Fine motor: 1
-Weak muscles: 4
-Spasticity: 3

Cognitive:
-Processing: 0
-Memory: 1
-Attention: 0
-Confusion: 1

General:
-Fatigue: 1
-Balance: 0
-Sleep: 1, over eight hours
-Bladder: 1, desipramine side effect
-Proprioception: 0
-Swallowing: 1
-A: 3
-B: 0

Emotions: Happy to ski, happy to go to the temple. And touched at the concern of a sweet friend.

Poor Little Pinky

I have a pinky problem. It seems to be infected. It has been red, swollen, and tender for a few days. Today it was warm. Then I noticed a bit of hard skin--like a dying cuticle--sticking out of it. I clipped it off, painlessly, and began my makeup routine. Sick! Pus was bubbling out of it. I cleaned it and put on Neosporin and a Band-Aid. And called Dr. Rob. They are trying to squeeze me into the packed schedule tomorrow.

I also emailed Alyssa about it, because I know that they want to know every little thing that goes on with my health. She said it sounds infected and let her know what happens after I see Dr. Rob.

I was super busy today from 10:00-8:30, and my energy level was good. I was happy that I was able to make it through such a long day.

Sensory:

-Pins and needles: 1
-Tingles: 0
-Dysesthetic pain: 0 all day until evening 3
-Paresthesias: 3, some electricity in my left leg and some buzzing in my back--right mid back. Same area where sometimes (especially right after a shower) I feel a pulling sensation.

-Numbness: 2
-Vision: 0-1
-Nerve pain: 0 all day until 7 evening
-Hearing: 1, most a problem night and morning--maybe the only time quiet enough to notice

Motor:
-Walking: 1
-Sore muscles: 3
-Fine motor: 1
-Weak muscles: 4
-Spasticity: 3

Cognitive:
-Processing: 1, funny word-finding problem: "photo machine" for camera
-Memory: 0
-Attention: 0
-Confusion: 0

General:
-Fatigue: 1
-Balance: 2
-Sleep: 2, eight hours
-Bladder: 0
-Proprioception: 1
-Swallowing: 1
-A: 0
-B: 0

Emotions: Fine. Calm and confident during my many meetings today. 

Good Day

I had a relaxing, boring day. That was okay, because I needed to rest. I read a book for a while, which I was doing for a friend--she asked me to read and summarize the first three chapters, so she could teach them to her students. It was an interesting book, and I was happy to help her.

Then I went to a neighborhood bakery and the grocery store BY MYSELF, walked all over that grocery store, and came back still functional. Yeah! I am having trouble getting my butt out of bed in the mornings, but once I am up, I have had more energy the last few days. The mornings have been particularly good.

Mornings have been pretty good for pain, as in not more than level 6/7. Unfortunately the pain increases in the afternoons and is pretty bad in the evenings. Today was no exception. I took half a Vicodin (250 mg) around 2:00, and I took a whole one at 7:00. I am still trying to decide how much it helps. Maybe some. But I wonder if it can give you back pain. Maybe that is coincidence.

I had the bad dry mouth again today, along with the sour taste. Yuck. I did see that on the amitriptyline side effect list. I also have pain on the roof of my mouth, like I scraped it. But I am pretty sure I did not. I guess I will have to see if it still hurts tomorrow.

Actually, my mouth is not the only thing that is dry. All of my mucous membranes are. I have not noticed my eyes getting dry, though, which I am grateful for.

That amitriptyline sure does make me tired. I was wide awake, but I took that medication about 45 minutes ago and am having trouble keeping my eyes open. It came on pretty suddenly.

After breakfast, I planned to see how long I could go without food, to see if I became hungry, but I ended up eating lunch with my friend. And dinner. Maybe I will try again tomorrow. I definitely had trouble feeling full. Reflux=full. Shortly after eating, I feel bloated, which stinks. But it is not a "full" feeling, more like a gassy feeling--big stomach.

Sensory:

-Pins and needles: 8
-Tingles: 0
-Dysesthetic pain: 9
-Paresthesias: 9, painful electricity, was bad sometimes in my lower body, and it was moderately severe in my tongue sometimes

-Numbness: 3, mouth issues--lips and tongue. Parts of feet, as always. And my left fingertips are getting worse.
-Vision: 3, it seems like my radius of clear vision has expanding--it was about 6 feet, but this morning it was more like 20 feet. It worsened again the afternoon but it still not as bad as it was at its worst. The same thing happened yesterday: better in the morning (even better than today) and worse later on.
-Nerve pain: 7
-Hearing: 1

Motor:
-Walking: 1
-Sore muscles: 7, gosh my upper arm really hurt sometimes. I got the shot yesterday in that area, but the shot was just under the skin. I do not see why that should cause pain. But it does not hurt now--thanks, Vicodin. My leg muscles also have been sore sometimes.
-Fine motor: 2
-Weak muscles: 4
-Spasticity: 5

Cognitive:
-Processing: 0
-Memory: 0, I remembered what I needed from the grocery store, without writing it down! I needed three things.
-Attention: 0
-Confusion: 0

General:
-Fatigue: 2
-Balance: 2
-Sleep: 0
-Bladder: 0, I am having some issues in the mornings, which I attribute to amitriptyline, but then I am fine all day.
-Proprioception: 1
-Swallowing: 0
-A: 2
-B: 0

Emotions: I think all the pain stresses me out sometimes. Severe pain is just so draining.

Great Day!

I had such a good day today; I think it was my best day all month! I only got dizzy and sickly a few times. I had tons of help at church with interpreting, so I did not wear myself out.

Sensory:

-Pins and needles: 6, much worse in my feet and legs :(
-Tingles: 0
-Dysesthetic pain: 7, legs and (NEW) palms of both hands
-Paresthesias: 1
-Numbness: 2, the usual in my feet and (NEW) across my forehead
-Vision: 4, same as yesterday
-Nerve pain: 5, left leg, right bottom lip (random)
-Hearing: 0

Motor:
-Walking: 2, better!! Problems with stairs and stuff... whatever. Regular walking is so much better.
-Sore muscles: 6
-Fine motor: 2
-Weak muscles: 3, much better today
-Spasticity: 5, still having a lot of trouble with my right upper arm. Left too, but the right is much worse. And I have spasticity down the back of my left thigh. Boo. It is pretty painful, actually.

Cognitive:
-Processing: 1
-Memory: 1
-Attention: 1
-Confusion: 0

General:
-Fatigue: 2, yeah! That is what happens when my MS is not giving me too much of a hard time, the steroids are not making me sick, Avonex is not making me sick, and I do not need to do anything strenuous. Whew. A lot goes into feeling good. It is awesome when it all comes together!
-Balance: 4
-Sleep: 4, I probably got 7 hours altogether, although I did wake up a lot. Couldn't sleep past 6:00 am, but I stayed in bed until 9:00. Ah, afternoon church.
-Bladder: 1, it was spastic during the night but pretty good all day
-Proprioception: 2
-Swallowing: 0
-A: 3
-B: 0

Emotions: Calm. Fine.

Another Good Day

I had another good day. I began the day feeling like myself! No pain and normal energy. (Except for weakness and spasticity... well, close to feeling like myself.)

I did come home and collapse... but only for about 15 minutes. Then I rested and used the computer for an hour. Then I was good to go for teaching in the evening!

Not that I do not want to have good days, but I do not want my doctors to see only good days. Well, we will see how it goes tomorrow.

Sensory:

-Pins and needles: 2, had them up the outside of my right calf for a while this afternoon, which I have never had before. Taking my gabapentin put a stop to it.

-Tingles: 0

-Dysesthetic pain: 1

-Paresthesias: 0

-Numbness: 1

-Vision: 3, just blurry, no pain

-Nerve pain: 1

-Hearing: 0

Motor:

-Walking: 1

-Sore muscles: 0

-Fine motor: 2?

-Weak muscles: 4

-Spasticity: 2

Cognitive:

-Processing: 0

-Memory: 1

-Attention: 0

-Confusion: 0

General:

-Fatigue: 2

-Balance: 1

-Sleep: 1

-Bladder: 1

-Proprioception: 0?

-Swallowing: 1

-A: 0

-B: 0

Emotions: Busy and good. I did snap at a coworker, but she had it coming--for like a year. She was pulling some passive aggressive crap, and I called her on it.