It has been a while since my last blog. In the mean time I have moved country , been in hotel quarantine and decorated my new house and oh yes Christmas has just passed.
Life has been busy but also chilled. Life in Australia is for sure easy going. What I have noticed is friends or people that I meet are concerned for my everyday life? They seem to be worried that I am totally bored in life. It is a fact that I cannot work due to the many symptoms I encounter on a daily basis and I cannot play tennis like I used to do. But that does not mean I am bored. I am quite happy just decorating my house and being at home and days of shopping spree's. Yes I love shopping and you may wonder how does she with her MS? That is a whole new blog!
My point is that people seem to be worried that I am utterly bored because I don't work or have a hobby. Because MS gives so many symptoms it is very hard to have things planned or booked on a weekly basis. Every day brings new symptoms or problems and the stress of worrying whether I can attend only adds to the problems of MS. No I am not bored and quite happy doing the things I can do with my limitations. I guess it's very hard for someone to understand this if they have no limitations on their life. When faced with daily pain it also changes a person. I can not imagine joining a painting class while having numbness in my arm and leg with searing pain. I like painting, although I cannot paint and the last time I painted was years ago . No I cannot imagine sitting there trying to use my arm which is numb and pin and needles searing through my arm. This doesn't mean I won't try anything because I am known to be stubborn.
Because MS is invisible it is very hard for people to understand. They cannot see the pain, and challenges that come with having MS. We are usually happy to seem normal on the outside.
I can speak for myself and I can tell you I am not bored. This disease causes too many challenges to be bored. A healthy person should not compare their everyday life to someone with MS or any other disease. Reason for that is because our life is so compromised due to MS you simply cannot compare. Your daily life may work for you but someone that has MS or any other disease can simply not do the same as what you can do.
My neurologist tells me ' whatever you do keep doing it'. His words are forever in my head when doubt comes in. So when a person tells me ' you should not eat chocolate' or you should read books' that doesn't sit well with me. Firstly I do everything I can to live a healthy lifestyle and I am not giving up chocolate!
I am sure people mean well but please don't worry about me, I've got this :)
Best
Mascha
