MS: Life Beyond the Diagnosis

     Multiple Sclerosis, or MS for short, is a rare neurological disease. Although medical professionals do believe there is a genetic component, causes and cures are unknown. Symptoms and their onset are both highly unpredictable. They may show up as numbness, tingling, fatigue, vision changes, and more. 

    In order to learn more about this mysterious diagnosis, I decided to read the blog titled "My Conscious Decision." The author of this post wrote a real and genuine description of what it's like living with such a strange disease. Her vision, strength, balance, and heat tolerance have all been impaired. However, instead of reflecting on what has gone wrong in her life, she decided to focus on all that is good. Throughout my courses in OT school, it has been mentioned time after time how impactful a client's outlook is on their recovery and prognosis. Having a positive attitude of gratitude is one of the many "controllables" in our lives. Our outlook can single-handedly determine how we feel and what we are capable of. 

    Nonetheless, having a positive outlook is much easier said than done. At one point, the author mentions the activities she used to love but no longer has the stamina for. One example is her love of gardening. However, by the time she makes it to her garden, she is too exhausted and over-heated to do anything with it. This directly relates to the spoon theory we discussed in class. The idea is we are all given a limited number of spoons each day, and the spoons represent units of energy. Once the spoons are gone, so is our motivation and abilities to do the things we love and need to do. People with MS are given very few spoons each day. Therefore, their daily schedules require extra planning and preparation. The more they can accomplish proactively, the more energy they can conserve and use for things they enjoy. 

    In summary, this post was a wonderful, first-hand example of what life looks like with Multiple Sclerosis. It's also a great example of how outlook can affect circumstances. I would highly recommend this blog post for anyone facing a tough diagnosis. The road ahead may not be easy, but the simple things can make a life worth living. 

Mamajama. (2018, May 31). My conscious decision. MultipleSclerosis.net. https://multiplesclerosis.net/stories/my-conscious-decision