online dating with MS?

Oct. 10th, 2014

It seems to be different breaking up post divorce.  I don't know really.  How can you compare?  I feel so differently about relationships.  I never think that somebody might be "the one".  I never imagine what it would be like to get married.  I don't try out his surname to see how it sounds with mine.  Well, I still do that, but come on!! I'm still a teenage girl in some inner parts of me!  For example:  I have been watching break up movies.  Actually, one break up movie. And it ended up having a composer as the main character.  My boyfriend was a composer.  Yeah. 

I was listening to sad songs as well and crying in my pillow.  I also was crying as I was making dinner, and my teenage son came in unexpectedly, and hugged me. Then asked me if he could go up to the school because the second hottest girl in his grade was up there and apparently she liked him.  See?  It's different!

One of the biggest parts about dating now is, I'm sick.  Before I thought it was cute and made me interesting. I was that out of touch. I went on an internet dating site tonight.  And sat in my friend's kitchen and giggled at the results. Then her husband asks me if I mentioned my "disease" on my profile.  He meant the MS.  Then I stopped giggling.  You see if you have severe asthma people just hear asthma and imagine some nerdy character in a movie popping an inhaler in an anxious moment. You hear MS, and well, no one really knows what that is, but they know it's bad.  He was just curious, but he really had a point.

How could I make a profile without that glaring fact?  How could anyone want to date me with it?  At the MS group I went to last weekend, this one guy said something to the effect that I have MS, but it isn't who I am.  But here's the thing.  I know what a pain in the ass I was to live with when I was sick when I was married.  I know how tough it can be on a marriage. I also know that I don't want anyone to have to take care of me again. I don't want to rely on anyone like that again either.  Yes, I know better.  Yes, I would act differently now.  Yes, I think it is going to be really tricky to meet someone who can love me for me and have the perfect amount of compassion and not have the desire to rescue me.

Ok, I can hear some of my friends telling me that it isn't anyone's business on a dating site whether I have a disease or not.  Really, unless we'd been on a few dates and it was looking like there was going to be more, I wouldn't tell them.  But sigh.  I tend to be pretty fatalistic about it.  Perhaps that is one more way I want to stay "sick".  If I consider myself too broken to have a relationship, then I can't consider myself well.  

I'll have to think on that more.

How many blog entries start with the vow to start posting more often?

September 29th, 2014 12:17 am

I wonder how many blog entries start with the vow to start posting more?

I did the Oprah/Deepak 21 day meditation challenge.  One day while I was pretty deep in meditation the thought came to me that I should be writing about dating/being a single Mom with health issues.  I've thought about it a bunch of times in the last couple of weeks, but didn't finally get my butt in gear until today.

I'm just coming off a relapse.  I found myself thinking about how I haven't been taking any meds for my MS because I only have a relapse about every 3-4 months.  So it's easier to deal with the actual relapses than the side-effects from the medications.  Then I realized that considering that my relapses last 3-4 weeks, that about a 1/3 of a year I'm sick!!!  YIKES!! 

The very long summer is finally over, kids are back in school, broke up with boyfriend I've been on-again-off-again with for 8 months, and I've got a couple of months until the next relapse, so time to get back to work (and by work I mean working on being healthy)!  Ok, pause!  I'm assuming that I am going to keep having relapses every 3 months!!! That's so negative!  I don't know that!  How much is my wanting to stay an invalid behind that!  I must not believe that! I can choose to stop waiting for one to pounce.  I will be positive and take positive steps to stay healthy!  And use less exclamation marks!!!  Which brings me back to my point....

I decided to go back to MS doctor, especially since I know old cranky one has retired and new fresh one has started.  Love him!! He said something to the effect that "if you say you see peanut butter and jelly sandwiches floating through the air after you tried a drug, I have to believe you!  It's your body." Awesome! Of course I pointed out that I hoped he would refer me to a psychiatrist if that was the case, but still!  He talked me into trying Copaxone.  Apparently side effects are mainly about the injection sites!! It somehow convinces the MS to eat it instead of the myelin (lining on your brain). So, here we go again.  Sigh.  And he wants me to have another MRI. Sigh.  

I also am keen to get back on my New Year's Resolution to get my body strong enough that when I get sick I can rebound faster.  I'm thinking gym now.  Especially since I'm single again.  SIGH.  

Another thing that I'm working on is getting back out there, job wise.  I am making a little money as a seamstress, but it isn't enough.  Financially or mentally.  I have aspired to volunteer at the MS centre.  And to work at the yoga studio's will work for yoga program.  Hopefully I can start working enough there to get in at least a class a week.  

I went to a MS support group again today for the first time in years.  I actually really enjoyed it! People were positive and really looking to engage instead of complain.  I mean, yes, talk about your problems and how you are coping, but let's not dwell on how hard it is!  One of the reasons I went is because I would love to work there somehow.  Even just volunteering.  I was so surprised to see it is next door to the tower where I used to work that I loved!! 

I'm so happy to be getting busy again. I'm still struggling with fatigue.  My daughter has a cold, and I think I might be fighting one.  I will not give up on my goals though!! I have to find a way to get this house back to shape after being so tired for weeks.  And yes, I have to admit a week of letting myself wallow about boyfriend.  Time to get going, Jezz!!

Maybe next time I'll write about the joys of trying to meet somebody when you have invisible illnesses!!

The tooth fairy is at least better than the Easter Bunny

April 15th 11:32 pm

Health Issues:  Still neck out/ headache, peeing like crazy (MS or crampy nausea thing?) took inhaler twice.
Exercise: noooooooooo
Sleep: Actually fell asleep without lying in bed for hours first, :) but woke up several times (not just to pee). Went back to sleep after school run. :(

Do I still have to do the tooth fairy thing?  She's ten, and losing molars.  She hasn't put a tooth under her pillow for a couple of years, but tonight she decided to do it again.  Set reminder alarm?  Check.  Check to see if you have proper change? Uncheck.  Swap quarters for proper change from son's drawer?  Check.

When did I become so grumpy about stuff that used to be so fun?? Same daughter spend happy hours decorating for Easter today, and I wouldn't help more than give the occasional suggestion where to put things.  Poor child. With my older daughter I would have been at it for hours. Having sugar cookies all ready to roll and cut out after school, and ice after dinner.  Now I'm thrilled ex husband is doing egg hunt with much, much younger girlfriend who might still think it is fun.

Speaking of ex husband, I think that has something to do with it.  When did it stop being so much fun? Somewhere between "you're pregnant" and "it you don't get off that freaking computer and help me hide these eggs I'm going to run away and never come back".  Yeah.  Somewhere between, "I have all this energy to decorate eggs" and "if I'm going to make actual dinner and not some frozen version, I'd better lie on the sofa for the next hour and not help daughter decorate." Sigh.

I can't believe how many women have babies at my age.  I mean, I don't have nearly the energy to deal with a ten year old, never mind a baby!! Of course, most of them don't have any diseases, never mind several, never mind MS.  Boo.  No feeling sorry for myself. Chin up.  Could be worse.  Has been worse.  At least I'm not making myself trying to find fun things that fit in plastic eggs that are not technically candy.

Note to self: Remind ex to fill plastic eggs with something besides actual candy.

Happier than I've been in a while (not counting the muscle relaxants)

I have been reading Bridget Jones: Mad about the Boy, and just finished Someday, Someday Maybe, both of which inspired me to start blogging like this:

April 14th, 1:33 am
health issues:  neck out (headache!!!), pins and needles in hands (3/10), nausea/mysterious cramping pain 3/10, asthma symptoms 3/10
exercise:  walked the dog (a lot of sitting), workout with bf 30 mins
woke up at 10:30 (due to delightful picnic plans with bf), nap 1 hour+

I started trying to take injections for my MS again.  Made it one injection this time.  Decided to stop again since I became so nauseous (not a side effect of the meds) that I was having trouble functioning at all.  Turns out I have some thing like an ovarian cyst.  Definitely not UT infection, definitely not pregnant (yeah thanks for checking, sigh), definitely want to throw up, pain in what I now know is my ovary once examined by doc, and super sore nipples.  I'm supposed to go for an ultra sound, but I'm just wishing that it will go away on its own.  It has been getting better over the weekend.

I was proud of myself for not immediately stressing out who will take care of me after my surgery for the removal of my not-yet-even-close-to-certain ovarian cyst.  I was tempted to tell ex husband I needed surgery since he has been such a capital douche bag to me lately, but that was for about a nano-second before I realized it wouldn't get me anywhere.  Firstly, he wouldn't give a flying flip.  Secondly, I don't want to give in to my crazy urges to get attention for being sick.  It doesn't make me feel any better, actually, it makes me feel worse.

I was thinking last night about breaking up with bf though.  I think that he is under the impression that if he just gets over this "rough time" that I will stop being sick, than we can start to enjoy a more active lifestyle, or something.  I mean, we have a pretty great set up.  He has his kids every other week,  so  he can't see me more than maybe a lunch that week, and he is so active and busy, I only see him one night on the other weekend, and maybe an evening or afternoon. He does various "challenging activities" such as a 3 hour bike ride, but saves going to a play or something to do with me. When we first met though, he expressed his doubts about us working long term as he is looking for someone who is active. Yep.  Not me.  Someone to hike a mountain in the morning and then bike ride to the grocery store just because it is physically demanding? Yeah, no.  Sometimes I have to choose between the energy to shop for dinner, or the energy to cook it. Big SIGH.
 So eventually we must end.  I feel it. It is too much almost for me to deal with sometimes.  Living with all my freaking health issues, I mean.  Why should he have to?  We really get along.  There isn't any magic really, but we really like spending time together.  It will get old though, and I'll probably be sad, but I'm not ready to break up yet.  I mean, he emails me to see if I want to go on a picnic this morning!! Hello?  YES!! He even made chocolate covered strawberries. Made them.  And then told me I had some chocolate on my lips and kissed it off for me, and I was one of those happy couples in the park having a picnic, kissing as other people walk by.  I wasn't one of those people strolling along with miserable health problems walking my dog alone, despising the gross, happy people for kissing on their stupid picnic.  I even wore a dress, and he loved it.  I had to stop my skirt from blowing in the wind like Marilyn Monroe, sort of.

Yeah, don't want to break up with him yet, snort

When I'm with him I don't want to be sick, or talk about being sick, or be anxious, or think about being anxious.  I want to have nicer manners, and not text in front of people, and never return a container empty, and make thank you cards, and be healthy, and have a clean house, and basically have my shit together!!!! I always say that a relationship is never a waste as long as you are still learning, and I'm still learning so much and happy.  Happier than I've been in a while.

Back in the saddle?

So, I haven't posted for ages.  I'm not sure what happened.  I think I just couldn't look at being "addicted" to being ill while I was struggling through illnesses.  The surgery took a long time to heal from, as expected, but my sinuses are doing great, says my sinus guy!  He does want me to start shooting some steroids up my nose again, as there is some swelling.  They make me more tired and fatigued, but I guess I have to work them in some how.

I had to go on a course of prednisone for my asthma over the last two weeks.  I was so proud of myself.  I didn't go into a pity spiral.  I didn't turn all princessy and demand help.  I pushed on.  I got some help, but I just pushed on.  Even through my daughter's postponed-from-my-surgery birthday party.  Yeah. Pulling off an "at home" birthday party while you're sick, probably not the best plan.  How could I postpone it again!  It was already a month after her birthday!!  Last Friday night I ended up doing a bunch of driving around to get filler for her pinata.  The place that you can buy a bag of filler had closed!!  After I found myself driving to the wrong location by accident for the second time, I decided I was too exhausted to continue.  So I went home and basically passed out.  Actually, that is a lie.  I was in the miserable place where you are too exhausted to even watch TV, but your brain won't stop thinking about what needs to be done - a la "How Does She Do It?" a Sarah Jessica Parker movie I watched recently.  I decided to use the opportunity to practice "relaxing and letting it go".  Every time I would think of another party thing (or anything else) I would just say "relax, and let go" and take a few deep breaths.  I got LOTS of practice.

After the party, which required two Tylenol "ones" and an iced tea to get through.  I could barely move.  I didn't feel too bad about it, as my ex husband was sitting on my sofa too tired to go home yet.  So I barely moved that night.  Then I barely moved the next day.  You MS-ers out there will relate.  I got too tired watching a movie "War Horse" (3 1/2 hours) at my neighbours' and had to go home after 2 1/2.  Too tired to sit on a sofa and stare.  I put kiddies to bed with the least amount of energy required on Sunday night, and retired early, expecting to feel better the next day.  Wrong.  I worked about 4 hours, and then was absolutely done.  MS symptoms popping up like mad.  I was so grateful that I wasn't driving a standard, as my left foot was SO pins and needles, that it would have been painful.  So I rest, and rest and rest.  Here it is Friday, and I can hardly wait for ex to pick up kiddies for the night.  Even though I am at home right now, and only need to work about 2-3 hours today, I keep thinking about how awesome it is going to be tomorrow.  I am going to sleeeeep.  I am going to go to bed, and no one, no alarm, no thing (well ok, dog, but he'll go right back to sleep) will wake me.  I am going to wake up, look at the clock and roll over in my bed, pull the covers up around my chin and go back to sleeeeeeeep.  I can hardly wait.  Then I am going to magically not be tired at all any more and will be able to magically catch up on all that I have NOT done this week in order to be able to rest.

Yeah, well, that's the plan anyway.

If my MS and sinuses could work together, I wouldn't need T3's!

My Mom has always said that day three after surgery is the worst.  She's right.  If you count surgery day as day 1, which wasn't exactly fun, but I don't recall any pain, and then yesterday would be day 2.  Still buzzing with anaesthetic, carefully timing pain killers, not yet tired of sleeping.  Day three sucks.  I am in pain, but trying to not take so many pain killers.  I over did it yesterday, so this morning I felt quite ill.  I am bored, but I am in too much pain to do much of anything.  The best part, is the pain in my head worsens from the computer screen's lights.  Yep.  I have done about 12 logic puzzles.

Whine, whine, whine.  My MS came back today.  Numbness on the left side.  Hey!  If my MS and sinuses could work together, I wouldn't need pain killers!

OK.  I need a plan.  Get out of bed long enough for the sheets to get cool.  Get a snack.  Take more drugs.  Yes, more drugs, less bravery, helps the day/night go more quickly.

Warning: Potty humour (Mom don't read this)

Here it is, 3 o'clock in the morning, one day post op, and I can't sleep.  I spent the last half hour or so sitting on the toilet, in my daughter's snuggie, drinking ginger ale, and praying to fart.  Oh why gods of flatulence have you denied me?  What form of penance must I perform??  I drank lots of fluids, took my colase, walked around a lot, what more must I do??  I know it must be possible.  There is no way I have gone over 24 hours without you, oh mighty gas, but the build up might cause one to wonder?  Why am I so bloated that I resemble a pregnant women?  I pace from window to window in the upstairs hallway forcing myself to keep moving, hoping that something else will move.  I stare at the snow (yes snow!!) building up outside, and grow ever more anxious about my son's Scout troupe who picked tonight of all nights to camp outside!  But alas, the snow is merely a passing distraction.  The taunt skin stretched across my belly, is not from months of diet and exercise, but another reminder of my pain.  Oh that I might have started my MS injectionable meds this week instead of next, that I might have a ready supply of needles to shove in my belly and release the trapped air, like a balloon, flying across the room, in gas releasing ecstasy.  Oh gas ex, oh rolaids, oh mylanta.  You are but a street away, locked behind chains and glass.  When will my suffering end?  When will this night...OH!  Nevermind.