So, You've Got MS... What's Next?

This month’s topic is “So, you’ve got MS… what's next?”

You could swap the word 'MS' for 'Major-Unexpected-Life-Changing-Event'. I also have other words for it - but that’s another blog entirely!

For quite some time after I got diagnosed, I had a recurring dream that a terrible mistake had been made. I didn’t have M.S at all! My file had been mixed up with another patient’s. The lesions on my MRI were in fact, blobs of toothpaste left there by an overworked technician. My symptoms were explained with another, curable diagnosis. Prime Time even did a slot about me! I went back to my life as I knew it without the 'Major-Unexpected-Life-Event' that had happened to me. Happy days……

The thing about dreams like that (or denial - if you are being blunt about it!) is that you always have to wake up and remember how your situation has changed and there is NO way it is going to go away. Psychologists talk about different stages in the grieving process and how they culminate in acceptance. I know they are right but some days - I just don’t want to accept the cards I have been dealt.

Other days I have a right old laugh with my kids, my husband and my friends. Aidan (age 7) went to school twice last week wearing two pairs of underpants. We decided that it was because his farts are so powerful, he needs extra protection! It’s definitely not because of my brain farts.

So, who knows “what is next?”. I hope I have become better at accepting life's curve balls and dealing with them. I hope I have chilled out a bit more and see what is important in life. I definitely have found out who my friends are - quite brutally.

Hope you have a fine February and that life is kind to you and yours.

Joan