My Current Life with a Major Disease!

I have the wonderful disease of multiple sclerosis! I'm kidding! Multiple sclerosis (MS) isn't too wonderful and it can be life changing! It's changed my life in some good ways and some bad. MS is a weird disease. What makes me mad is that I look perfectly healthy! In fact, I joke with people that I'm the healthiest looking sick person their ever going to meet! I'm 6 ft tall and weigh about 205 pounds. I should say I'm 6 ft tall when I'm standing up. For all practical purposes my MS took my walking in 2007. I now ride my electric scooter (Max) about 95% of the time.

I had a physical at my doctor's office the week of 3/10/08 and I checked out just great! I live in a little town close to Fargo, ND, USA. I'll soon be moving to West Fargo, ND which is right next to Fargo. My ex and son are moving to West Fargo so I'm going to do that, too. I want to live closer to my son! All my doctors are in Fargo and West Fargo so it makes sense to make this move for me. I currently ride Max everywhere in my little town and I should be able to continue that in West Fargo. People know me as Scooterjon.

I'm looking forward to 2008 because 2007 wasn't much fun. In 2007 my MS got worse. When 2007 started I was walking with a cane and able to get around my apartment pretty well. I still used my scooter when I was outside but I was walking unaided or with my walker in my apartment. I'm now considered to have secondary progressive MS. Now I've lost almost all of my walking!

Now that 2008 is here when I wake up I immediately reach for my walker because it helps with my balance and walking. I can stumble around my apartment but why do that? I had a bad exacerbation (worsening of my symptoms) in February 2008 and during the exacerbation I actually used my scooter even in my apartment as my legs were not working at all! That exacerbation taught me that I could do everything from my scooter including cooking, cleaning, bathing and working!

I’m not feeling sorry for myself and I don't want anyone's pity. I turned 50 years old in March and I've had a great life and I feel it's only going to get better! I'll even admit that I kind of like being disabled the way I am. At least I'm learning to like it! I rest whenever I want to. The best thing about my MS is it got me to quit drinking alcohol (mainly beer) in 1996. I still go to my favorite bar in town to have an occasional beer but I'm no longer "hooked" on it. I never thought I could get along without my beer but I've learned I can and I like my life better as a sober person. I've also found that writing my e-book and articles is cathartic for me

When I was a kid if there was ever a problem at home my father would always say this about the situation, "she ain't no picnic"! I'm sure it was to make us laugh or diffuse a situation and he always said it at just the right time. He probably would have made a great standup comic. However, in his day there was no stand up comedians like there are now and no Comedy Central on TV. But how true that statement was and still is! I thought it would be a great title for my newsletter and blog that I also write for because MS is certainly no picnic!

I feel I can talk about my MS with confidence because my body has experienced just about everything MS can dish out. I was diagnosed in 1991 but since I've been writing articles I now can trace my symptoms back to at least 1980. I've only been in my current condition for the past year and I still feel it's not that bad! I'm still looking forward to the future!

Sometimes I think there must be something wrong with my head. I should feel sadder or something about my situation but I don't. I accept what I have and I'm trying to make the most of the rest of my life! And that's not a bunch of bull, either! My life is still good! I get up in the morning and I go to my computer to check my emails. Then I can write articles about my MS or email to friends. I've been telemarketing for almost 20 years now. In 2007 I started telemarketing diligently for insurance agents in the Fargo, ND area. The agents pay me to schedule appointments for them. It provides me extra money to add to my social security disability checks.

I figure as long as I have my scooter Max who needs legs! I joke with people that walking is overrated anyway! lol Max will be my legs for the next 30 years and I know it sounds weird but that's OK with me. I find myself now using my walker as soon as I get up each morning! This has all happened in the past year. I'm continually amazed at what the human body can do or not do to itself! It's kinda weird to experience losing your legs first hand. I didn't get shot in a war, I didn't have a diving accident and I didn't have a bad car accident. Multiple sclerosis just happened to me. I was born with it!

I always said that when I moved to my little town by Fargo that it would be my last move! Now my ex and son are moving from the town they live in to West Fargo. So guess what I’m also doing? I’ll also be moving by June 1st into West Fargo, ND! I would do anything to live closer to my son. Right now its 20 miles to get him and bring him back to my little town. Gas is too expensive nowadays and the fatigue from my MS just wipes me out when I drive that much. I don’t think of the move too much because it overwhelms me right now. I already have an apartment picked out and it’s only 3 blocks from where my son will be living. I’ll be able to be a regular Dad and see him everyday! Now that makes me happy!!