Active MSer? Introduce Yourself Here!

[LivWell]

Welcome Ambika! Delhi must be very warm!

[ambika95]

Hi, everyone!

Hi everyone! My name is Ambika and I live in Delhi. I was diagnosed with MS when I was 11 and it has significantly changed my life and what I'm capable of. Before getting MS I used to be very good at most sports, at dance, at running, and almost everything else. All that changed because of MS, but nevertheless I have tried to remain as active as possible.

This is despite the horrible weather of Delhi that makes it really difficult (almost impossible!) for me to do most things that I would like to. I do Yoga thrice a week, swim regularly, and also go for treks and other camps as often as possible.

[Sparky10]

Glad you found us too, Jen. Welcome! Let us know what all you with yourself. I just surprised myself by hiking the woods for almost 2 hours. Couldn't do it with trekking poles.

[mapgeek]

Hi! o/

Nice to *meet* you all. I'm Jen.
Not so much "active" as "active wannabe". Worked my way through C25K, then blew out the cartilage in my knee. Had to give that up (I was doing Group Power at the time, too, and had to give that up.) That was 2 years ago. Got that as healed as it is going to get and was trying to decide where to go from there. I enjoyed pushing myself farther than I thought I could go. Then last spring I was out gardening and my right side went numb. Within 2 days I couldn't stand being touched. Long story short RRMS. The parasethia is still with me, but not like it was. Have had other symptoms along the way.
Anyhow, looking forward to finding out what I can do. Glad I found you guys.

[Sparky10]

And we look forward to your participation. Welcome, Chris!

Good support at home is a wonderful thing.

[synapticmisfire]

I'm Chris and I'm a... Person. Who happens to have been diagnosed with MS 15 yrs ago. To steal a pithy quote: I have it, it doesn't have me. Now secondary progressive, I am no longer on disease - modifying drugs, just symptom management. I had to leave my career 12 years ago on disability, but I still work (very) part-time at a non profit organization. I have a very understanding and supportive wife, without whom I would be lost. This site seems like a supportive place and I look forward to participating in it.

[Sparky10]

Welcome, Gary! Good for you for being relapse free for so long. Me too; 14 years now.

Burning feet? I hear gabapentin and Lyrica mentioned as helping. Not together, mind you. Good luck with that!

I join you on the Tecfidera boat. So far so good, but then, how would we know? My only criteria for it was if I had a relapse, after so many years of stability, I'd quit it immediately. So far so good.

[visforvicar]

New Member from CA

Hello all! My name is Gary and I was diagnosed with RRMS in 2001. I had a couple episodes early on, but I have been pretty relapse free for ~10 years now! (I'm not counting fatigue, pain, vision issues). I have a B.S. in Kinesiology and I am working on my Master's in Theology. I try not to complain, but since I am here... What can I do to keep my feet cool?!?

I am 46, was on Copaxone for 12 years, and I am now taking Tecfidera. I do NOT miss the daily shots!

[PartnersInResearch]

Welcome, Jeri! Seems I remember a Tickled Pink from possibly 2 other places. One had a pretty pink flower avatar, and I think the other avatar might've been a flamingo? In any case, here you are!

I've also met Dave and Laura and very much enjoyed their company.

Kudos to you for being the lab rat for us! Fingers are crossed no extra eyes grow and you don't turn green or something.

Sparky!! I thought you might be the same one... we were friends on MSWorld if I recall correctly. And yes, the pink flower was me.

Glad to be here.

[Sparky10]

Welcome, Jeri! Seems I remember a Tickled Pink from possibly 2 other places. One had a pretty pink flower avatar, and I think the other avatar might've been a flamingo? In any case, here you are!

I've also met Dave and Laura and very much enjoyed their company.

Kudos to you for being the lab rat for us! Fingers are crossed no extra eyes grow and you don't turn green or something.

[PartnersInResearch]

Hello from Florida!

Oops! I posted before I introduced myself.

My name is Jeri and I live in Florida, 53 yo female diagnosed with RRMS in 1999. I was in the TRANSFORMS trial for Gilenya from Aug 2007 until Jan. 2011. I'm now in the extended study where they watch and see if I'm going to grow a third eye or something so they can make everyone else quit taking it. Like the canary in the coal mine.

I am passionate about clinical trials and have started a website to show others with MS what research is like from a patient perspective. There's not a whole lot of content yet because it's not been around that long, but I hope to add patient videos talking about trials and I have a spot for those who have done a trial to share their experience. (Dave you've welcome to write a post any time).

Anyhow, I found out about this site when I got the list of other folks who would be attending the Blogger Summit in NJ.

Got to meet all the wonderful folks and Dave and Laura are a great couple, loads of laughs and full of cutting wit.

Anyhow, I'm glad to find a new message board that seems like a positive place to connect. I don't do drama well and so I've avoided message boards for a while.

Previously, on other sites, I used TickledPink as my name, so there may be someone on here that knows me by that name. I blogged my clinical trial at http://www.gilenyaandme.com

And my new site about clinical trials is at http://www.partnersinresearch.org.

Glad to meet you!

--Jeri

[Sparky10]

Happy Thanksgiving, Amy! And Welcome!

I grew up in the Dallas area, and my sister still lives near Mesquite. I graduated from Southlake Carroll High school in '77.

Three boys!? Oh Boy! Quite the built-in exercise program there.

[AmyPerry]

Hi

Hi! My name is Amy Perry. I live in the Dallas area. I have actually looked at the site a lot but I am just now introducing myself. I was diagnosed March - June 2009. My primary dr told me it was MS from the first MR. The rest of the time I just went through all the additional testing , etc... They gave me the official diagnosis in June 2009 and I was suppose to meet at the beginning of July to talk about meds. And then I found out I was pregnant with my third! I was excited and scared. I had my 3rd boy in February 2010 and began meds in August. I have been through 3 meds. The last change was by choice!

Basically, I strive to live a normal life with my husband and boys. My boys are very active and I do my best to keep up. It would be a challenge without MS. I found that regular exercise helps me. I don't always "fit" it in to my daily schedule but I can tell when I don't. Love reading everyone's tips and stories and hearing what keeps others motivated!

[Sparky10]

Welcome, Jan! Your area certainly sounds like a beautiful place to "re"active yourself. I do some hiking here in Iowa, the property around my house, and find that 2 trekking poles helps a LOT!

I used to live in Duck Dynasty territory! Port Barre, LA, about 90 minutes south of them. Loved that year living in the swamp but that was before MS taught me to keep away from heat and humidity. I would live down there again if I could.

[shakeypaint]

Hi!

I'm Jan. I live in Clarksville, TN. That's redneck territory, but not quite the level of Duck Dynasty!

I am a homemaker. I no longer work outside the home (used to work as a landscape designer and asst. mgr. of garden center/nursery), but there's plenty to do around here! I keep the home, feed a husband and cat, and knit and watercolor during the days. I garden when it's cool enough.

I was diagnosed in Feb. 2005. I have had a fairly mild course till the last couple of years, with almost unnoticeable exacerbations. This is good, as I had the care of my mother for almost 19 years, till her death in 2011. It has only been after her death that fatigue, numbness, and weakness in my left arm and leg have become issues.

I am right handed, so my painting, so far, has not been affected. However, I was an active hiker (we have some large, beautiful state parks near us), and bicycler (Mennonite farmland only 20 miles away - quiet and beautiful). Emphasis on was. I have been unable to do much of either while caring for my mom, and now that I am "free" want to get back to it.

I am woefully out of shape, so that is first on my agenda.

Thanks, Dave (also the name of my wonderful, supportive husband) for this great site!!!