Early this spring, I developed lymphadenopathy to go along with my MS. One of the rare side-effects of one of my drugs, is disease of the lymphnodes, and once all the other culprits were ruled out (I was convinced I had cancer), my neurologist decided I needed a break from my medications.

YIPPEE!

The best part about being off of the medication was the fact that I started to forget that I had MS. With no drug side effects, I felt perfectly healthy. With no daily (and 2x on Sunday) injections, days could go by without me even thinking about MS. It was good.

The break is over now and I’m back taking the drugs. I feel OK, but, I am dragging my feet, but just a wee bit. I don’t quite feel right. Maybe it’s my imagination, maybe it’s not.

As far as MS goes, most of the fear is gone (for now). Occasionally, I worry about what my future may hold. Mr. MK, gets to make me feel better.

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The spinal tap went remarkably well, it was virtually painless. I was impressed. I’ve had epidurals, so I was pretty sure I knew what to expect. The epidurals were all administered in the throws of labour, so I wasn’t sure if they were painless OR if the pain was just minor in comparison to massive uterine contractions.

I was one of those women who hollered at the anesthesiologist, “forget about the stinkin’ side effects, just shut-up and get the damn needle in my back!”.

WARNING: DO NOT under any circumstances decide to speed up your labour, by turning up the oxytocin rate/dose in the IV drip all by yourself.

I have the world’s 2ND worse backache … it fades when I lay down. BONUS –> I love an excuse to get horizontal.

This is the creepy ‘lumbar puncture kit’ … they took three large tubes of spinal fluid. I was going to get the med-student to take a picture of the procedure, BUT I figured I wasn’t up to seeing my back-fat in photos, AND I like you all way too much to put you through it.

Just when I thought I was done, they remembered that they needed blood to go along with the spinal fluid. Again not a big deal … I am just kind of sick of the ‘bloody needles’.

Speaking of needles, I am off my MS drugs until my ‘lump’ is diagnosed. I am so happy to go injection free for a while. YIPPEE

My ultra-sound is tomorrow and then it is back to waiting … and waiting …

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I’ve joined the shutter sisters one word project. I’ve chosen the word ‘hope‘. I will take a photo each day with this word in mind and upload it to the shutter sisters feed on flickr. I figure it should be easy enough, as I’m doing the project365 already. It gives me some direction.

photography 8/365 ~ hope 1/28

I’ve started to dread this Avonex shot I take on Sunday. It’s not so much that it hurts, it’s just long, and it is difficult to give. I am far from the ‘delicate woman’ sort (especially to look at), but this shot makes me weak, faint, woozy.

At the same time, this medication gives me hope. I hope I don’t relapse. I hope while it keeps me healthy, a cure is found for MS.

Tell me what you’re hoping for today.

MK xo
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The period key isn’t working on my laptop

In order to keep this post organized and refrain from having the world’s longest run on sentence, each sentence will live on it’s own line

Imagine there is a period at the end of each line

What a pain in the ASS

I am able to copy and paste periods from other places, so when absolutely necessary they may appear

I have all kinds of great posts coming this week

Contests (itunes and book), a great toy review (if you’re not done your shopping don’t miss this) and holiday happiness posts

Mostly I’ve been busy wrangling Georgia

She’s pretending to be a dog here

She’s quite convincing, she scared her friend enough to make her want to go home (OH Georgie!)

My MS drugs suck

This was taken about 2 minutes after the injection

Getting the injection doesn’t hurt, but about 30-45 seconds later it starts to sting, swell and turn red

Within a couple of minutes it looks like the shot above and it stings like a WASP

LIKE A WASP!

That isn’t the worst part though, the worst part is that about 12 hours later it looks like an egg (a super itchy egg) has been injected under the skin (too vain to show you photos of that)

It is just too ugly

The good news is: IT’S WINTER YAY (like -30c winter) and this bloody ugly mess is well hidden under my December wardrobe of cozy fleece PJ bottoms

I’ll be back soon, cheerier, with colorful happy photo’s and a better attitude – SOON!

MK xo
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I have my very own fashion VICTIM!

Yikes!

Me: Georgia, why don’t you wear your pink boots? They’ll match.

Georgia: These match.

Me: No, they don’t.

Georgia: Yes, they do, they both have flowers!

Who can argue with logic like that? Not me –> Go for it kid!

Also take note, the boots are on the wrong feet. She is perfectly aware of this, apparently she likes them like that.

I just added this picture, because I love her blond curls.

The crappy photos were taken on my iPhone. Georgia and I spent the a.m. at the hospital (those crappy toys aren’t ours). I’ve been off balance and staggering around like a drunk. It’s like reliving my 20′s, without any of the fun. MS sucks!

All comments and back-links for this post will be entered to win one of two Power Ranger action figures (includes shipping and handling) in my ‘Power Ranger Giveaway’. If you comment and blog about the Giveaway you’ll receive two entries (too easy). I’ll randomly choose two winners on December 1st, 2008 @ 9 p.m. –> make sure to come by and enter often.

MK xo
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Winner is: Tenille —> email me @ kim (@) mommyknows (dot) com.

Today was a HUGE day for me. I started a ‘clinical drug trial’ to treat my MS. For the next 3 years I will give myself 8 injections a week (7 subcutaneous and 1 intramuscular). I spent the day at the hospital learning how to give myself the injections, parting with about 1/2 cup of blood for another ‘clinical trial’ involving genetics and doing all kinds of tests to measure the level of my disease (pretty low I think).

Just look at what I brought home. This is a three months supply. Value $12500.00 –> good thing it was free. I have to keep it all in the fridge, the pharmaceutical company is supposed to bring a ‘fridge lock box’ tomorrow, mostly so Dennis the Menace Georgia won’t get into my stash. They would be deadly for little people.

I’ve never given myself any sort of needle, except for the time in ‘year one’ (about 7th grade) when I pierced my ears with a sewing needle during a math lesson at Dubai College (really attentive teacher). However, giving myself the first two shots turned out to be easy … really, really easy. I’m good … really, really good.

I am relieved giving the injections was so easy. Now I am hoping the side effects are minimum. I am taking 2 drugs, both currently used to treat MS, just not together. One or the other maybe a placebo, but I am guaranteed one drug that works. Both have a BIG looooong list of side effects –> some pretty nasty. So far, so good.

I’ll keep you posted.

All comments and back-links for this post will be entered to win a $10 Starbucks Gift Card (includes shipping and handling) in my ‘Have a Coffee on Me’ Contest. If you comment and blog about the contest you’ll receive two entries (too easy). I have a whole ‘schwack’ of Gift Cards to give away, so make sure and come back often for a chance to ‘have a coffee on me’.

MK xo
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So far … I am being told I have transverse myelitis. Go ahead and look it up on Wikipedia and please take note that I DO … DO have control of my bladder and my bowel — I repeat I DO have control of my bowel and my bladder.

I have the idiopathic sort (it means the idiots can’t figure out why … heeheehee).

It’s gotten a little bit worse over the past week. Hoping it doesn’t progress any further. The lesion is in my spinal cord at the c4 vertabrae, therefore, potentially everything below my chin could be paralyzed. Due to the fact that it came on quite slowly the doctors don’t think it will get much worse.

I skied today. I sucked! Due to a slight weakness on the left side of my body (thanks myelitis) I found it difficult. I was fun to get out and spend time with the kids. I figure I should get out and enjoy my legs while they still work.

Tomorrow I rest!

This is such a fun blog, eh? Come back and check on the status of my partial paralysis tomorrow.

MK xo
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