Patrick’s Blog
I’m Patrick and I run this website. This is a rambling series of articles based around my life disabled with multiple sclerosis (M)S & how I cope. It became so big that I have had to break it down into small groups which you will see on the right hand side.
I am an optimist and like to see the happier side of life. I hope this comes through in these articles on my life with MSNo one likes a person who does not smile
Benefits of Vitamin D
Vitamin D and sunlight lead to so many benefits, it is the sunshine vitamin. Time in the sun makes you feel better but there are some MS sufferers who avoid the sun because an increase in body temperature is not a good idea. Get the benefits of Vitamin D by taking the capsules. Vitamin D […]
Railway stations, access for disabled travellers
A friend alerted me to this article from the Independent. It describes how funding to improve access for disabled passengers at railway stations is being slashed. The United Kingdom considers itself to be a civilised country but so many train stations are not disabled friendly, they are inaccessible? I won’t paraphrase the article. Instead I […]
Its the little things
Do people really know what it is like to have a progressive physical disability? What took a couple of seconds now takes me a couple of minutes or more. People see me around town I’m always cheerful and positive when people see me in town or at networking meetings. It’s what goes on behind the […]
A sense of balance
Many MSers who have SPMS do not have very good sense of balance. Now imagine this, you are momentarily distracted, you lose your sense of balance and fall over. As you fall over you put out a hand to protect yourself and you dislocate a shoulder. I’m guilty as charged. Do you see what I […]
Multiple Sclerosis Word Cloud
The plan I want to build a word cloud or a picture of words that is associated with multiple sclerosis. This is a way to visualize text. A word cloud picture shows the frequency of word usage and the more frequently a word is used so the size of the word in the word cloud […]
Falling Over Again, 25th February
It’s something we, I mean those who have balance issues, are always frightened of; falling over and then a visit to hospital to repair the injury. Well I did it again. How did I do it this time? You must have seen the famous Only Fools and Horses episode where Delboy leans against a bar […]
Yes I Agree, Exercise is Good For MS Sufferers
Lots of learned people are now saying that exercise is good for MS sufferers and yes I agree. I have always thought that exercise is good for you. On what basis can I back up this obvious statement for MS sufferers? A bit of background Our Golden Retriever, Tonks, did something to one her knees […]
Chilterns MS Centre
Chilterns MS Centre moved into a new building in 2013. It used to be in a small prefab concrete single story building. Money was raised to build a much larger new two storey Chilterns MS Centre. The annual cost of running the new building has exceeded expectations. Turn it into a viable business Robert Breakwell, […]
City University and my Travelscoot
I had been asked to give a talk at London City University on Tuesday 4th Feb at 1 pm. I was talking to 2nd year nursing students. The theme of my talk ‘Experiences of living with a long term medical condition’ in my case multiple sclerosis. The train braked I caught the train up to […]
The glass is half full
I don’t read many blogs, maybe I should. A couple of months ago I wrote an article for the blog Stumbling in Flats, its one of the only ones I regularly read. I took a decision and decided to write something for it and it has just been published, the title is I think the […]
Sunny day in Winter
As usually happens in January there have been endless days when the sky has a uniform greyness. Blue sky and sunshine are a rare sight; sometimes the sky is clear at sunrise but within an hour or so grey cloud is present from horizon to horizon. Dreary weather goes on and on If you are […]
MuSmate a walking aid for foot drop
I have foot drop in my left leg. When the problem started to be an issue I used the MuSmate a walking aid for foot drop. It stops me dragging my toes along the ground and tripping me up. Without the mechanical elastic device called a Musmate I could fall over very easily when walking. The […]
Do these help?
Being an MS sufferer is no joke, I should know. If you have MS there are so many items out there that can make your life easier. People seem to be so unaware of what is available. Here are some of my helpful tips to reduce the levels of stress in day-to-day life. Do these […]
My orthosis, 10 weeks later
The first fitting for my ankle-foot orthosis was in late September 2014, here is the post. Now its mid December. As we all know receiving something is one thing but only too often further work is necessary. This proved to be no exception. I was so pleased when I first started using it, walking was so […]
Feels like I’ve been mugged
Have you ever felt like you have lost a day? It feels like jet-lag, losing contact with time. No I was not hit over the head, nor have I flown to Hong Kong. Much more boring than that, I have had another taste of Uhthoff’s phenomenon. I’ve talked about it in the past but I’m […]
Another Rant, this time Arriva buses
On Tuesday 1st October I had to catch a bus from Aylesbury to Berkhamsted. Arriva buses operate this service, the 500 bus. As I was about to get on the 17.25 bus the driver said that he would not allow me on because there was no space for my mobility scooter. I was told to […]
My New Orthosis
I recently visited Amersham hospital and had a new orthosis fitted, it stops foot drop. Strictly speaking its called an orthotic. By preventing foot drop my knee hyperextension will also stop. That is the theory. and even more interesting, the theory works. Better balance Yes, it makes walking easier and I am sure it does […]
Hemel Hempstead Water Gardens & Ashridge Estate
I am a part of a group of people with disabilities, this includes deafness, blindness and mobility issues. We make occasional trips to places of interest and assess them for accessibility. We visit locations in and around Hemel Hempstead. This time it was a visit to the Water Gardens at Hemel Hempstead and Ashridge Estate. […]
Update on my Foot Drop
Sixteen months ago I wrote about the Musmate, it helps me to walk so much further because it lifts my foot off the ground. I still have MS and inevitably my walking ability has deteriorated albeit very slowly. At least the problem remains in my left leg, my right leg is still very reliable, phew! […]
Stuck in the middle – a press release
This press release tells the story of a disabled person (me) going to an MS Society meeting at Hatfield house but the station is not step free. Their handouts gave directions from the railway station. This scenario is difficult to believe in the 21st century. MS sufferer stuck on train platform when trying to attend […]
She’s gone
My ability to get up and go, where has it gone? That’s something I used to take for granted. There is something I used tol take for granted – it is something called balance. The loss of it has a profound affect on everything I do. Do you know that walking is 80% balance? So […]
Buy a stick, lose a stick and find a stick
I’m hopeless, I admit it. I scatter my possessions here, there and everywhere. I don’t know how many times Barby has sat me down and said that I must sop stop forgetting things. I must check that I always have my possessions with me. I agree, I need to learn how to remember things. I […]
Bonkers daughter
One of my daughters enjoys a challenge. Its the same attitude that mountaineers have to mountains, they only climb them because they are there. She and a group of friends are going to cycle the length of Britain, Lands End to John O’Groats to raise money for charity. The distance they cycle will be 1000 […]
Emergency visit to Stoke Mandeville
2013 has not been a good year for me so far. This time an emergency trip to Stoke Mandeville hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning, 20th Feb. So what happened to get me there? On Tuesday evening Barby and I went out for a curry with some friends. Just before we left the […]
Happy Birthday
The website is now one year old, a bit of a roller coaster ride but I think it deserves a Happy Birthday. I can still remember 1 February 2012, I had just been given the website, there was no content, a Facebook page but no followers and something called Twitter with no followers. Overwhelmed, daunted, […]
New Year’s Day
We had a small party at home on New Year’s Eve for 2013. I was woken by the dogs at about 9.30 in the morning on New Year’s day so I stumbled down stairs to let them out for a pee. I was coming back upstairs, took a left turn onto the landing and wallop, […]
Sleepless night
Friday night on 14 December 2012 was yet another sleepless night. I seem to have lost the knack of falling asleep. I managed to doze before finally dropping off at about 5 in the morning. When I woke up at about 9 I did not feel too awful, Barby said ‘stay in bed and get […]
Thoughts on counselling
Here are a few of my thoughts on counselling. How you feel about yourself Remember MS is a progressive disease and counselling does not provide an instant cure. Therapy or counselling can give you a chance to adapt your coping strategy. It is a chance to talk and to change your mind-set. Change how you […]
Railway stations and access for the disabled
Not enough railway stations provide step free access for the physically disabled. The problem Almost all the British railway system was built before disabled people existed in the public eye. When the stations were originally built lifts did not exist and disabled people were not in the mindset. If you wanted to get across the […]
Completing forms properly
I am disabled, I have advanced MS and I cannot work. Completing forms properly is essential if I am to receive any state benefit. PIP (Personal lndependence Payment) and Incapacity Work Benefit are forms for benefits I have had to complete. These forms are a nightmare, lots of difficult questions. They must be answered correctly […]
A big moan
If you are travelling by train from London Euston to Berkhamsted you must go down about 14 steps and then walk down a steep slope to get out of the station. The line runs at roof-top height. A big moan I am disabled and must use my mobility scooter (a Travelscoot) because I cannot walk. […]
The Meerkat Approach
I’m sure you know this is a picture of a meerkat, – it’s that cheeky looking creature that lives in the South African deserts. It stands up on its hind legs and keeps a very careful eye on its surroundings. A group of meerkats is known as a clan or a mob. They are very […]
