Progressive disease
Life with MS, always adapting to a new normal
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My life with MS as a retired man is much easier than when I was working. Medical retirement took me in 2012, aged 58. I then spent a couple of years wandering around trying to adjust to the new life. Two years talking to a counsellor for 45 minutes once a week in the evening […]
Methods I use to manage my multiple sclerosis
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Multiple sclerosis is a very unpredictable disease and tough to live with. I think we all know that; I certainly do. MS has now been a part of my life since 1972 but I was not diagnosed until 1995. Here some methods I use to manage my advanced multiple sclerosis. Everyone has their own way […]
Making an annual wish to improve my life
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Back in the day I would make a resolution every New Year’s eve. Its such an easy thing to say when I’ve drunk a glass a glass or two too many. Everyone else has made one so why shouldn’t I? Now I’m a bit softer in the stomach and wiser in the head so I’ve […]
Simple things I now need to understand
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A few years ago I kidded myself that I could still do the things just like I did in the noughties. Simple things I now need to understand. “Don’t worry, I can do it” I shouted enthusiastically as I was starting jobs like cooking supper. It would all begin swimmingly. Suddenly, out of the blue, […]
DWP decide my Personal Independence Payment
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This morning I received a brown envelope from Belfast. I knew the contents straightaway, the DWP had made a decision. I had already read the assessor ‘s report. How will the DWP decide my Personal Independence Payment benefits. A normal life I did not know if the DWP decision was going to be a mere […]
A progressive disease is one that gets worse
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A progressive disease is one that gets worse. Perfectly true but for an awful lot of them it’s in an unpredictable way. Will it progress quickly or slowly? Is it predictable? What are the consequences? Inevitably this leads to a lot of anxiety, sometimes even depression and worry. Doesn’t this sound like multiple sclerosis? I […]
The Website aid4disabled.com
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There are numerous multiple sclerosis (MS) websites. There are those run by large organisations and there are ones like this one, run by one man and his dog. I hope this one is different and makes you curious. The main aims of the website Aid4disabled.com are to provide two different services. The two main functions […]
A terrible shock
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Last week I discovered that our lovely shower was not working and the problem wasn’t just the shower. Book the engineer The story starts when the thermostat for our power shower broke so the shower water was only freezing cold. I phoned Aqualisa to book an engineer. I pulled the disability card and was told […]
Catheters for Intermittant Self-Catheterisation
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I have used catheters for intermittant self cathetetisation since 2006 and used Coloplast for many years. Coloplast catheters I started by using the Coloplast 14 inch catheter; this was fine for use in the house but potentially embarrassing when out and about. At work, for example, how do you carry something into a loo that […]
Information you need to know
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I am going to tell you information that I think is important. One is about your consultant and the other refers to multiple sclerosis and the two are linked. This is information that my consultant Professor Giovannoni talks about in his blog and I feel it is vitally important that other people know this. It’s […]
Its the little things
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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 […]
Thoughts on counselling
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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 […]