olelady's Journal

Oh, Clare, I think I'm also in the fortunate camp though I have my moments (end of chores at 6:30 p.m. and I'm not walking very well)... Never feel that you need to apologize as DS certainly needs some who are doing well!

Have a great evening! xoxoxo Cj

Gosh, Clare, there are a lot of us who don't have it so bad, you've got lots of company there. I still think it's important for us to be here, especially for the newbies who don't know yet how bad it's going to be for them. We can be part of the positive outlook, you know?

Hey, I love Star Trek, but sure as hell never knew how many shows they aired, you are a REAL bad case. Later-gator! *M

Hey Clare, as Cj and M say, please don't apologize for having "too mild" MS. You are dealing with so much in your own life, and you're still so supportive and caring to all your friends here. And fun! So remember - you also deserve support. You are needed and valued by your friends here, and there is no substitute.

So - hope I get this right, because I'm just a Trekkie by heredity - you know we are here for you, and wish you Kaplach! (think that's supposed to be Klingon for "success".) :-) Hugs!

Glad your MS is mild,,you have enough to deal with. Star Trek too funny. My Mom made us watch that whenever it was on when we were kids. She is the SCIFI QUEEN.

I saw that fight on South Park I think. Too funny

Hi there olelady,

You may not have severe MS symptoms but, you do belong with us. The severity of your MS has nothing to do with whether or not you should be here or not. It’s your contribution. In fact, it’s not the disease but the battles within yourself, doctors, hospitals, countless tests and understanding those battles whether or not you have cancer, poliomyelitis, Bi-polar, or MS. The battles are the same. I never considered you as anything but one of us. As for me.........I want you here. You obviously add more than you know.....so knock it off young lady, right now!!!!! OK? Consider this your scolding for the day, LOL!

Hope all is well with you.
Take care of yourself,
Mike

Do you know that George Takei is my favorite celebrity in the world? He's the announcer on the Howard Stern show. He comes in for a week every few months and is the world's best sport. I LOVE HIM. I need to send you some links.

And we love you. xoxoxo Jen

Wow--a neuro who is a star trek fan. Unbelievable, but terrific. You must have difficulty being on point with discussing yoru MS when there is so much you both would like to talk about!!!

Wow--a neuro who is a star trek fan. Unbelievable, but terrific. You must have difficulty being on point with discussing yoru MS when there is so much you both would like to talk about!!!

Ah, Clare, that so sucks that you are in this living nightmare. I cannot imagine living in the same house as an adult with my mother. If I had to have MS AND be the caretaker, I might become a hatchet murderess, let's see, I believe Lizzie Borden did a rather nice job! You have my utmost admiration for your absolute endurance, it is truly amazing, especially when you don't sleep well, which makes everything even less tolerable. Try not to let Mom drive you to the drink...not worth it, hon! Hey, one more thing, I was just chuckling about the Catholic guilt with another DS friend recently, isn't that the gift that keeps on giving to us, LOL! Well, hang in there kiddo, tomorrow's another day, as Scarlett O'Hara used to say. :) M

I can't even imagine how hard it must be for you with MS and your mom. Hopefully you can get some good sleep.

Sorry to hear that Clare, you have a lot on your plate. Sounds like your mom wants more attention. She is weak and scared, and depending on you. You are strong, you can do this. But please try to get some rest in between requests. Probably a hard challenge and may be impossible. I'm not familiar with your situation, but I know how cranky old people can get. I know how cranky young people can get. Wishing you luck, and wishing you sleep. Hugs Dazy

My Mother and I would have to kill each other if we were forced to live together I think... I love her, but she is the energizer bunny and I'm a little by little girl...

Have an extra nip on that bottle for me... If it's not for you, it doesn't count, right??? (Ok, maybe not as I can hear the tsk tsk now... LOL)

HANG IN THERE DARLING! xoxoxo Cj

rofl...ah my dear...grin...are you sure you should not be slipping some of that 4 pack into moms nightly orage juice..and after noon juice and perhaps morning juice....yu get the idea right??? rofl....have you got her on any meds yet??? i swear if i have one more dr. tell me that they can not put my father in law on any anti depresants without his permission im going to deck them....lmao...hell the guy does not know his address or phone number...oh wait i forgot he does not answer the phone anymore...he does not know what the ringing sound is...grin..

and yep your right...humor is the only way to go my dear....my father in law has this annoying habbit of clicking his finger nails together...over and over and over...drives me nuts...i swear i am going to put him in an armchair and tie his hands down...grin...no one will know...and you know..we have found that if we let him watch t.v in his room for as long as he wants at nite...he sleeps in late...and i do mean late...grin...gives you the whole morning to do what you want...lol...i give him a snack and a couple of drinks when i put him to bed he has a t.v and a chair in his room...and a cowbell on the outside of his bedroom door now so i can hear if he wonders...grin...it seems to be working...we can go to bed at a normal hour...he stays up watching t.v. till late...heh hehh heh...then he gets up at about 1-3...oh yeah....i know..im bad...but it is working...rofl.....
hell tomorrow if you have any hints for that i would appreciate it...i have to take him to the dr.s for assessment...and he is already insiting he is not going...sigh....
or perhaps we could just let your mother and my father in law live together...rofl....

hang in there hon....smile...if not...bungie cords that they use to secure thing to the hood of cars or in the truck...should work great to keep them in a chair....rofl...ep i have been giving this alot of thought in case you cant tell....grin

luv
heather

Hey Clare, just reading and having a little bit of a chuckle at some of the responses. :-}

Really though, so sorry your mom's ways are giving you a very trying time. Though I didn't look after her, my MIL was often in the same vein.... nattering at FIL "from the moment her feet hit the floor in the morning". She would go on to him about all kinds of stuff til she got fed up talking to a wall (he's quite deaf and almost never wore his hearing aid.) Then she'd call me or hubby and go on. We both listened and talked to her a lot- it was all we could do, and easy for us because we knew she was lonely, and it took some load off FIL if someone else listened sometimes.

And so I agree: as our loved ones feel a gradual loss of control in life, they may reach for whatever power they are still able to have. Guess it's up to the caregiver to make sure that our boundaries are in place (in our own minds, if that's the only place they'll stick) of what behaviour and words we accept and what we choose not to take to ourselves. As you always put it so eloquently, "you take care of you" first. Hang in there, and let your friends here support you and jolly you up when you need a boost. Just as you so often do for us!

Hugs... Hannah

You should be given an award. The sick being looked after by the sicker.

All I can say (others have said it better) is that you need to care for you too. What does your Mom do - make sure the house is clean before the cleaning lady shows up? Oh dear...
Don't let anyone drive you to drink. One once in a while is OK but I found that trying to self-medicate is not a good thing.
Here's hoping you are given a break when your brother and his wife arrive. Maybe you can go out while they are there? Or are you expected to 'entertain' them?
Positive thoughts going your way. No Catholic guilt coming from me!!
Love, Louise

Clare, you are truly magnificent. You get my "I've had it up to here and didn't strangle anyone this week" award. Now...wanna run away to Maui with me?

xoxoxo jen

Clare, sorry you are having such a hard time with your mom. The stress sure isn't good for you. You are great to keep the smiley face even with all the "activity"going on in your house.Take care. Becky hugs