Health/MS

Bourbon, Blues, & Horses

Bourbon, Blues, & Horses

Bourbon, blues – bet you were thinking I was going to say something about New Orleans? Nah, I got the blues tonight and in what is, I am sure, a spiral deeper into such things, I have compounded the matter with a bit of bourbon. Well, okay, a bit is probably in most folks accounting of such things an understatement. So what does any of this have to do with horses? Well, that is what this entry is about and relates to so many things included medieval reenacting and jousting, clearly the horses, and coping with having MS in my life, so read onward…

Jousting & Horses with MS?

Jousting & Horses with MS?

Wow, how time flies sometimes. I had been putting off writing this blog entry for a bit because I was not really sure I wanted to write it. Fundamentally, I suppose, by it to words it confirms what I likely already know in my head, if that makes sense to anyone. To explain, I guess I have to back up a little bit for those folks that do not already know me. One of my big hobbies over the last ten or more years has been doing things with horses. That includes anything from light trail riding, breeding some when I had the full farm, lots of training (both them and myself), and of course doing medieval things for show and pleasure. By medieval things I mean anything from a light demo in costume of what squires did to train up to full tilt jousting. The question I have now is can I still do any of this and if so, what parts?

Gilenya

Gilenya

Gilenya is the name of the medication I am taking for my MS. It is the only MS medication that is offered in an oral form, as most of the medications are made of proteins and such that require injection to get past the digestive track of our body. It is a relative newcomer to the game, having only been out of clinical trials for a few years. On choosing the medication, well, my neurologists let me do some reading on things and then along with my feedback this is what selected for me. I must note, that this feedback of my input really does make an impact in my mind in regards to what kind of Doctor is best for me.

Six Hour Dr. Visit

Six Hour Dr. Visit

Today I am spending the next six hours in the Doctor’s office. A specialist office at that. That seems like a long time but mostly I am just here for observation as I start a medication to ensure that some noted side effects do not occur. Six hours seem like a long time and to be sure, it is (thankfully I brought the laptop and the iPad to occupy my time). Six hours though is really nothing compared to the time I have spent in the Doctor’s office and especially various labs since early April. It is a bit of a long story, but clearly I have the time and it seems somehow appropriate to start the story here on the blog the day I am starting the medication for my life with MS.