'Tis the season I 'spose

Here comes the holidays .....so fast it could make your head spin. Every year just that much faster than the last. Oh well. Can always find something to complain about if I need to I choose not to. I have had the usual long long list of symptoms creeping up on me but still find myself looking to the bright side or at least imagining that there is a bright side. My last doctor visit was on the 5th of Dec. and I laid it all out....you know...that long long list which if I hadn't had all the scraps of paper I wrote on as reminders I probably would have said "I'm Fine" because when asked to recall I just cant hold the memory until later and I'll think "oh yea!" but too late. Anyway we discussed all my scribbles and currents and he concluded that he had good news and not so good of news. The good news was that he recommends autologous mesenchymal stem cell treatment and really feels I would benefit from it however the not so good news is he said it costs $10,000. well a lot has happened since I last posted....Not sure of everything I posted before but foreclosure, divorce,(finding my love) then moving, hip replacement, having to quit working, filing for disability, filing bankruptcy, steroid epidural...I'm sure there is more. so that's more money than I have. (about $10,000 more to be exact)  I thought that was high but if I get disability perhaps retro-ing back to when I first applied (2014) I may get enough. Meanwhile upon my investigation I come to find out its actually $15,900. My brain is ready to bleed thinking about it so I will park it and write it on my wishlist and think about the time that is upon us....Christmas. I have a lot to be thankful for....miss my daughter but was able to see her last Christmas and am thankful for that. Have my boyfriend who is the kindest person I've ever known. He keeps me motivated and active in fact my birthday present arriving for Christmas is a battery assist bike with fat tires so I can cruise the trails with him....sweetest man on the planet....love love love him. Anyway, I'm sure there will be more to post after the new year and hopefully I wont wait a year to tell it. Happy trails!

Living each day as best as I can :)

Living for today

I know it has been awhile since I posted anything so I knew I had to catch up to the current. The current doctor visit was for my annual womanly visit..the wonderful pap and pelvic. :) Of course the results are normal. The good thing out of the whole ordeal was my weight and bmi number. My weight is 148 and my bmi number (I believe that stands for body mass index) is 22.1 % which they said is perfect. Well, I have never been perfect at anything so I'm running with this one!!!That's the latest on my doctor stuff. As far as the MS? It has been comfortably at bay for now which I attribute to my diet primarily added with my attitude which I give a little credit too but mostly my diet. I am a very happy person for the most part. I have been doing exercises to strengthen my hip which is arthritis afflicted and the results have been phenomenal! I even quit limping and can raise my right leg up and hold it for quite awhile now. It has been painful to exercise so I thought if it hurt I could be messing it up but a friend told me to work through the pain because if it was bone it would hurt all the time and since it didn't hurt all the time then he said there are probably muscles involved. He is not a therapist and clarified that but he is a man with a lot of science behind his knowledge so I trusted him enough to try. Well with all that said I worked through the pain....when I mean pain I would feel the pain of weakness and effort when doing the exercise but when done the pain would subside.(example: lying on my back on the bed knees bent with a ball say roughly 10 inch ball between my knees squeezing the ball as I simultaneously bring my knees to my chest...so at first it would be "oooooonnnnnneeeeee" omg "twooooooooooooo" it took awhile, like days, to get to even 5)..to the point at 4 weeks now(and at 25 to 30) I am almost pain free in my hip. I am amazed!!! If I had known to try this some years back I would have but I was afraid I would be hurting myself or crunching something. I'm not saying to anyone to do this but just learn about your body and don't be afraid to try and help yourself when you can. That's all from me...until the next time so be grateful for all that is right with your life and enjoy what you can and smell the roses if they present themselves before you.  Living for today......Jan

Doctors Visit "WOO HOO"!

(Let me first set the premise here for those who don't know...I have MS so its always a concern when going to the doctor!)I went and had my annual doctors visit and all is wonderful! He was very pleased with me. He used words that I love like "perfect" when describing my blood tests! (it's so hard to top that word!) Motor skills are good, weight is good, reflexes all good....looking everywhere and found absolutely nothing wrong! (as far as new and different that is) He checked my hip and its range of motion and was amazed at how much better than before. (must be all those reverse scrunches and squats I do! heehee) He's keeping me on my major supplement regiment ( btw, I don't take any prescriptions) but changed the time I take certain ones. I complained of restless legs and since it only happens when sleeping he told me to take 4 of my regular supplements at bed time. That would be my mega multi-mineral, 1000 i.u. vitamin E, 1300 mg Evening Primrose and B-100. (amazing how that worked!) So with that said I'm good to go for another year!....:) This is where I say "WOO HOO"!
                                     Personally speaking and being the walking proof I believe that my diet, nutritional supplements, exercise, paying attention to my limits and attitude are the reasons for my success! Life is short but beautiful so live for today!   you can check out my diet at  jansrecipebook.com     

Going to the Doc today!

This is my annual visit.... nothing to really report to him about. I'll post what he says after I go. Hopefully all will be good since I feel so great!

as of late....

It's just so weird sometimes to think about having MS. I feel pretty good as of late. I stay with my diet for sure 100% and I keep up my exercise as to stay fit and somewhat toned. (squats and crunches...whew!) It's important after losing all that weight 4+ years ago. I do have my moments of fatigue which I've learned to accommodate by recognition. (so I've adjusted my life so it doesn't "get me") My right hip is more of an issue than the MS. (arthritis probably from a childhood injury) That being said I just had a weird moment thinking about MS. I was at work and my co worker's client said "Hi Jan" and proceeded with the question "How's your MS?". I was just taken aback by that question! I know she was just sincere and it wasn't harmful in any way in fact it was a caring question. What was weird to me was that (and I explained this to her) I haven't even thought about MS and or even my having MS until she asked me. Wow! I feel very fortunate indeed and thankful for all that is at this time going and doing well. (hip and all!)....

Did all my Dr. visits "Hurray!"

Got all my yearly stuff done and everything looks great. My blood work is actually phenomenal! The best its ever been! (I was told it was like the blood work from someone who is 18 years old!) Wow! I have to say that makes me feel really good. My hip hasn't given me too much trouble either. Ever since taking that St. John's Wort (a couple months now) my overall mood and sense of well being has improved. Still working....that too is better since altering my schedule. I'm still creating fab gluten free, dairy free, etc. free recipes. I also lost another 7 lbs.! Wow....that just amazes me after all the chocolate chip cookies I made and ate recently!(cookie recipe on my  blog  ) Diet.....being what you eat.....makes all the difference!  http://jansrecipes.blogspot.com/  The trick is taking control of that!........