Newly diagnosed~HELP!

[Pamela909]

Hi Sadies mom,
Just wanted you to know I started Copaxone Sept. 25 and I use the
autoject also. I was in Boston fortunately when I had my last relapse
and I was taken off Avonex and put on Copaxone and it has been
great for me. Even after having what looked liked another relapse
on the way in Feb., it passed and the Shared Solutions nurse said the Copaxone
was working. She also said it starts working right away, however, I
also heard otherwise. I am feeling much better all the time though, so
hang in their, you will be writing those words in the not so distant future.
Pamela909

[MSNik]

Sadies mom- hi again. Just wanted to touch base on what you wrote about family being an embarrassment- and the whole NOT cooking thing...first of all, lets get real (smiling when I say this) Who the heck wants to cook a whole holiday dinner? Take this as an opportunity to either have it brought in, meaning, order stuff from your local grocery store or speciality store and pick it up- heat it up and serve it OR make them take you out. How many years have you been doing this? I actually laughed my first christmas when I realized there was NO WAY I was up to cooking for 15 people...I wound up having my family take ME out and guess what? It was wonderful! Now, as for the embarrasment thing- thats up to you how you interpret that. Somehow, I doubt very much that your kids or husband are embarrassed of you; however if YOU feel they are, they its up to YOU to do something about it. You mentioned how much this board is helping you....let me tell you, it literally saved me my first 6 months of diagnosis....I had NO ONE To talk to! This board was my life line.....people cant be embarrassed of you if you are not giving them a reason to be. YOU dont strike me as a person who has given up....you do seem normally upset- which is to be expected...but how much do you want to bet that they are just as upset, and just as afraid as you are?? Not knowing what is going on is terrifying....and they dont have US to lean on!

Please bring them into the MS world by either letting them read information or attend support groups...please talk to them and let them know how YOU are feeling...that you DONT want to embarrass them, and now that you know what you are dealing with, you will be doing everything to make yourself whole again. I know it seems hard to believe, but MS is very livable....my life was awful for a few months- I just read where April told you that after the intial shock she no longer thinks about MS day in and day out....its like that. The shock wears off, and then you start to feel good again. It will happen to you, too.... but you do need to let you family know what you are going thru. If you push them away, thinking that they are embarrassed, youll have a harder time bringing them back in...just think about it, ok?

Easter is next weekend...why dont you seriously consider ordering a ham or whatever it is you eat from Honeybaked and having the whole family gather round the table to talk....let them in and ask for their support ...but do it in a way which shows that you feel GOOD not scared....your attitude will rub off on them. I promise....

in the meantime, I may not know you, but Im close by..and sending virtual suport and hugs your way.
Nikki

[april1848]

I second that about the cooking. Get them to take you out. I used to cook all the time, baked all the time, and everything, including bread, from scratch. I can hardly do that anymore. The clean up alone is more than I can handle on most days. I just put a chicken-barley casserole in the oven, and I'm done.

My husband has taken up some of the cooking, which is a shame for both of us. On most days I just get my meals myself, since our schedules are so different anyway. But cooking for a crowd would be unthinkable to me, at least at this time.

As far as you being an embarrassment to your kids, are you sure? If that's true it's probably due to their ignorance or lack of understanding of MS, which you can surely help. I hope you're not slaving away in the kitchen right now!

When I feel pressured to do stuff like that, I try and think of what it will cost me. If I cooked a big meal for a big crowd, I would be unable to get out of bed for a few days, so it's not worth it to me. Please try and save your energy for things you really need or want to do!

[sadies mom]

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A WHILE. BUT I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR AMAZING SUPPORT AND SUGGESTIONS.

I HAVEN'T BEEN ONLINE MUCH BECAUSE I'VE HAD A ROUGH START WITH THE COPAXONE. LOTS OF SIDE EFFECTS~MORE THAN THE LOCAL REACTION. IT HAS WORN ME DOWN AND I FEEL LIKE I'VE GOT THE WORLS WORSE FLU NEARLY EVERYDAY. THE NURSE AT S.S. SAID IT OCCURS APPX 25%OF THE TIME. LUCKY ME!

THANKS AGAIN AND HOPEFULLY NOW I CAN BEHERE A BIT MORE. bBTW~WE DID DO THE EASTER DINNER FROM THE UPSCALE GROCERY STORE. THEY WERE OK WITH IT. I THNK IT BOTHERED ME MORE. THANKFULLY MY KIDS~MOSTLY MY DAUGHTER PITCHED IN AND DID MOST OF THE WARMING UP, ETC. AND I SLEPT THROUGH DESSERT!

TAKE CARE EVERYONE~GOD BLESS

[vonnag]

Hi Sadies Mom,

I am sorry you are having such trouble with the Copaxone. How long have you been on it now? I started Copaxone two Wednesdays ago. In other words, I have only done 15 injections so far.

I sure hope things get better for you soon!