Flare up or not?

About 2 1/2 weeks ago I stood up and had a rather painful twinge in my lower back/pelvis. If I stood up straight or moved a certain way it would spasm. I went on to bed thankful that the next morning I had an appointment with my chiropractor. When I woke up I couldn't even roll over to get myself out of bed (had to use my cell to call my daughter down the hall to come help me) Once I finally made it out of bed, I could hardly walk due to the spasms. Let me explain exactly how it was...my lower back, SI joints and across the back of my pelvis was in a constant state of spasm and if I barely moved the wrong way it would cause a labor like spasm that knocked my legs out from under me. I thought it was wise to use my cane, which I have never had to use before. I got to the Chiropractor, made it through the VERY painful adjustment. After I was FINALLY able to get off the table, low and behold it was worse. Even using the cane I was barely able to put one foot in front of the other. I made it home and thought I would be able to pull my walker out from under the bed. What was I thinking? In the process of getting it out, I fell over. Oh my lord the pain was horrendous! So there I was, laying in the fetal position on the floor, unable to get myself up (all I was thinking was “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”) every little move caused such severe pain . Through my tears and screams, I finally got up.

Once again I called my daughter and she came home to get my walker out. Bless her heart, she was so confused by it all. I’ve always had an awful back but it has never been so bad that I couldn’t walk. I spent most of  the day in tears from the pain and frustration. It literally took me 15-20 mins from the time I started to get out of my recliner to make it to the bathroom and back. I slept in my recliner, which was really the only relief I got from the pain. I am now back in bed with my husband, thank goodness. I thought I was on the mend until the other day, I barely leaned to the side and it felt like lightning hit my SI joint and shot down my leg and up my spine. Well there went my sciatic nerve! So for days now I have been dealing with the right side of my butt being tight, plus spasms again if I move the wrong way, a painful leg and a foot that feels like it’s been shot up with Novocain. As of yesterday, the left side of my jaw has been hurting. I haven’t done anything to it, it feels like I have been sitting at the dentist with my mouth propped open for hours.

I guess the big question I want answered is…Is this an MS flare up or not?

Sausage, Peppers, and Tomatoes with Linguine

 

This meal was delicious!  It’s very easy to make and the whole family will love it, unless you have one “picky eater”  like I do and has suddenly decided not to like peppers. The way I fix that problem, “picky eater” got served plain pasta and some sausage. I figure after a few VERY bland meals that “picky eater” will suddenly revert back to liking peppers.  Enough about the problem child, lets cook!

1/2 lb. Linguine- uncooked (I LOVE Dreamfield’s pasta)

1 (12oz) Package of your choice of sausage links- sliced diagonally

3 Bell Peppers, Assorted Colors- chopped coarsely

3 Tomatoes- chopped coarsely

2 Garlic Cloves- minced

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Get your pot of water going, while waiting for it to boil, slice up your sausage, peppers and garlic and throw it in a pan, heating the sausage thoroughly. I prefer my peppers soft instead of crisp so I tend to cook mine longer. Add the tomatoes, let simmer until tomatoes are soft.

Add your pasta to water, when done, drain and combine with sausage and peppers. Stir in as much grated parmesan cheese as you wish. Plate it and sprinkle with more parmesan.

Now enjoy!

Garlic Chicken Farfalle

It’s been a while since I have posted anything, but I just wanted to share this delicious recipe that I got from Kevin & Amanda Delicious recipes to spice up your dinner rotation. 

This really is one of the best new recipes that I have tried, and believe me it’s a keeper! It is so full of flavor, I just can’t get enough of it.

16 oz. Farfalle pasta
1 c. heavy whipping cream
3-4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
2 to 3 cloves garlic, crushed OR garlic salt (I do a spoonful of crushed garlic)
1 Tbsp. pepper*
1/2 c. butter
1 lb. bacon, crumpled**
1/2 c. shredded Parmesan cheese
1 (12 oz) Lawry’s mesquite marinade with lime juice

**I followed the suggestion on Kevin & Amanda’s blog to cook my bacon in the oven at 400° for about 30 minutes. it is so much easier and less of a mess to clean up after. Of course I line the cookie sheet with foil to make it even easier.

[ directions ]

Crock pot chicken and bottle of marinade on low for 6 hours. Pull marinated chicken out of the juices, allow to cool a little bit, and shred (I pull it apart). Set this aside. About a half-hour before serving, boil the pasta. In a small saucepan, melt butter, add garlic, whipping cream, pepper, parmesan cheese, and crumpled bacon. Whisk together on low heat for 3-4 minutes. In a large bowl, pour over cooked, drained pasta, add chicken and stir through. Sprinkle a little bit more shredded parmesan cheese on top.

There you have it, an easy and super yummy meal that the whole family will love!!!!!

Lucky Me

I just have to tell you all about my wonderful mother-in-law, or as I refer to her, mom.  From the very first time I met her, she has welcomed me into the family, or at least has pretended to, lol. She has always been supportive and willing to help out whenever we need her.

This is her beautiful garden that she loves to take care of…

In this garden she has an area with pink flowers and a Breast Cancer Flag. The reason for that would be that my sister-in-law had breast cancer and beat it.

I was at her house today and saw these sitting on the steps…

I texted her to tell her that these were my favorite two flowers. Her response…”That’s good because they are my orange for MS flowers.”

I just love that woman!

Copaxone

Well, this past weekend I started my Copaxone injections.  A Copaxone trained nurse came to the house on Saturday and spent two hours going over things and giving us injection hints.  Since she has MS and has been taking Copaxane for years, she had a lot of useful information that just a nurse couldn’t offer.

She talked me into doing my very first injection all by myself. I have never given myself an injection and I have done different types of injections for about three years. We decided to inject in my stomach, which I’ve never injected there before. I did it, it was nothing! I have been terrified to inject my stomach for some reason, now I know it’s no biggie.

I had no bruising or lumps with my first two injections, but the past two have left their mark. Last night was in my arm which didn’t hurt at all but left an instant bruise.

 

Tonight was my right thigh, this is what was left behind…

Oh the joys of MS, at least the injections aren’t extremely painful…so far.

Just Shoot Me!

After almost two months since my neuro prescribed Copaxone,  it will finally be delivered on Friday.  The first issue was that either the nurse didn’t fax the prescription,  or the pharmacy never received the fax.  After about two weeks of not hearing from the pharmacy I called and they had no record of me, so I called the doctors office and they claimed to have faxed it. Another week or so went by and still nothing,  once again I contacted the neuro’s office with them sticking to the story that they faxed it,  but said they would fax it again. Well imagine my surprise when I finally got a call from the specialty pharmacy.  I gave them all my insurance info,  the rep said they would run my insurance and it would be the middle of the following week until they would hear back from insurance with approval.  Once again, here we go waiting and waiting to hear back.  When I finally did hear back, they said that Medicaid was being difficult because they weren’t contracted with them, claiming that it would be a few more weeks of working with Medicaid to get them to cover the $100 co-pay,  they would get back with me.

Then yesterday, let me remind you of the date, May 7th and all this initially started March 12, I received a call from the pharmacy again.  The lady goes on to tell me that Medicaid won’t cover it,  BUT they have a “sister” pharmacy that is contracted with Indiana Medicaid that they are going to transfer my prescription to.  What the hell?  Are you kidding me?  So for two months they have been fighting with Medicaid to pay it,  when all they had to do is transfer the damn thing to a “sister” pharmacy that is contracted with Indiana Medicaid?  I guess it’s a good thing that I’m not dying since I have had to wait 2 months for my freakin’ meds!

Once I receive my meds, I have to call the Copaxone nurse to come over and go everything with me.  Considering I have done several different injections,  I’m not sure what the point of that is.  Unless she can tell me a sure fire way to make it not burn like hell,  I don’t really need her to come.

This is what I have to look forward to…

SHOOTING THIS…

INTO ANY ONE OF THESE…

EVERYDAY!

 

 

 

Can You Say Myoclonus?

Can you say Myoclonus? Having a bit of an issue with it this evening, and last night trying to fall sleep. It makes me so damn mad, it’s just annoying!  Are you just dying to know what it is? Well here it goes…

Myoclonus refers to a quick, involuntary muscle jerk. For example, hiccups are a form of myoclonus. So are the sudden jerks, or "sleep starts," you may experience just before falling asleep. These forms of myoclonus occur in healthy people and rarely present a problem.

Most often, you hear of myoclonus as a symptom of a nervous system disorder, such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis or of a metabolic condition, or as a reaction to a medication.

People with myoclonus often describe the symptoms as "jerks," shakes" or "spasms" that are:

• Sudden
• Brief
• Involuntary
• Shock-like
• Variable in intensity and frequency
• Localized to one part of the body or all over the body
• Sometimes severe enough to interfere with eating, talking or walking

It’s not like this is the first time I have had them, it is just for a longer period of time. I’m sure my husband is tired of hearing “god damnit” come out of my mouth every time my leg jerks. It has just been my right leg as of late, but I remember when I was first showing MS symptoms both legs would do it at night. Nothing like laying in bed trying to fall asleep when out of nowhere you keep getting these electrical shocks and legs jerking uncontrollably. I’m sure I was a sight to behold, just picture…laying on my side trying to drift off and BAM, I now look like a fish (or maybe I should say Mermaid, it sounds sexier) flailing about.

Now,  this evening all kicked back in my recliner, my right leg apparently has a mind of it’s own, or is it that my mind has a lesion of it’s own? Pretty sure it is the latter of the two, I just love all the little misfiring’s going on in my brain, makes for an adventurous life. (Said with so much sarcasm)