I Learned The Hard Way

So to answer the question, "What have you learned about yourself while managing MS", I would have to say I learned the hardest lessons in my life because of MS. The most important lesson is you don't pick a time to rest your body, your body will pick it for you. Before my diagnosis, I would work 11-hour days, go out with friends after work, or go to the gym for an hour. Now, I can't even imagine doing one of those things on a regular basis.

Living with comorbidities

I also have fibromyalgia so the fatigue alone that I experience is the thing that stops me from experiencing most of life. The pain and weakness in my legs are the other. I currently use a cane, which was another thing I had to learn. Various issues came into play when I started having to use my cane because of my drop foot and leg weakness. Issues like physical appearance. I am fairly young, and I get looks from older people and comments like, "you are too young to have to use a cane." Not understanding that it's not something I prefer to use, but I need to. I also miss the "old," before cane me that didn't need one. That could walk 45+ minutes on an incline on a treadmill.

My family helped me see a new perspective

It was the loving support of my family and friends that helped me realize that, yes, I do need more help walking. I need a cane, and it's just something to help me get through everyday life. It's not a burden but rather an improvement than having to miss out on life. I have also learned a harder lesson that some people in your life are not who you thought they were. You might have thought that they cared about you as much as you did about them. However, this is not true in some cases. In times of need or support, they might not understand your new self and find it an excuse to leave you behind.

The support of my friends and family mean everything

Having MS showed me a new and different world. A world that is challenging and unpleasant. However, like I mentioned before, it is with the help and loving support from my real family and friends that make me strong and able to carry on. Though these life lessons were difficult to learn, I wouldn't have learned the strength and courage I have inside.