Changes

As I sit here in my bed, I reflect back over the past 13 years. Why 13 years? The changes to my health drastically changed the summer of 2004. I went from a healthy upbeat happy with life person to a person with a chronic illness, MS. That diagnosis was devastating to me, but I found a way to overcome most this catastrophic feeling with the support of my family, friends and the discovery of yoga. I still was very active and even became a certified yoga instructor. Even giving myself a shot everyday for the treatment of MS wasn’t the worse thing in the world. It wasn’t pleasant but I could deal with it.  Teaching yoga helped me heal my mind and body.  It was like I had no dis-ease called MS.  I was able to do the things I loved to do!  I was in remission.  I loved teaching yoga  it became my passion  I taught classes and gave private lessons.

However, something strange was happening to me. I was walking slower and slower.  It was harder and harder to lift my feet off the ground.  Life was changing, again! I also noticed that it was harder to keep my balance while teaching yoga. I was not a happy camper. I was perplexed! Maybe I was having a MS flare up!

I made an appointment with my neurologist. Unfortunately, it was related to MS. It was related to an illness that I wouldn’t have ever dreamed I would have! He said I had MS with a Parkinsons symptom. I was shocked! Couldn’t be.

To be continued……

Yoga
has One of my students taking a picture of me!

Daily workout

Right now I am on the bike in the gym of my apartment building.  It is so important to exercise daily when you have a movement disorder!  I find that the days I don’t work out, I have more anxiety and my legs get weaker sooner in the day.  So, working out for me is essential.  Every other day I do yoga. The days I don’t do yoga, I do cardio( a walking class or a cardio machine).  

I also stretch out before each exercise.  I find my neck and back very sore if I don’t do my stretches.  Oh, I forgot to blog that I had an MRI on my back. Guess what!?  I have spinal stenosis and arthritis to add to my list.  There are days that I am literally debilitated because my back hurts so bad!! 

Therefore, I am gettting an epidural tomorrow in my back to relieve my pain.  🙏🏻🙏🏻 I am praying for relief.  I can’t sleep, can’t sit for a long period of time, and walking is a problem.  Pray for me!  My girlfriend is taking me because they don’t what me to drive.  Thank god for girlfriends!  I’ll go into that at another time.