Fatigue is an amazing thing

Fatigue.  Yes, I have said it before, but I will say it again... fatigue sucks!

I have spent the last week or more sleeping until 2pm... or 3, or 4pm... and still going to bed a few hours later.  I have been so tired, my eyes will not focus, so I can only sort of see what I am writing!  I know I am typing correctly (I usually use Dragon software), because there are no red lines under the blobs that are supposed to be words.  This sleeping and fatigue-related visual response means no reading, no playing of small games, and not always even being able to tell what is going on on the big screen tv.

Add to my lack of hours in a day and my visual challenges, my fatigue makes my pain worse, especially around my rib cage and the backs of my legs, and when I walk, I am more likely to list to one side, or bounce off the walls/furniture/other people on my way to wherever I am going.

Most of the time, with fatigue this bad, I find that getting to where I am going is further complicated by the fact that all of my brain power is spent trying to stay upright and ignore pain spasms, and not enough brain power is saved for recollection of where I was going, let alone why.  So, when I stop someplace, it may or may not be the place I was originally headed, and I certainly don't have a clue as to why I headed there.  (Now people, I am sure you realize that I am talking about what I am doing in my own house.  This is a description of today, within the confines of my own domicile.)  While trying to get something accomplished today, I have instead started something like 7 or 8 projects (no kidding) and only finished one - just today.  The fact that this has been going on for several days, and possibly more than a week, makes me appreciate my housemate/caretaker all the more.

And with that, folks, I am off to take more meds and go to bed!  (Red line... glasses... they make the blob big enough to make out the fact that I did actually type what I wanted to type...I think)...

Multiple Sclerosis and Medicare thoughts II

Well, I have been looking into this Medicare thing, and although I am excited, and there is a lot to learn, it seems to me that having been given four and a half months to investigate what I will and will not need to do is a good thing.  For example, I need drug coverage.  I want to find out about chiropractic care and acupuncture. I would like to see if there is any way to get some of my supplements reduced, but I doubt that is likely.  I am not old enough to have my drug plan through AARP, but there are many choices out there.  I would like to continue using my regular pharmacy, so that is an issue.  I can't pay too much out of pocket, so I have to weigh the cost of Medicare A and B with the D (drug plan of choice) plus the cost of the meds.


It is a good thing I like to learn!  It is a bad thing, for me, that I have so many different things going on.  I have been trying to start a business in my home to bring in more money (more on that another day) which has been taking money instead (not any more, except small supplies for now), I have this medicare stuff to learn about (insurance is sooo much fun  :-(   ), I am in the middle of sorting papers from life which have just piled up over the last four years of living here, I have unearthed a little patch of floor in my den, but lost ground in my bedroom, and I am sure I am forgetting several little projects (like cleaning the pole barn, framing a picture for my brother, making dinner every night, trying to get to bed at a reasonable time and get up at a reasonable time, working on trying to get more product for my business, working on writing my book...)... Whew!  And more!  This all from someone who, according to my neurological evaluation, has trouble multi-tasking, forgets unrelated items easily, and gets distracted by the smallest thing.  And all that is true.  I go down the hall, intending to get my stapler in the den.  I get to my bedroom (past the den) and see the bottle with the pills I was supposed to take an hour ago... I sit down on the bed, then bring my feet up and start playing on my phone or reading a book.  Soon, I am thirsty, but don't have my water in the bedroom, so I go to the kitchen, once again passing the den.  The show I was watching is still on, so I sit down to watch it.  There is paper around me so I start sorting it, but don't get very far because I am so distracted by the show, and just looking down means I miss dialogue on the show. And so it goes.


Well, gotta go to bed now so I can try to get up at a reasonable time and learn a little about medicare, but first maybe I will read, or sort, or work on my business, or make coffee, or start a budget, or maybe play a game or perhaps even work on making my bookmarks... but first, I should frame my brother's picture... if I remember before I turn on the tv...

Multiple Sclerosis and Medicare

Well, I received my medicare card in the mail today. I am excited that I may not be paying Regence anymore, but wary about what my coverage and cost may be with Medicare.  Anyone out there know about Medicare as it pertains to MS?  I will be looking into blogs and message boards for information, as well as emailing a few folks.  I need to know if it is going to cover things like MRIs and my Rebif injections.  I also have several muscle relaxants and medications for spasms, as well as something to keep me basically awake and somewhat focused during the day.  If anyone has any information about Medicare and MS, please respond!  Meanwhile, I will look and see what I can find, then share it here.