Monday, September 14, 2009

The Eternal Question and Patrick Swayze

My knees are killing me today. Is it that my knees are 45 years old and they went dancing for a few hours two nights ago? Or is it MS?

I'm tired today. Is it that I need more than 8 hours of sleep or that I didn't drink enough coffee? Or is it MS?

I'm very hot today (and not in a good way) even with the AC on. Is it pre-menopause hot flashes or maybe the heat emanating from my laptop? Or is it MS?
~
Patrick Swayze died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 57 today. This news has absolutely nothing to do with the Eternal Question in this post, but he will be missed. Patrick Swayze made the pottery wheel scene in Ghost incredibly sexy and who doesn't love it when Baby runs into his arms in Dirty Dancing?

I read a poem on an MS Facebook group today about how difficult it is to have MS. It's true but I bet Patrick Swayze's family wishes that he was dealt a hand that included MS and not pancreatic cancer.

6 comments:

  1. Loved this. I get irritated with every MS forum I've seen because - without fail - I eventually tire of only reading only negative posts. Nice job using Patrick Swayze's death to give some perspective. I think the saying is true that "it could always be worse."

    Every time I see the neuro for the drug trial I'm in, they ask, "Are you feeling depressed or anxious? My answer is always, "I'm not making money, my dog just had knee surgery, I gained ten pounds since quitting smoking and I'm a 48 year old, peri-menopausal female. What do you think?"

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  2. LOL I hate when they call asking about MS symptoms and depression comes up. They've just asked if you've had trouble with memory, coordination, bladder & bowel movements, your drug/shot treatments, pain, blurred vision etc ... and then they ask you if you've experienced depression. I always want to say, "I get depressed after someone like you calls and reminds me about all of the things that could happen to me next, but other than that I'm peachy." ( but I don't, because I know they mean well.)

    And I can totally relate with the wondering if it's MS question in this post. You just don't know on any given day if you're tired in the normal fashion, or fatigued due to MS. Are your eyes bothering you because it's allergies - or are you about to have a vision episode? Is my leg just tingling because I sat on it wrong, or? Yeah. And if you always assume it is the MS you feel sort of paranoid, but if you don't at least consider that it could be MS - you feel like you are in denial ...

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  3. I think MS is a breeze in the park compared to losing a child. So yes this post is spot on.

    I agree Patrick's family is wishing he was dealt a different hand.

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  4. Am hoping your readers will find this new clinical trial opportunity of interest!


    http://www.pharmabiz.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=51683&sectionid=
    This is great news from sanofi-aventis about their investigational oral medicine for MS, teriflunomide. There is currently a worldwide clinical research study that is evaluating teriflunomide for relapsing forms of MS. Click here for more information: www.tower3.msstudies.com.

    Lisa

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  5. After living with MS for 42 years, I can tell if it is MS, but couldn't for awhile. Does it matter? Aging weighs on the body for all of us. Yes, there is always somebody worse off than we are. I was never a sports person or dancer, this disease is best put on me than many others. I survived ovarian cancer and will always know that death at the door is much worse than using a wheelchair or feeling fatigue. 57, seems young now that I am 52...I have NEVER been depressed for no good reason, and I recover quickly. Is my good mood that I appreciate the joy of life? Or is it MS?

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  6. Excellent points all around...
    57 creeps closer day by day, luckily for me.
    I came across this profound piece of wisdom in an advice column by Cary Tennis on Salon.com:
    "...the lesson I am taking from it is that life vanishes in the blink of an eye, and every chance we miss is gone forever, so if there is anything in your life now that is precious and sacred, I suggest you go and check to see it is still there, and if it is still there, put it in your pocket and take a long walk with it."
    [Of course this walk may be figurative w/aching knees, sore feet, general fatigue, etc...]

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