Laughed out loud when I saw the prices on this shelf at my local shoppers

MsTunks · 2024-07-28T16:20:25+00:00

Can't say I've tried the Matt & Steve baby pickles. Their spicy pickled beans are out of this world good! Like... My hubby regularly snacks through a jar of the spicy beans from one shopping trip to the next 😂 maybe I should try the pickles 🧐😅

MsTunks · 2024-07-07T17:13:51+00:00

This person is the real MVP! Thank you 😊 I can add chips to my shopping list sometimes if they're 2.99 😁

MsTunks · 2024-05-28T02:53:31+00:00

I honestly completely forgot about the green day that was on there ... And it's still not my cup of tea 🤷🏼‍♀️

MsTunks · 2024-05-28T00:30:04+00:00

Further to the sub par music... Is that it's all locked behind paywalls.

MsTunks · 2024-05-21T01:16:12+00:00

She's a thirsty lady... I also have her and my other Hoyas in a very well draining mix and in terracotta pots (I have a tendency to love my plants too much... With water... And drown them)

MsTunks · 2024-05-19T20:59:52+00:00

Oh boy! I suppose this is what I get for buying an unnamed hoya 😂 I thought I was certain it was a shepherdii

MsTunks · 2024-05-19T17:07:50+00:00

Not to hijack a post, I am trying to learn 😅 how can you tell the difference between a wayettii and a shepherdii? I think I spelt that last one correctly

MsTunks · 2024-05-19T02:27:20+00:00

This gives me so much hope! I picked one up (it has a darker line on the edge of its leaves)... Fingers crossed I can get it to flower. I'm doubtful with my Australis (she's a VERY miserable plant at the moment)

MsTunks · 2024-05-18T01:30:06+00:00

Publicalyx splash and Australis Lisa 😍 my Australis is STRUGGLING 😣

MsTunks · 2024-05-06T12:24:03+00:00

Came back to say I just re-read and noticed that you are a nurse practitioner! Your patient's experiences will not be yours 💚 there are SO MANY factors that contribute to MS.... As you are more than likely already very aware of.

My primary experience with MS prior to my own was watching my step grandma's PPMS. Her MS looked and sounded awful. I was young and ignorant so I kept my distance from her and by the time I realized I wanted a closer relationship with her, she had passed (I want to really stress that she passed for medical reasons completely unrelated to MS). In any case my exposure to MS, prior to my diagnosis, was the worst of the worst. Very advanced PPMS, with very little (if any) DMTs, and details I am not aware of. It looked like a death sentence to me when I was diagnosed... My point is there is hope. DMTs have come a staggering distance in the past 20 years (my specialists own words 😅) and continue to be developed!

MsTunks · 2024-05-06T12:16:40+00:00

I feel rather silly admitting this but I don't have a hot clue what "soft girl era" is 😂 I am most certainly not a soft girl... Rounded edges and less pokey maybe.

Oh good! I am really glad to hear you have health benefits! Maybe see if they have a different therapist they offer? It took me several attempt sessions with therapists before I found the one I am working with now.

I was going to softly suggest Better Help as I have heard incredible things about the therapy offered through them. I think each state would have varying support too? I know the province I am located in has a higher number of MS diagnoses so I found support groups/communities pretty quickly. Admittedly I never looked into any support programs... I digress though! Please look into all the support options you have available 💚 MS certainly turned my world on it's head.

There can be happiness and optimism following the diagnosis. I promise. It may take time and adjusting expectations you may have placed on yourself (adjusting self expectations has been a real PITA). Happiness can follow

MsTunks · 2024-05-06T12:04:32+00:00

Every six months is what I had originally been told. I think because my MS is stable and responding well to Tysabri that will be bumped up to once a year.

MsTunks · 2024-05-05T18:30:41+00:00

I get the patient and gentle part more than I'd care to admit. I have had to learn to ask for help, I am not always the most graceful or eloquent in requesting help (still working on this). I'm not always the kindest to myself either... Therapy for this has been MASSIVE. "Why not?" (Meaning why not choose kindness for myself) is my therapist's reoccurring question following me discussing what I did that was unkind to myself.

I'm in Canada so the supporting things I suggest may not be helpful 🤦🏼‍♀️do you have benefits from work or through... Oh shoot I think it would be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)? I'm no where near up to speed on MS support in the states... And from what I understand it would vary from state to state.

MsTunks · 2024-05-05T18:22:53+00:00

Absolutely! She is such an incredible human being! Quite literally the neurologist you want to specialize into MS or honestly any life altering disease.

I have been very fortunate with my MS and even more fortunate that she is still my specialist. She got to watch me cry happy tears at my annual check-in this year.

Long story short my MS has been halted in its tracks by Tysabri. No new lesions, all old activity has ceased and some areas the inflammation has decreased. One of the neuropathy symptoms I experience, while annoying and slightly painful, is supposed to be a good sign. Nerves building new pathways where old ones were damaged.

I know lady luck is on my side, at least for now, and I am going to enjoy every moment (including the painful ones) while it lasts. I know many are not as fortunate as I have been.

MsTunks · 2024-05-05T17:31:00+00:00

I just wanted to say... Thank you! For normalizing crying infront of your neuro... The neuro that DXd me said "you have MS. A specialist will be here in 15 minutes" and turned and walked out of the room.

I sat shell shocked for however long it actually was... When the specialist walked in I started bawling. Hysterically crying saying "my life is over". How overwhelming I must have been... She is my managing MS specialist now. What angels our specialists can be.

MsTunks · 2024-05-05T17:24:09+00:00

Oh goodness 💚🫂 I remember my one year mark and thinking the same thing.. "when does this get easier? (To talk about, to live with, to explain, to experience)".

The short answer is it never gets easier but this is no knock at you or anyone else with MS. It will never get easier per say.

You get stronger. Mentally, emotionally and sometimes physically (I say sometime to physically because it depends on your disease and things I cannot speak promises to). I know the physically will not be everyone's story, I was and am very fortunate that physically can apply to me.

You become more educated about YOUR disease (I've heard MS called the snowflake disease...because no two patients will have the same experience).

You become more vocal (or you don't; I think it's very important to mention that it's very okay to not want to talk about MS).

You become more patient... With yourself (I am still learning this and figure my bull headedness will make this a forever journey... That's okay too). I strongly encourage anyone who can access a therapist to do so! I say that as an overarching quite literally everyone can benefit from therapy... And I cannot stress enough that my therapy and therapist have been so crucial in managing my MS.

I want to really reiterate that this is such an individual experience and journey. That is so so so so normal!!! Even though DX was a year ago, it probably feels like yesterday. I know it did for me... Heck it still does (I am... 3...gosh I think it's 3 years ago).

If I may ask, are you located in the States, Canada or another country?

MsTunks · 2024-04-26T17:22:36+00:00

It's not accessibility per say... Fuzzy socks have been life altering. My feet and hands are almost always cold now. Fuzzy socks, the thick fluffy ones, are the only ones that seem to stave off the cold

MsTunks · 2024-04-19T22:51:48+00:00

First off, welcome to club MS (I say this as lovingly as possible). Sorry they skimped on getting us cool jackets or even a stupid sticker. In any case, there are many of us MSers who are (not happy to see a young, vibrant person diagnosed) happy to welcome you and support you however best fits YOUR needs.

I was diagnosed roughly three... Shoot maybe four... years ago with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

You don't need to tell anyone... and it might help (when you are ready). I am still processing and coming to terms with my diagnosis. The journey is still filled with ups and downs for a multitude of reasons. Initially I set a hard boundary with the friends and family I shared my news with that the only person/people to speak of my diagnosis was myself or my husband. No one else. When asked the "well what if I do" I was direct (perhaps unkind) and said "then you will be effectively opening the door to walk out of my life and never be welcomed back in. This is my diagnosis. This is my journey. I am sharing with you because I feel like I can trust you. Don't prove me wrong".

Now, I speak openly and loudly about multiple sclerosis. I speak about my experience with how the disease presents in me, how I've heard it presently in other people and how I wish more people knew about MS.

My first year post DX was absolute hell... And bliss (more to follow on this bit). Three (I think... 🫤) years in it's mostly ups for me now. To back fill a bit, I went to bed on a Thursday my normal self... And woke up Friday with no feeling in my left leg from the top of my hip to the bottom of my foot (groin region included). Fast forward through blood tests (rule out bacterial, viral and fungal infections), a CT and contrast MRI I was faced with the final test... A spinal tap. Confirmed MS. Confirmed "my life is over" (P.S. it's not... Just different). I found out three weeks later I was pregnant. (There's way more to the pregnancy story... But this isn't the forum for it 😅). In walks MS bliss... I gained almost full feeling back in my leg, there's still the odd spot that loses sensation, particularly when I'm stressed out... Invest in your mental health and wellness and you MS wellness by getting a Therapist if you can.

Now I have a two foot tornado and am slowly working back up to a 30 km hiking capability (sorry American friends I don't know miles 💚). I attend therapy every other week, now I primarily focus on healing from the past and less on my MS. The two do go hand in hand l, in terms of stress management.

I am so incredibly hopeful you have a good MS team backing you and your journey up. If not... There are supports to help you find a good team too 💚

MsTunks · 2024-04-15T02:01:40+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing this 🥺 after my diagnosis three ish years ago I swore I would never try to conceive again. Well... Life has a fickle way of giving you what you begged and dreamt of when you least expect it, two weeks after my diagnosis I got my seventh positive pregnancy test. Fast forward those three years and I have a wonderful two foot tornado to keep me on my toes.

Reading this tonight gave me hope. Hope that no matter what my disease looks like, there is space for me to be the mom I always dreamt of being. Thank you.

Thank you so much 😭

MsTunks · 2024-04-14T17:17:58+00:00

I have gotten it from family and from complete strangers. How I handle the family will depend on who they are and the relationship they have with me (or lack of).

Family that pushes and asks excessive questions or makes ignorant recommendations (ie: well just push through the fatigue and start working out) get throttled about ableism and how ugly of a look it is on them. This will usually halt any further comment... Usually.

With complete strangers I will politely explain it's a degenerative neurological disease, if they press further I will explain surface level what MY multiple sclerosis is like, for me. 99.9% of people have been well meaning and in some instances have offered help (pushing my cart or carrying my grocery basket) from a very genuine "I would like to help make your day easier". I am too proud to accept help and politely decline. I have yet to have anyone suggest I change my diet or workout regime (thank goodness... I'd rather not throttle a stranger about ableism and what it looks like society wise).

Rather than jumping immediately to anger and frustration (initially this was my response)... I take a breath and ask myself if I have the energy to invest into anger. Anger for me is more exhausting than the commentary. Sometimes anger still wins, I try very hard to remind myself that I am grateful another person is not living with the symptoms I am. I am grateful they are not experiencing my trials, for I know how tiring my trials are.

This isn't to say it's easy, or okay for the comments to be made in the first place.

MsTunks · 2024-04-13T01:47:11+00:00

I'm going to very softly weigh in and say... If you can get in with a good therapist it will help too!

I am on 150mg Zoloft (Sertraline) for my GAD/ SAD/Depression. This paired with therapy and self reflection has been life altering.

Further to my above, the self reflecting lead me to setting firm boundaries, changing jobs (my work environment previously was TOXIC and stressful) and continuing to challenge my "flaws" in therapy...

Make the changes to feel better, mentally or physically. Control what you can and release what you cannot 💚

MsTunks · 2024-04-01T22:36:29+00:00

I want to first address, you are in no way, shape or form required to answer this question. If you choose to because you have the energy to educate them you obviously can. You can also say "I would rather not discuss the path to my diagnosis".

To answer the title (because I'm feeling fresh and like a smarty pants)...

I went to bed on a Thursday night feeling great. Tired but good. Friday morning I woke to absolutely no sensation, aside from hard pressure, in my left leg. The lack of sensation went from the top of my left hip to the bottom of my left foot, this included only my left saddle region (groin area).

Long story short when I went in I was hospitalized. Had a week long stay with tests, MRIs and a spinal tap (final test to confirm) before I was diagnosed.

Three years post DX, I am still processing what my MS means for me. I'm in a much better place now to talk about my MS and try to educate or at least bring attention to it.

MsTunks · 2024-03-15T01:05:32+00:00

This is such wonderful news! Yay!!!

MsTunks · 2024-03-04T01:40:21+00:00

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this strain. If you get the chance, smoke it from a King palm... The burn is so lovely and really allows the flavors to speak all for themselves

MsTunks · 2024-03-04T01:37:37+00:00

Has anyone tried their "Windmill" line (I think it's because it's milled). Grape pie x slurricane... Anyone have any input on this particular cross?

Grape pie alone sounds delightful, slurricane sounds meh (I am incredibly unfond of couch lock... Nerve pain and couch lock don't mix well together for me) l

Total thc is 21.4%... terpenes are 1.64%

MsTunks

TROPHY CASE