How do you not stress, when it is all you have ever done in your life? I think stress is just part of who I am. Today, I received a call saying someone scheduled a MRI for me. Wasn’t that nice of them? No one even bothered to call me to ask when a good time would be for me. Instead, I guess because it was a STAT MRI, they scheduled it on Saturday, which is my birthday! Not only did someone take it upon themselves to schedule this appointment, they scheduled it about an hour away from where I live. Why would anyone with any common sense do such a thing? These doctors and nurse practitioners keep saying I need to control my stress, but then make stupid assumptions about when I can make it to the MRI. Of course I called the scheduling department and rescheduled the MRI closer to my house and not on my birthday!
The nurse practitioner still keeps saying that this is a pseudo relapse, simply because there really are not any new symptoms. But, she has not listened to a thing I have said. Plus, it can still be a normal relapse without new symptoms one of the lesions that was dormant, could be active now. Of course I have had these issues with pain before, but now it is way more intense. There could be additional lesions that are causing increased pain.
I had shared with the nurse that I think this is due to stress. So her response was, you need to stop stressing. Sounds so easy, right? The more I hear people tell me to control my stress, the more stressed I get! 
I did ask her today what else I can do to help these issues. She said that I should rest as much as possible and it would be a smart idea to stay out of work a few days to recuperate from these flare up like symptoms. I am already off on Friday, so that would just mean missing tomorrow as well, which will not be a huge issue. We do have tickets to see Jack Johnson tomorrow evening, and I am pretty excited about this! If when I wake up tomorrow morning I am still dealing with this pain, I will stay home and rest so that I will feel okay to enjoy this show!
I really am frustrated with the healthcare system. It seems like you are not able to get straight answers, ever! All doctors want to do is prescribe something new, that will probably cause more issues. Who tell hell wants to be dealing with a pseudo flare up or a flare up right before their birthday and anniversary? If this was some kind of birthday present, how do I return or exchange it? I do not know of anyone that is alive that does not have some type of stress come into their lives at some point. How do you live life and not experience stress? Life dishes out stress at random times for a number of different reasons. If only there was a way to escape to some tropical island, without cell service and great weather, that would be my perfect escape!
I guess all I can do right now is rest, relax and just hope for the best situation possible. Those of you that have Multiple Sclerosis, know flare ups come and go. I have to believe
that none of this is going to be permanent and life can and will get back to normal. Life throws us curve balls and we just need to do what we can to keep moving forward. No one ever said life was easy, we all have struggles but how we handle these struggles determines how our future plays out. No matter how it appears on the outside, none of us are dealt an easy hand in life. We need to do our best to stay positive and avoid negative as much as humanly possible.
I hope y’all have a good evening! Please leave a comment below and I will respond to you just as quickly as I can! I have enjoyed all the connections I have made with so many of you! I sincerely appreciate all of your kindness and support! Take care and stay as strong as possible!
Always, Alyssa
Fightmsdaily 
I love Jack Johnson! I hope you have a great time at the concert tomorrow 🙂
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Thank you! Have you ever seen him in concert?
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I have not, but I would really love to some day!
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He doesn’t tour much. He stays in Hawaii! Can’t say I blame him. Hopefully my pain wilo calm down and we won’t miss the show!
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What an enticing thought – if only our flare-ups could be returned like an unwanted gift or parcel.
People don’t understand the life of chronic illness – especially relapsing and remitting ones – unless they have lived it. While I don’t expect people to understand intimately, there are some common sense considerations that shouldn’t be difficult for a healthcare provider to recognise. How frustrating for you – and waste of precious energy for you to take on the burden of rescheduling and negotiating. My thought is that the bureacracy is made up of people who come to it from an administrative background and have no clues about the clinical and practical issues affecting their clients.
Good on you for taking control and making your treatment schedule fit in with you more instead of the other way around. Good luck.
PS I admire your resolve to write a blog post a day. That’s a big commitment!
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Thank you so much for your comment! It is amazing that people just do not understand or care to about what others deal with. I find people frustrating at times. It is important for all of us to take control of our healthcare plans and not allow anyone to tell you any different! I appreciate your support! I know it is a big commitment doing a post everyday, but it has been helpful! I hope that you enjoy reading my posts! Take care and thank you again for your kindness and support!!!!
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Alyssa, Do you live in an area where you can access a new interest or hobby? I joined a Poetry Aloud group last Easter. Once per month we share our poems or short stories with the group. It has pushed me to write more and to read aloud/share and it has brought new people, new events (the chair project) into my life…all food for thought and a new focus, which has helped me. Maybe you could find something similar and not physically draining Alyssa? Best birthday present you could give yourself! Xx
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I really wish there was something like that where I live but I don’t think there is. I would LOVE doing that! I have about 120 poems that I have written. Writing has always been my passion! I will look into that though. I live in a big city, so maybe there is something like that! Thank you so much for telling me about this! Take care!!
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I also though of Futurelearn which is one of many moocs (massively open online courses)..check it out I’ve completed a number of courses, all free and online and they have a huge selection – even creative writing and poetry courses! Have fun!!
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Thank you so much!!! I will definitely check this out. I am excited about it!!!!
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Let me know if you do and how you get on! When you finish a course you can if you wish, buy a certificate of completion, that is the only cost involved but it is your own decision. I decided to buy two although I completing four courses. Have fun checking them out!
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Thank you! Which courses did you do? How much are the certificates?
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I did a course called Understanding anxiety, depression and CBT from University of Reading. I think the cert was around 70 euro. I also completed Psychology and Mental Health with Liverpool University, cert around 55 euro but I didnt buy it. I completed Getting Started with online learning by The Open University but didnt bother buying the cert and I got half way through Literature and Mental Health from the University of Warwick. The 1st course was excellent, great range of info but very user friendly and accessible language. 2nd course was more academic. 3rd course was a little too easy but fun. 4th very good but lots more content and time committment much longer than time they specified. But best of all was the amount of chat via messages in the forum/comment sections! I got to know some new people and learned as much from them as from the course materials. Hope this helps….and Happy Birthday!
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Thank you so much! I could use a class about anxiety. I have been going through so much that has caused me so much additional pain! I really appreciate you sharing this with me!!! And thank you for the Happy Birthday!!
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Have a GREAT birthday and have fun seeing Jack Johnson!!!!
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Thank you! I have 2 days to get rid of this annoying pains so I can enjoy my birthday! I hope the concert tonight won’t be too difficult for me. Music is a good form of therapy and I am sure this will be a good show! I hope you are doing well!! Take care!!
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Hello Alyssa, You left a lovely comment on my post One More Dance from The Old Lady in My Bones. Thank you so much for your kind words and for reaching out and connecting. I am sorry to say I lost your comment as WordPress sent it into my spam box, but I was able to catch a glimpse of it on my email before it disappeared. I didn’t want you to think it had been ignored. I look forward to following your journey. Rheumatoid arthritis is quite a different beast than MS but both have flares that come and go so I certainly understand your frustration. Stay well. Cheers.
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I know these illnesses can both be very frustrating! But they are different. A friend of mine has RA. I am having a flare up now and it is making me SO mad! I just wanted this weekend to be nice and easy. My birthday is Saturday and mine my husband;s anniversary is Sunday. We will make the most out of it all! I am glad at least one person understands my frustration. My husband doesn’t seem to understand why I am so mad about it all. All well, it will get better someday!!! I hope you stay well and take care!! Cheers!
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Oh goodness, no worries! I can send you anything you again that goes into spam!!! I am always happy to help!!
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