Good evening y’all! I hope you had a great day and you are thankful tomorrow is Friday, I know I am! I have definitely had a long week because I was so stressed about what my MRI results were going to show. I can honestly say that worrying and stressing did not change the results!
I am beyond happy to share with y’all that the MRI I had on Friday was MUCH better than the one I had last October. In October, in the words of my neurologist, my brain was on FIRE with many new and very active lesions. That was terrifying for me to learn as I am sure it would be for anyone, but the one I just had improved drastically. The numerous lesions that were causing all my issues last year have healed as much as they are going to! My absolutely fabulous NP was so happy to see how much better my MRI was on Friday in comparison to how horrible it was last year! She told me and my husband how surprised she was to see how much I have managed to improve in just ten short months! She also said that it seems that Gilenya is just the right MS drug for me! I told her that I have NO intentions of changing medications again until there is a cure! I am not preaching that everyone should be on Gilenya because we all have different body chemistry. What works for me might have the adverse effect on someone else.
We did talk about the dizziness and pain I am still dealing with. She has said to me many times before that she thinks that my pain could be caused from the stress I seem unable to control. We have all heard many times that stress is a killer and I do really believe that! You know there is an app for everything, but she shared an app with me about stress and MS. I am going to give it a chance, I mean it can’t hurt anything! This app is available for iPhone and Android under the play store, it is called ImageryWork. There is also a website if you are interested, Imagerywork.com. I have known for a long time that I needed to get a handle on my stress because I have felt what it does to my body. It will be SO INCREDIBLY wonderful if controlling and managing my stress will eliminate the majority of my pain! I think I have lived with this pain for way too long and maybe there is something I can do to help it!
There are a number of reasons I could be experiencing dizzy spells. One the she really pushed on me was eating more! Both her and my husband think I should try eating 4-5 smalls meals each day, which I never do! I am going to try having small snacks throughout the day and not worrying about whether it is healthy or not and if I am going to gain a lot of weight! Weight has always been a huge worry of mine and I know how stupid that is in the big picture. Truthfully, I am NOWHERE near being overweight, in fact I am underweight according to the NP.
So, I guess what I learned today is all the issues I am having, like increased pain and dizziness is my own fault. I am going to work on making the necessary changes to my health so I will actually feel normal, whatever that is! All of the support and encouraging comments I have received from y’all have been SO appreciated. Y’all helped me through a very difficult time, which I guess I kind of caused. I really am very relived that my MS is not progressing like I was thinking and that the Gilenya is doing it’s part for me!
I hope y’all have a wonderful and relaxing evening! Please always know that no matter what I might be dealing with, I am always sending y’all LOTS of love and comfort!
Always, Alyssa
Reblogged this on Survivors Blog Here.
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Wonderful!!.. positive thinking, young lady!!.. you GO girl!!… 🙂
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Positive thoughts are always the best way to go!!
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I’m so happy for you!
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Thank you so much!!!
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Oh yay!!! I’m so relieved along with you! Stress is very bad for TBI too but I’m not sure how to not be stressed as it seems impossible to get through life and stay unstressed. (I don’t think that’s a word?) Anyway, I’m thankful you are seeing improvement and the new medication is helping! Such great news!😄
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Thank you SO much! That is what I keep saying as well! It is impossible to get through life and not encounter stress! The funny thing is before my bad relapse last year, was on Gilenya for 6 years. I had too many people in my ear about the medication and over thought it and decided to try something else. I did not realize the other med was not strong enough. All well, lesson learned and now I know to NOT change again! I really appreciate your support!!
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Awwwe, of course! Having good support and prayers of others is super huge. I’m thankful you have helps that agree with your body and the Gilenya is strong enough. I understand the learning process which is hard yet the body is great at giving us signals that “say, yes, no or keep trying.” Big hugs!🤗
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We can make it a word, I can use unstressed days! 🙋🏽♀️😊
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Oh Ana, me too. I’m praying for you. How are you lately?
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Thank you! I’m waiting to do MRI next week, have Thyroid surgery in November and waiting to see my Neuro for the ongoing numbness in my left side. Things are looking up for me 🧐😁 Trying to hang on to God because otherwise I think I’d be balled up in a corner somewhere with no hope left in sight. Thank you Vivian for your prayers! I appreciate them 🙏🏽
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I wish you nothing but wellness and fantastic news!! I do believe that holding onto positive thoughts only creates positive outcomes!!!
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And much prayer. 😊🙏🏽 Thank you Alyssa
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Thank you for updating me Ana. I’ll be praying much for you next week as you get the MRI and also that the Neurologist can help you with the numbness on your left side. I’m thankful God has provided helps for you. It’s hard to hang on in the toughest moments but that’s when God hangs onto us and He will carry us in His hands with love that never lets us go. Much love dear Ana. 🤗🙏💚
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So sweet! Thank you so much Vivian. He does, He truly does carry us through all that we go through. We are never alone. So much truth in that, yes. 😊🙏🏽
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Great news, glad to hear it!
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Thank you Grace! I am thrilled things are actually going well!
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This is such wonderful news!! I’m so happy for you!! yay!!
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Thank you so much Meg! I am so thrilled to finally have good news! Now, I just need to change my eating habits and stress levels!
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That is so awesome Alyssa, You deserve to go out and live it up this weekend. And I totally agree, stress is a killer. And it probably causes inflammation all by itself even though I’ve never really seen that stated anywhere! Have a peaceful sleep tonight!
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Thank you so much! I am so happy things are FINALLY going my way. Yes, stress does add to the inflammation. Unfortunately I have NO idea how to control my stress because there really is a lot of it in my life. I guess I will have to figure that out! I hope you have a lovely night as well!
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YES! 😀 😁 😂 Hallelujah!!!! 😘 😘 😘 I’m soooooooooo over the top happy for you!!!!!! I told you, you are the strongest and most positive woman I know!!!!! The best news ever!!!
I hope you sleep like a baby tonight, stress & worry free. You are so due for a peaceful calm.
Love you, Lady! 💗 💖
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Yay!! So happy for you! 😊
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Now, you can let out a sigh of relief. Congratulations. I am so happy for you. May every new test in the future continue to give you wonderful news.
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Such great news. So happy something was discussed as opposed to nothing. Stress is the number one culprit is shutting out bodies down. I can’t seem to get a good grip on it, if it’s not one thing it’s another, and I’m notorious for making things bigger than what they really are.
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So glad to hear the good news! And I totally agree, please don’t change your medicine if you don’t have to lol! I think medicine does have its place in our lives, you just have to stick up for yourself and tell people that you won’t fix what is broken. Stress is a difficult one to handle, I think just remind yourself often throughout l the day to just take a big breath and relax maybe? Or try to keep yourself preoccupied as much as possible if you can. Other than that I don’t know… but keep hanging in there anyway and stay strong!
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I’m so glad your MRI results were nowhere near as bad as you thought they might be. I hope your efforts to manage your stress will help with your symptoms! I know stress really aggravates my symptoms too.
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Thank you Holly! The crazy thing is I have known for a long time that stress caused me a lot more issues. I can literally feel the pain increase when I get stressed, but can’t seem to control it at all. I am going to try my best and hopefully will be successful with this!
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This is absolutely fantastic news Alyssa, I am so unbelievably happy for you!! However, please don’t say that your symptoms are your fault; yes stress will make them worse but you have had a natural human reaction to a difficult situation, you haven’t done anything wrong :O) You have worked through everything and realised what you need to do, which in itself is an amazing achievement considering your circumstances, now you can build on it and work on ways to reduce your stress levels and live a happier life. Again, really happy for you :O) xx
ps. try listening to this when you have a quiet moment. Pop on some headphones and just see where it leads you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vx8iUvfyCY&t=1994s
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Yay!!!!. Great feeling isn’t it!. Just when you think the DMD isn’t doing anything, and then it’s woohoo!. Do you remember me being a nag a while ago re you eating enough?.;). and the mind is our biggest powerful and beautiful thing to have. Stress has a huge impact on our body physically and it will take time to learn to manage stress, so give it time. Buddha’s Brain is a good book to flick through for some insightful tips. But, one thing at a time and one day at a time!. Have a great weekend!!!! So happy for you again! :)))))
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I absolutely love the quote. It’s funny because my sister actually just used that quote for something she did. I love rainbows too. I have been thinking of you all day today.
Glad to hear the results are in fact better than last year. You must be so relieved. Now you can sit back, relax and enjoy the weekend. I know I am always stressing too and no matter how hard we try there’s always something that comes up.
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Yayyyy! So happy to hear about your results. Stress is a nightmare! They thought I had had 2 relapses one after another last year, but it turned out to be stress. I was surprised that stress could cause me and everyone else to think I was having a full relapse!
I hope you have an amazing weekend. Make sure you do something to celebrate the brilliant news! 🙂 xxx
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Thank you so much!! Stress really is a nightmare and the crazy thing is, I can feel the pain increase when I get stressed and yet still can’t seem to stop. I am going to give it my best to control my stress, we will see how that goes. I hope you had Dizzy have a lovely weekend!!
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It’s so hard to stop! But I know you can do it! 🙂 Just taking time out to do little things I enjoy, even learning the violin really helps. I do also now take anti-depressants for the anxiety, but I got to a point where I realised I did need abit of extra help with it. x Hope you’re having a lovely weekend too. 🙂 xxx
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I know you are right that I need to take time out to do things I enjoy and I am going to do this! The NP actually did prescribe an anti-depressant, but I did not get it filled yet. To be completely honest, they kind of scare me. I have heard they can cause suicidal thoughts and the way life is right now, I do not need anything to push me over the edge. Maybe that is crazy talk, but I am going to think about it more. I think they are really good for some, but could have the opposite affect on others. I could be wrong on this though! I think what I really need to help manage my stress is a precious and loving donkey that loves ginger cookies!! I hope you have a lovely weekend!!! xxx
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I have heard the same thing. Which ones have you been prescribed? My doctor first prescribed me a super low dose just to see how I got on with them, as I was worried too. I had been putting it off for a year but they are helping. All the other things did help too though, how did you get on with the yoga? I remember you saying about it a little while ago. Or perhaps a new hobby? They are great for giving the mind something else to focus on. 🙂 And off course, a donkey would be the best remedy. Dizzy thinks everyone should have their own little Dizzy in life. 🙂 x Hope you’re having a lovely weekend. 🙂 xxx
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She prescribed Zoloft and it would be a low dose, but I still did not get it filled. I might try it, but I might wait. I did want to get into Yoga, but to be honest I have not done that well. I think it is worth a second or third try though. I have heard it is helpful. If I had a partner to do it with me, like Dizzy, I would be better at it!!! I hope you have a lovely weekend as well!!
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Just do what feels right for you, because whatever does will be the right decision. 🙂 I sometimes just like having the prescription, so I know it’s there, but know I don’t actually have to use it. 🙂 I found looking at yoga poses to do in bed good, it meant I could do just a 5/10 minute practice when I first woke up and just before going to sleep. 🙂 It can be hard to find time during the day. xxx
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Thank you so much for saying that! I almost did not want to put on my blog what the doctor prescribed because I did not want people that live around me to see it, but some probably do not read the comments. I know that sounds silly, but that’s just me:)! I might get it filled and not take it or I might leave it at the pharmacy and pick it up at a later time. I just worry because people in my family have taken this kind of medicine and it did not work the way it was supposed to.
I will keep you updated on my Yoga practice. I do feel that stretching is important. When I am at work I have to stretch my arms and back numerous times a day, but that probably isn’t considered yoga!!!
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It is! I even found a video for office yoga, and it was stretches to do at your desk! I’ll have a look and see if I can find the link again. 🙂 xxx
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Thank you Heather! I am going to do my best to give Yoga a better chance. I think office yoga would be amazing because sitting at a desk in the same position can be trying! xxx
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAUf7aajBWE Nice and short aswell. 🙂 xxx
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WOW thank you so much! I will definitely do this tomorrow when I am at work. This seems easy to do. That is the kind of yoga that I will be able to do not problem! I really appreciate you!!!
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Let us know how you get on with it. 🙂 xxx
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I did try this at work today and it was wonderful!! Thank you SO much for sharing this with me! You and Dizzy are incredible!! Do you have any yoga tips for once I am home? I have looked on YouTube, but finding videos that are easy like the one you shared isn’t that easy, at least for me having absolutely no knowledge of yoga.
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I will have a little search and send you some over. I did find a couple of really easy ones to do at home, just sitting, relaxing ones you can do when you have a couple of minutes, or when you’re watching the telly. 🙂 xxx
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Thank you so much Heather! I was so surprised how easy and helpful it was. I really LOVED it!! I really appreciate all of your help!!!
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Hi Heather! I wanted to let you know that in my post for tomorrow, I am sharing the YouTube video you sent me. I also encouraged everyone that hasn’t already to visit your site. I admire your strength and amazing personality and feel that everyone could benefit from you! I hope that is okay. It isn’t going up until tomorrow morning, so if you prefer me not do this I can cancel it!
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Aww, thank you so much! I am in the progress of trying to migrate my blog over to wordpress.org, and going self hosted, so could you just pop a message saying if it doesn’t go to anything exciting, it’s just while I’m on the move with it. 🙂 Thank you so much. 🙂 xxx
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You are more than welcome!! I will add a message in about you migrating to self-hosting. I think you will do amazing with it! I really do find all you share amazing and definitely feel others will as well!!! Please send Dizzy my love!! xxx
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Thank you! Just wish I had abit more knowledge about computer. Just had a picture of a cactus to look at on my site last night! 🙂 xxx
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Oh sweetie, you are a pretty incredible young lady with great ambition. Everything will work out perfectly with your site and everyone will love it!!!xx
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Thank you Alyssa. I really needed to hear that today. 🙂 xx Hope you’re having a lovely day. 🙂 xxx
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You are more than welcome Heather!! You deserve SO much recognition because you are absolutely AMAZING!!
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Terrific news Alyssa. I am so glad for you. I have found EFT very helpful for stress. It is also known as Tapping.
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I am so pleased to hear you’re so much better sniff sniff hug xxxxxxx
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Great news!
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Hurray!!!
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Thank you!!!
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This is absolutely FANTASTIC news Alyssa. I am just so glad for you. I do hope that you can get your stress kevels down, and the pain and the dizziness sirted out. Wooo hoooo xo
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Thank you so much!! I am going to work on learning to control my stress. We will see how that goes considering I have not been good at it for almost 37 years!! I hope you have a lovely weekend!
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I think that controlling stress in today’s world is so very hard A,yssa. And I think that it is so much harder if you are ill or dusabled in any way. It seems that if you are ill or disabled or both, the stress that others put upon you is even greater. Sometimes it feels like we have huge mountains to climb. Like you, I am positive, but at timesnyou jyst need that little bit of kindness to help you get through. Here, where I am, it does not seem to exist. It is a constant battle. We seem to have so mych to surmount don’t we Altssa. I do hope that you are able to deal with your stress. I just feel so happy with you that your MRI results were so good. Have a lovely weekend xx
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Thank you so much Lorraine! I do agree with you that controlling stress is hard and even harder in the world we live in today. But, we are stronger than we think and we can defeat the battles we face!!
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I hope so Alyssa. We have to try. Xx
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I believe the only time we can really fail is if we do not try! Keep fighting the good fight sweetie!
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I agree with you there
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It is amazing how logical I can be at times!
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Lol. Me too. In my head anyway. The rest of me lags behind a bit. Ha!
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I understand!! It is a little frustrating!!
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Lol
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Awesome news! Thank you for sharing, sister! 👏👏👏
And I would like to add that nothing is your “fault,” but there are steps you can take to alleviate some of the pressure, as you know. 😉
Congrats on the news!
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Thank you! I am very hard on myself all the time. I have blamed myself for relapses, but I am going to do my best to control my stress better. Do you have any tips on this?!
I hope you have a lovely weekend and thank you again for your kind and supportive words!
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It takes practice, but being able to compartmentalize objects in our life helps stress tremendously. Yesterday I had a long talk with my boss about taking over the business in a couple of years and when we ran the numbers I realized I would have to make some sacrifices to make the time line work. A short while later he said “what do you think?” and I said “I haven’t yet.” He gave me a perplexing look but realized that was Tom, being Tom. The stress of that was set aside, the task itself put on the shelf, because I had other things to tend to. When it’s time to map out those sacrifices to realize my goal, I will; until then, it will wait.
Also, meditation helps. The practice of slowly learning to dissolve active thinking for periods of time is essential.
Beer also helps with that. 😉
Stay strong and positive, sister … you’ve got this! ✊
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Thank you so much Tom! I know how important it is to learn to control stress, but I have been really bad at it for almost 37 years. I promise that I am going to try to do better with it!! I wish you the best of luck with your goals! I believe in you as I am sure your boss and wife do as well. When it is time, you will make the best decision and it will be the right one!
I have heard a lot about meditation, but seemed to not grasp the concept. I am going to take another run at it though!
I am glad beer is helpful for you. I never liked the taste and honestly alcoholism runs deep in my family. I do drink, but I do not want to be a statistic and be like my family. Of course that could be crazy talk, but that’s just me!!
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I respect that! Ain’t nothing better than being you. 🙂
Meditation is tricky at first but once the concept sticks, it can be a life-changer!
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Thank you SO much!! I have been hard on myself because I can’t stop stressing myself silly! You are the first one ever that said there’s nothing better than being me!! I really needed that!!!
Do you meditate daily? I will try it, I mean it can’t hurt anything!
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No, ma’am, though I should. I used to. Now I only do it “when I need it.” Not ideal but better than nothing. 😉
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I really need to give it an honest effort! We will see how it goes!
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Meditation after beer. Such a stress reliever.
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You are too funny! Meditation is possible, but beer not so much! Maybe replace beer with wine!
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Everything counts.
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Sounds like a great plan!
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Awesome News Alyssa, CONGRATS!
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Thank you so much!
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That’s good to know! Happy for you, Alyssa! 🙂
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Thank you so much!
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Definitely great news! I’m so happy for you. I hope you can relax and enjoy your weekend. All my Love & Support, Mom
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Thank you so much Mom! I am so happy my MRI came back better than last year considering I know it was really bad! I am glad the Gilenya is doing it’s work and will NEVER stop it again!! I hope you have a lovely weekend as well and you are not too busy!!
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What amazing news! I’m so happy to hear this medication is working for you, and I hope you can get the pain and dizziness better controlled too!
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Thank you so much Alyssa! I am going to work hard to get my stress under control! I have been a stress case my entire life, so I think it is hard changing old habits, but it is a really important! I will try eating more considering the NP seems to think that is the cause. We will see how things work out!! I hope you have a lovely weekend!
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Yay!!!! This is wonderful news!!!!
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Thank you Nicole! I am happy the MRI has improved so much! Now I just have to learn to control my stress levels! I am a work in progress with this. I hope you have a lovely weekend!!
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Thanks so much dear!
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You are very welcome!
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This is SUCH amazing news, I’m so glad the results were so good!! Just goes to show how much healing is possible in 10 months, and brilliant that Gilenya is working so you can continue it. I do think stress can have a huge impact on mental and physical health alike, so focusing on managing and reducing it can only be a good thing. As for weight, I wonder whether that’s a slight control issue for you? I only say that because it is for me, despite having a stoma and having lost a lot of weight due to ill health, putting it on is always an issue and I think it’s partly control (lack of control elsewhere). It’s not always easy to see the bigger picture with these sorts of things, but reminding yourself of it regularly is important. You deserve to be as healthy and happy as possible, regardless of weight in any way. Anyway, celebrate the good news this weekend and recuperate after what I’m sure has been a pretty draining week! ♥
Caz xxxx
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Thank you Caz! I allowed for the noise in the background last year, meaning other people’s thoughts to impact my decision with the Gilenya. I mean, I knew it worked well for 6 years prior and changing medicine was not the best idea. At least I am back on it now and plan to keep it that way. My blood results came back and there are a few things that are really low. One of which is supposed to be low because of the Gilenya, but the other should not be. They are doing blood work again in one month. The only thing that might happen is reducing my dose, but NOT taking me off it! Stress has always been something I battled with. I have done this for almost 37 years and it is hard to change, but I am going to try! Honestly, the weight thing is because most of my family is overweight and I never wanted that to happen to me. You might be right that it is a control issue as well! I hope you have a lovely weekend and I thank you SO much for always being so encouraging and wonderful!!
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Wohoo! Reading this made my night!!! Congrats lady!!!
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Thank you SO much! I can’t believe how stressed I allowed myself to get about the MRI. The results were going to be the same and thankfully they were finally GOOD!! Now, I just need to work on my stress levels!
I hope you are having a lovely weekend!!
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Yaay. Great news, hun. Sooo happy for u.
Now do make those changes, ok?
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Thank you! I am going to do my best to make the changes I need to! I have been a walking/talking stress case for almost 37 years, but I will do all in my power to change this!
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I am very happy for you. These days it’s hard to manage stress when your body has another agenda. All we can do is take one day at a time and live life to the fullest.
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Thank you for reading and making this great comment! It is insanely hard to manage stress with all that is going on in the world. I have narrowed things down to taking it one hour at a time because things get crazy each and every day!
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Yay! That’s wonderful news! And I’m sure if you learn some ways to control your stress you will get some relief from the other symptoms. I’ll be interested to hear how your experiment with the app goes. Really happy for you, Alyssa! 💕
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Thank you so much! So far the app has not really done much, but I am going to keep an open mind. I have needed for a long time to get my stress under control, but have failed miserably. I will keep you updated on the app though!!
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Sounds good, I hope it helps!
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Thank you, I certainly hope so too!
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Yay! ❤
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Thank you Casey!!
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