MS Journey #30

The affect

One of my posts a while back said that my MS was quiet during my prostate surgery and subsequent recovery. And it was, in fact I felt pretty good about how fast I seemed to be recovering. Then I got Sepsis. An infection caused by an lodged kidney stone.

Sepsis raised my temperature so high and that did affect my MS.

For me, MS mostly affects or is most visible in my legs. It’s where I feel the physical affects the most. Heat did not affect me this way in the beginning of my MS journey. It is something that has taken many years to develop.

I can remember a conversation I had with a person whom had MS for about as long as I’ve had it now. I was in my seventh year after diagnosis and we had a discussion about heat and how it does not bother me. She said she was the same in the beginning but things changed and now heat makes her MS symptoms worse and that’s were I am now.

I can practice yoga longer and I am stronger when I practice at around 20 degrees Celsius. The temp at the studio is about 25 – 26 degrees. I deteriorate much faster at the studio.

Sepsis, accompanied with high fever caused lots of damage to my legs – it caused lots of damage period. My ability to walk has been impacted and I’m not sure if I will return to where I was before. Recovery from Sepsis is long but I am improving.

At this moment in time if I went to the studio where I practice I would not be able to make it to the top of the stairs. And I’m sure I’d have as much difficulty going back down.

However I am optimistic, my mat is on the floor, my strength will return, practice awaits, my new normal is just around the corner.

The affect of Cancer and Sepsis was and still remains a concern – that will never go away. It has a much different vibe than MS. And it’s difficult to calculate the effect of this stress upon my MS but I do know it’s also a factor in my current condition.

I’m being deliberately cautious but optimistic about my recovery. Yoga represents the physical activity and the stress reduction required for my MS to agree.

The return to my mat will be my bellwether.

Take care