I Was Built for Sunny Days

During the summer when I was little it was rare that you would find me by the TV or cooling off inside. I basically lived at the beach in the summer and as we got closer to the school year I was outside running with my neighborhood besties until the fireflies came out. 

The sun gave me energy and I loved feeling it on my skin.

About 2 years ago I started to realize that the sun, my antidepressant, started to turn against me. It was my Bachelorette weekend and we spent the day laying by the beach. As we all got up to move to the next adventure a sudden dizziness and loss of balance started to happen- I freaked out. This was about 3 weeks before I would get my official diagnosis of MS. 

People with MS can be thrown off by just one degree of temperature change. Some women will even feel more symptoms around their cycle because your body naturally get warmer. It doesn't mean that the disease is progressing or getting worse but it does aggravate what is already going on.

About this exact time last year we were in the middle of a heat wave. I got the dog ready for her normal walk, and we headed out the door... I made it around the block when I started to get the same feeling I did at the beach that day. We rushed home and I cooled off with an ice pack. About an hour later half my face went numb leading to my next flare up.

There was a common denominator-- the heat. 

I found myself staying inside, cancelling plans and getting down right anxious to be anywhere outside for too long. It killed me. 

As winter came to an end this year I was dreading anything that resembled the heat wave the year before... but something was different. I ended up going on a Disney trip with my family this year where avoiding the heat wasn't going to happen... although at times I fought through dizzy spells I overall felt good... I felt strong, I felt balanced.

So far this positive feeling has continued throughout the summer- I try to not put myself in super humid conditions but I'm also feeling well enough to lay outside and read a book- go kayaking with my dad- take a long walk with the pup on a warm summer night. Right now I'm sitting outside typing this in the middle of a warm summer Sunday.

Something is happening- and I feel like the medicine is working. Everything in moderation- and I'm learning to listen and understand what my body is doing and feeling. It helps to maintain the anxiety that comes along with any medical journey. 

Anyways, just wanted to give you all a quick update.. remember there is someone out there who can't -- so what are you doing? Get up try something new, challenge yourself, learn your body, find your limits. 

I'll be getting my next infusion in August... so until then - Cheers!