The technical title is Rituximab or Ocrevus. They are basically the same thing but one is covered by PharmaCare and the other one isn’t 😂. So, I never really excelled in my science courses. I thought for a while there that I liked biology and that someday I could find a cure for cancer but then I realized you need to be very good at math to do that… And I wasn’t 😆. My journey as a scientist quickly came to an end. I find that all the information out there is so technical and so scientific, that I have trouble wrapping my neurologically effed up brain around it. Thank goodness Ninja was a science grad and thinks reading scientific articles is fun 😳😬😂. Also, WpgBestie is a Nurse and explains everything to me in terms this history major can understand.
So here is what I understand about the treatment. My immune system thinks that my own nerves are foreign entities that need to be destroyed. This infusion will wipe out all my B cells so that my immune system stops attacking itself! The infusion should last up to 6 months and then I will get another one! This will continue for as long as the treatment continues to help me, hoping that it does indeed help of course! The hope is that if my immune system has nothing to fight with, I won’t have another relapse!
I think.
I’ve been a little bit nervous about treatment! I was supposed to get it 2 weeks ago but due to the Covid bomb that hit our house, it was pushed back to today.
So here I am.
This past week has been really good. I mean in comparison to the past 9 weeks, these past 7 days have been amazing. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I never thought I would even have the energy to put on makeup, I didn’t even think it would even matter to me agin, but it did and I did! And it felt good. I can start to see a future again. The fatigue and the brain fog are wearing off and that really makes such a big difference! My MMBesty also has a neureological disease and the other day she messaged me, “don’t worry, you will be quick witted again.” It was the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me! I was so worried that all the things that make me, me, were fading away.
I am Kristin, a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend, a blogger, a podcaster, a hard worker and a MSer. I don’t want MS to be the 1 and only definition of me. I don’t even want it to be at the top of the definition list.
As I sit here in this clinic, hooked up to an IV, I am so hopeful. Last week was an eyeopener for me. As the days move forward, I will too. Movement is key. I will continue to get stronger. I will continue to make improvements to be able to successfully live with this disease and I will continue to take deep breathes and move forward on this journey we call life.
Thank you for your love and support. I feel it 💛.
Check out How Was Your Week, Honey? Episode #270: Entitlement Slap HERE! This week we get together after a week of family visiting. Topics: COVID hang-over, World Cup Canada, Brexit, gift basket, MS update, entitled kids, committed partners, comfort rock, new Fresh Prince & AC/DC.
Want another easy peasy weekday meal? Well, have I got the perfect recipe for you! This was a recipe that Ninja and I worked on together. I prepped it and he cooked it. It was super tasty and the perfect dinner for when you are craving Chinese takeout but want a healthier and cheaper version 😜. You can use any type of veggies you want and you can eat it with rice or noodles!
Mongolian Chicken
Adapted from Canadian Cooking Adventures
3 chicken breasts
1/4 cup cornstarch
3 tablespoons oil
2 cups cut veggies (I used pre-cut broccoli, cauliflower & carrots)
2 green onions
1 inch ginger, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup soy sauce
6 tablespoons of brown sugar
1 cup of chicken stock
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
Add brown sugar, sesame oil, chicken stock, & soy sauce to a bowl. Whisk and set aside.
Cut the chicken into bite size pieces and coat with half of the cornstarch.
Add 2 tablespoons of oil to a pan (I used my Wok) and bring to a high heat, turn down to medium and add in the chicken. Fry the chicken till it has browned, remove and set aside.
Add in the ginger and garlic and sauté for 1 minute before adding the veggies. Sauté the veggies until softened.
Add in the chicken and sauce.
Sauté all together for 3 minutes adding in the green onions and seasoning with salt and pepper.
Serve hot over RICE.
This was the last week of Spring Break. Our break was lame. Obviously 😂. HBear tried on all my old clothes that I finally acknowledged were never going to fit me again 😒 and I managed to start up Yoga with Adriene again! The Doggo loved having all of his people in the same house again over the break and Ninja’s Sis and JQ arrived for a visit! Her and Ninja went out for drinks and she bought me an amazing gift basket full of goodies to make living with MS more bearable. On Thursday we got dressed up and went to Shaughnessy’s Cove for a special Brewmaster’s dinner! We were celebrating my Sis’s Hubby’s birthday a little early with my SIL in town! It was awesome! It was SO good to get out and feel normal for the first time in months! While we were out, HBear played spa time with CPatch and JQ, SPea and SBean had a sleepover at my In-Laws place. We ended the break with Tickleberry’s, a walk on the beach and dinner at Grandma & Grandpa’s!
Back to school! We are ready for the next 3 months. The end of middle school, the dance competitions, and the finales! Bring it on!
