While I was writing this page a couple of years ago, I was thinking about all the people I have met with Multiple Sclerosis and all the stories we have told one another.  So, now is the time to tell mine.  This is a self-indulgent page, but it is titled ME so I can do whatever I want.  Don't look for politically correct here, it was written by and for MS'ers and they know who and what they are. People I have met who inspire: I have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis for a little over 10 years now and in those 10 years, I have met the most amazing people and have seen the most astounding things. I have also learned that in order to keep yourself sane, you must learn to laugh....and laugh a lot. Some of these people I have been fortunate to come across have been an inspiration to me. I will tell you about one who has had more exacerbations than anyone I know, including me, but has seemed to keep a positive mental attitude, always shows a sunny disposition and is always there to make someone else smile. He is someone who has chronic progressive MS but acts as if this is a totally natural thing for anyone to have. He has inspired others as well, as in his MS Bike Tour Team who pedals 150 miles in his name to raise money for MS. I think about him whenever I exacerbate and allow his attitude to infect me. I am convinced that this positive mental attitude (PMA) is the key to getting back from any exacerbation. Another person who showed me how to tap my courage is not an MS'er. This person is a quadriplegic who is a full time wheelchair user and gets around better than half of the MS'ers I know. He is a person who does things for other people just because he cares about how people live their lives happily and he is my best bud. He is so active it scares me sometimes, getting involved in disability issues and boards; helping me when I can't get around; sending me and others the most hysterical jokes via email; producing and editing a newsletter for persons with disabilities; and just being the most inspiring hero without even trying. I love this guy !! I met a woman through my work with the Society who has a stranger sense of humor than I do, if that is possible. We are teasingly called Thelma and Louise by our loved ones because we are always partners in crime whenever we are placed together at any function or seminar. People know when we are together because we will inevitably get someone to laughing and get them in trouble. You'd think we were teenagers sometimes. She is incredibly active in the lending library at the Society and gives way too much of herself to her MS support group, never thinking about her own needs. I admire her greatly. How to do something worthwhile and feel good yourself: For some strange reason, I found it necessary to seek out people who have the same disease as myself. This caused me to form a self-help group in my area because, I don't know about you but when I was given this diagnosis, I heard that little saying "the crippler of young adults" running through my mind. That, thankfully, is the old school of thought pertaining to MS and now we see some light at the end of the tunnel for ourselves. The self-help group is comprised of a variety of ethnic, social, severity level and sexes. The group meets every month on a Tuesday night and has become involved in the fund raising aspect for research (self-serving of course) and also some informational programs. Knowledge is the KEY. They keep me sane and centered. Developing programs and being a peer counselor has given me the things I need and also helps other people at the same time. I wanted to be active but didn't know really how to without "sweating to the oldies" and all that. I worked with the MS Society and we are putting together programs for other MS'ers like tai chi, women's self-defense, an exercise instructional class and more on the back burner. Some people with MS kinda stop living and participating in activities. This leads to a lot of things including depression. Get your butt up and moving !!!! Even if you are in a chair, you can move and get that blood flowing .... keep yourself active, no matter what. Workin'?: I was a retail operations manager. You know you can't stay on your feet 100+ hours a week, so what to do??!! I picked the MS Society's brain and was shown a way to move my skills to another arena that was workable for my limitations. They got me involved with volunteering and that led to a couple of boards. I still sit on a Center for Independent Living board of directors and have found that a perfect outlet for my creative energies and also enables me to work at a pace that is good for me. But, where is that personal fulfillment that came from the work force? I did some business consulting and that is also something that you can do at your own pace (depending on the client). This leads you to : WHAT DO I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP?   So, after 10 years of staying incredibly busy, I found my love....computers. I went back to college and at the ripe old age of 41 I began a new and challenging quest. I want to be able to keep my mind active and also prepare myself for a new career that will allow me to get that job satisfaction I always felt when I was a retail manager. What a wonderful quest it is. I got super grades (studying was strange after too many years) and found I LOVED school. A small set-back (car accident) has kept me from a semester or two but I am ready to move once again to find myself at the finish line. Wish me luck :-) If you want something done right ... do it yourself: I spent the first few months of my diagnosis pestering my Doc. He is a researcher as well as a Neurologist and a general pain in my butt.  He got me back for my constant badgering "when are you going to find a cure, get back in that lab you".  He approached me when the Betaseron  trials were starting. Of course I had no choice.  Put your money where your mouth is girl !!  I started the two year study that became 4 years.  There I was, subcutaneously injecting myself all in the name of science for 4 years.  At the end of the study when it was unblinded, I found that I had been injecting myself with a placebo !!  Well, not a total waste of time.  I had 11 exacerbations during that study and was able to come back from all of them with the assistance of SoluMedrol and my iron will (aka stubborn as a bull). I have since been on Betaserson for almost 4 years now and have only had 2 exacerbations and they were tiny ones that didn't last very long.  The thing that sold me on this incredibly yucky drug (due to the side effects for some) is that my MRI's have all come back, since I started the real thing , showing decreased lesions. THAT sold me. If I can prevent any more damage to my brain (as small as it is), I can hold out until the cure is finally here for us all and I know that will be in our lifetimes. Glossary of Terms Exacerbation - when new symptoms appear or existing ones get worse; called an attack or flare-up. M.R.I. - a diagnostic procedure that creates a picture of the brain (the nerve control center) and allows the doctor to see the areas affected by scarring from MS. Placebo - an inert or innocuous substance used especially in controlled experiments testing the efficacy of another substance (as a drug) Subcutaneous - an injection given just under the skin into the fatty layer.