Biggest obstacle: climbing over the bathtub. It’s a mountain. It takes me almost a full 5 minutes just to get in the tub on a good day. My left leg locks to the point I have to drag it over the bathtub wall and position my feet so that I do not slip and fall. Water temperature is another thing. I used to love taking long hot showers. Today, it’s lukewarm water, wash and condition hair, soap to clean the body, rinse and get out asap. There is no time to stand there and enjoy. I’ve been lucky that I have not had the need for assistance with another human being to get out of the shower. I dread that day.

When I am done showering, my body feels like a rubbery mess. I have to sit down on a chair or the toilet seat shivering to dry off and struggle to get my clothes on. This takes a good 10 to 15 minutes of struggling, cursing and wanting to rip my clothes just to get the clothes on. I am trying to lift my left leg to get inside my shorts or pants, my left foot just sits there. Then I need to grab the bars to get up and put the rest of my clothes on when I am hunched over because I no longer have support to hold my body upright. Sighs of relief once I am done with that. Then, we have the hair. Combing out my hair, adding hair products because I have this uncontrollable frizzy mess, then the final hot blow dryer that makes my body hotter.

Now, I need to get from the bathroom to my recliner. My left leg is no longer working it drags on a wood floor and I hobble about 10 feet to the chair that takes a good 5 minutes. I want to cry, but I keep pushing. I sit down and breathe. I am now stuck in the chair for a good 3 to 4 hours to build up strength to walk around with my walker.

I think about this as I am writing and applaud that I have once again am kicking some major MS Butt!