Pride becomes before a fall, or so the saying goes, and that certainly seems true for me. I had been getting around a lot more easily, feeling pleased, using my new rollator but then …
Ok, all of us who live with multiple sclerosis have good and bad days. Good days when we find it fairly easy to get around or do things; bad days when the opposite is true.
Two days ago, all was well. I was out and about and used my rollator to help me walk into our local pharmacy to collect my medications. Feeling comfortable and at ease, I felt strong and confident.
Then I drove home where, again using my rollator, walked up the ramp to the front door and went indoors.
Yesterday, regretfully, was not the same story. Not by a long shot!
I went out the front door, started down the ramp and my legs soon felt shaky and my arms so weak that I was unable to support myself on the rollator. It was no surprise when I sank to the ground. After a few minutes, by sitting on the side of the ramp, I managed to regain my feet and made my way to the back of our car, where Lisa had my wheelchair ready.
Bad days are not so easy
All that was left to do was to walk across some gravel and transfer from the rollator to my wheelchair. Easy right? Well, yes, on a good day. Even on a moderate day. But yesterday was neither of those, it was a very bad day; bad to ******* awful.
And that’s why my easy transfer ended up causing me to fall again, this time in the quiet road outside our home. The sky was blue, the sun blazing down. It was midday, and very hot. Remember, we live in the south of Spain and today it got to 37°C, which is almost 99°F, and that’s the shade temperature. I was in direct sunlight, the humidity was high. It was hot. It’s been like that for weeks.
I made several unsuccessful attempts to get up but, eventually, Lisa phoned for help. In next to no time Eddie and Bob arrived and got me off the road surface and safely back in my wheelchair.
Difficulty resolved. Today is another day, I wonder what that will bring. Let’s hope it is a good one.
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50shadesofsun.com is the personal website of Ian Franks, a Features Writer with Medical News Today. He enjoyed a successful career as a journalist, from reporter to editor in the print media. He gained a Journalist of the Year award in his native UK. Ian received a diagnosis of MS in 2002 and now lives in the south of Spain. He uses a wheelchair and advocates on mobility and accessibility issues.
50shadesofsun 
I have been left alone with my M.S. for several years now. I suppose I would be considered a hermitress. I very much do not want to leave home, and do not feel safe in doing so. Especiallly alone. I just wanted to reach out to somebody somewhere. I used to be a writer, an executive, a mother, a sister, daughter, a cousin, and a neice, and a friend. For 3 years the powers have left me without a med. nec. essential person. I am failing fast, and terribly alone.
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Hello Nancy, so sorry to hear of your situation. Where are you? Does no one in your family contact you? Support should be available.
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