Okay, here we go. My first proper podcast. The last one I did was, it was ripped from
a video that I did on Facebook a little while ago. It was just explaining how the last 10
years have gone and where we're up to now. With this, I think I'll do a proper introduction
to myself. My name's Michael. I prefer Mike. So by all means, call me either or. Believe
me, I've been called worse. I just think with this, I'm planning on doing a bit of talking
and trying to get out in the world where I'm at currently with regards to my multiple sclerosis.
On top of that, hopefully talking about this sort of stuff can help others because I've
only been going through this really since back end of February this year when as I said
in that first podcast, the doctor sat me down and told me what he told me. But there's people
who have been going through this for a very, very, very long time. Hopefully, hopefully
if I can talk about this, I can help somebody that doesn't necessarily know what to think
or how to feel about the condition because let's be honest, it really isn't a nice condition
at all. On a daily basis, there's something. I'm not going to go into detail at the moment
on exactly where my condition is. I have recently had a conversation with the MS coordinator
and I've been told that the MS nurse is taking my file to the MS MDT unit in Nottingham to
discuss treatment. But I'll go into that in further detail down the line when everything's
been confirmed. But from this point of view, all I'm interested in is getting on some sort
of treatment because to be honest with you, been quite a downward turn the last few months.
I'll be totally straight. I've gone from being able to walk to work, which is about a mile
and a half away roughly, to I now use a mobility scooter to get myself to work, which yeah,
I'll be honest with you. At the time when I first started that, the thought process
going through my head was very much, I'm 39 years old, there's no way I should be having
to use a mobility scooter. Do you know what? Best thing that's happened to me for a long
time because actually I feel like I've got some independence back. You know, I can get
out to work, I can get myself home from work, if we need things from the shop, I can jump
on it, I can nip up the shop. I've got my crutches for when I'm walking around. As I've
mentioned in previous videos rather than anything else, I do have names for my mobility aids.
I have my crutches, which are sticky, sticky, stick, stick and stick, stick, sticky stick.
I have my mobility scooter. That's Eleanor. One day if I'm really, really lucky, I'll
find the nitrous button and I'll be able to send her flying down the road rather than
the four mile an hour that she does. And I have my wheelchair, which is the DeLorean.
One day that will get up to 88 mile an hour and I'll be able to go back in time. Two
guesses what I would change if I could go back in time. I think a lot of us would be
very similar in that. But yeah, I mean, that's the sort of thing. I mean, I do try and laugh
and joke as much as possible because for me, I want to stay as positive as I can. Because
the minute I stop staying positive, I don't know where we would be. And that's not a road
I intend to go down. Positivity for me personally is the key. And I'm very, very lucky because
I've got a good family behind me. My wife is absolutely fantastic. She does everything
she can for me and more. So I am, I'm very, very lucky. I really, really am. And to that
end, further down the track, maybe we'll meet some family members that are there for me
to help. You never know. I might be able to convince them to come on the podcast and say
some bits and pieces and see how they're coping with everything. Because let's be fair, MS
is awful for the person. It really is. For me personally, I hate this condition with
a passion. But you know what? My family are going through bits and pieces as well, seeing
me struggle, seeing me find things difficult. So it can't be easy for them. And you know
what? They're all brilliant. So again, I am very, very lucky. To those of you out there
that are not so lucky, please find somewhere to talk. There is charities out there. You
know, for me personally, when I was first told back end of February to expect the diagnosis
of MS, I was lucky. And I contacted the MS Society and I had a good chat, really, really
good chat because I didn't know what to expect. And I was absolutely terrified. That was a
really good conversation. The lady I spoke to, brilliant. She didn't want to get off
the phone. She was quite happy talking, giving me all the advice that she possibly could.
And it was massively appreciated. So that's why on the 22nd of October, me, my dad and
my brother, we're going down to London to do the MS charity walk. We're raising money
for the MS Society. And do you know what? I absolutely cannot wait. Really looking forward
to it. Going back to a bit about me, I do still work full time. And I will do that for
as long as I possibly can. Because it keeps me ticking over. And actually, I quite like
going out to work. I don't know why. I'd take a lottery win to change that. But for
the time being, a day of work is exactly wherever I want to be. But yeah, I mean, at the end
of the day, there's not really much else to know about me. I mean, until my condition
started getting a lot worse. I was very much into airsoft, which was brilliant. I really
enjoyed it. Getting out with the lads, running around the woods. It was really good fun.
Lucky, there's a good site near where I live. And we was able to get over to that site.
Yeah, fair bit. And have a lot of fun. In terms of where I am with my MS, as I've explained,
I'm now having to use a mobility scooter to get around. Well, that's because I'm really
struggling with things like fatigue. I can't walk very far at all. And if I do walk literally
just a few yards, I get to the point where I could curl up and go to sleep. It's not
nice. It's really not nice. Which is why I've gone down that route. I have what has been
explained to me as MS hug. It's very much a case of top of the stomach, across the bottom
of the rib cage, feels like a tight band. And it is horrible when it's actually there
every day, has been there every day for many, many months now. Some days not quite so bad.
But on the whole, I can always feel it. I'm on some painkillers for a lot of the symptoms
I've got. And they do help. Again, I was very much a case of when they prescribed them,
I was saying, I'm not taking painkillers, I'll be okay. Guess what? I was wrong. It
was necessary. I absolutely needed to use them. I've got a lot of numbness in my feet
and legs to the point actually I could pinch myself really, really hard on my legs. I really
wouldn't feel it. I have an issue, which is a reason with my left arm, from time to time
I will get pain on my left forearm and it will shoot all the way down to my hand. My
hand will then make a fist, my middle finger will twitch uncontrollably. It doesn't last
particularly long, but it's very uncomfortable, very painful. And when I'm out and about,
it's a little bit embarrassing. I tend to sort of try and hide my hand under a table
or whatever else if we're out and about. I've sat down, if we're walking around I'll sort
of do what I can so people don't see it. And you know what? There's nothing to be embarrassed
about. It just is what it is. It's part of the condition. And something I've got to get
used to. Because things are going to happen in public. I've had many, many falls. Thankfully
the falls aren't quite as bad now as they were a few weeks ago. I mean I went for a
point of, to be honest with you, like Bambi on ice. I couldn't get up and stand and move
around much without falling over. And it was getting a little bit scary to be honest with
you. But been okay for the last few weeks. Not had quite so many falls, had a few but
not quite so many. And that's a positive. I know that's going to change but it's a positive.
I'm very interested to know how other people are getting on. Because the more we talk about
this sort of stuff, in my opinion, the better. We get the word out there so people understand
about MS. Because there is times where actually you're not having a particularly bad day.
You could be classed as a good day. And I'm aware there is occasions where people say,
oh you look fine. Might look fine my friend but doesn't mean I am. It's good to look
it sometimes. But believe me the stuff going on internally, absolutely not fine. Well I
just thought I'd put together a little podcast. I am totally new at this. I never even thought
about doing this until one of my sons, he made the suggestion about doing it a few days
ago. So I sort of took his suggestion and I've ran with it. And I really want to do
this. I really want to do these podcasts, get the word out there and see if we can improve
perceptions about MS. And again, I am a fun person. I will have a laugh and a joke. But
at the same time, just because I'm laughing and joking doesn't mean everything's okay.
Well I hope you've all enjoyed having a listen. I will aim to do podcasting hopefully once
a week. Maybe more if there's interest. I'm quite happy to do more. I will talk about
lots of different things to do with MS. And from time to time I'll talk about some other
stuff too because there's more to life than just MS. Something my wife, she said to me
a few days ago and it really struck a chord with me. I've got MS. MS has not got me. Hopefully,
hopefully other people can see that too. Well you all have a really good day. I will talk
to you again very, very soon. Please feel free if you've got some constructive criticism
or anything else because again I am very new to this. I am just learning. I'll gratefully
accept it because maybe we can learn together. Have a good day. Bye bye.