Sex (Mum, you don't want to read this one...)

Sex is a topic that always seems to be talked about anonymously on the MS Society message boards and seems to be something people can be worried about talking about or ashamed. I understand why in most cases but I thought I'd share my experience seeing as it is a fairly common problem for people at some stage or other of their MS.

Originally my problems were isolated to the left side of my torso and my lower legs. Then one morning I woke up and the numb feeling was all the way up to my bum and I was having to check with my hands that I was sat on the loo seat properly, I also felt like I had a permenant 'wedgy' which was really, really annoying!

I realised, having been to the loo that although I could feel the area around my genitals it was not a normal feeling - interesting I thought - but possibly not good. I went to the Dr shortly after this and was referred to a neuro - lucky me, no faffing, no 'its stress' just, go see a neuro.

I'm not sure when my other half and I next had sex but I am a big fan of getting my pleasure in - and I am not that easy to please! Anyway, he had to stop (sore tongue..!) and I couldn't orgasm. I was mortified, couldn't even do it myself. After that I was constantly worrying, did he mind that I couldn't orgasm? Did he mind that I wasn't really interested because I couldn't feel much anyway? I was constantly apologising. He as ever was constantly reminding me that it didn't matter and it would get better or we'd find ways around it. Then I remembered my Rabbit. Now I know some people don't like the Rampant Rabbit idea (trademark Ann Summers....) but when you are a bit numb down there it really works, well for me anyway! Where others failed the rabbit succeeded!

In terms of me not wanting to have sex as much we kind of muddled along, I had gone from dragging him to bed almost nightly for nookie to maybe being up for it once at the weekend. After I was diagnosed we went about two weeks without sex. When I finally pulled myself back together and seduced him into bed we found out that things had obviously affected him as well.

I decided that the afternoons were the best time for me, usually when I got home from work, so I started waiting for him in our bedroom when he got home from work. I'd send him a naughty text when I knew he would be leaving so he'd make sure he came straight home. Still do that now as well! Afternoons during the week and the weekend come to think of it are a great time for us, we're both awake because we've been at work and we get a couple of hours to ourselves, great! I also try and jump on him at the weekends when I am feeling well. It has all been about making the most of feeling well and making time for sex.

Before we would mainly have sex at bedtime, now its anytime we are up for it (within reason obviously!) but still not as often - I think I value the times more often now.

After a couple of months the feeling came back, it has gone briefly since and I don't think it is completely back to normal but we still have a lot of fun and I have a much better appreciation for sex toys!!

General MS stuff - still relapse free, its about a month since I made the declaration and long may it continue!

Anyway, I can't believe I am posting this but if it is of any help to anyone then its worth it, and I really hope my mother hasn't got to this point!

Weight Watchers week 4

Don't ask....... Lets just say I had a really really bad week for eating the wrong foods and all you can eat chinese is definately out from now on.......

Other than that I fell over in London and played crazy golf on Saturday, also in London. Can you remember what the weather was like at around 4pm on Saturday? Took me ages to defrost...!!

Weight Watchers week 3

Good morning all. Well I weighed in at one pound less last night. Not bad considering I ate out three times. I met a friend for dinner Wednesday and had grilled Seabass and then the weekend was B's Birthday so I took him out for dinner Friday evening and we went out and watched the rugby Saturday and then had a curry.

http://www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk/index.asp

On Friday night I took B to a new 'Gastro pub' on the Peacock Farm development in Bracknell, called Peacock Farm strangely enough. It serves Badgers beer and the meals we had were very good. You can search for Hall and Woodhouse Pubs via the link above (one day I will find out how to do pretty links). I would thoroughly recommend eating and drinking at Peacock Farm, the food is good pub food and is reasonably priced and the beer is well kept (apparently) and very tasty (from experience!!). Two courses and drinks for two cost around £40. You must remember to book though. It is probably the fact that it is new but if you want lunch or dinner any day of the week you have to book.

I seem to be stable with the MS symptoms at the moment. I occasionally get slight worsening, usually when I am tired (like now) and am feeling like my legs are really struggling to get my body up stairs. Having said that a combination of MS, weight and lack of exercise are probably causing that.......

I have an annual review appointment in June, sent through by the hospital with no prompting from me! I gues my MS Nurse may have had something to do with it but I am so pleased I am under a Neurology Department that seems to get things done. Oh another MS related thing, I had a letter cc'd to me by my Neuro and it seems that my liver enzymes (guessing its them) have risen slightly. I have to have an extra blood test in a month to check on them and I am hoping its just a blip and they stay put or go down again. I know it is a side effect of Rebif and apparently fairly common at that but I am a little concerned because I am getting on well with Rebif and would prefer not to change.

Still we shall see.......

Carnival Issue #6

Hi all, the 6th issue of the Carnival of MS Bloggers is now out - please click on the link and have a look!

http://brassandivory.blogspot.com/2008/03/carnival-of-ms-bloggers-6-country-of.html