Living with Multiple Sclerosis - Narrative Medicine

[OneScruffyOne]

Great video Lauren. You pretty much hit the nail on the head when speaking to your Doctors.  Can be tough to get them to really listen and actually hear what you are trying to tell them. Keep up the good work.

Bill

[laurenvparrott]

@OneScruffyOne Hi Bill!! Thank you so much for your comment! This class has been wonderful...just learning more about how to live our healthiest lives possible!

[magikmarc1]

It's just as important to be honest with everything too. I'm definitely guilty of not telling my Dr. everything, and my Doctor can't treat something if they don't know about it.

My problem is that I don't like to complain. It's like giving in to MS.

I've been busy dealing with an exacerbation myself, but it's finally ending (I hope anyway) :-)

[laurenvparrott]

@magikmarc1 Exactly! I know where you're coming from. The only thing I would say is to make sure to be as careful as possible, I wish you the very best!!

[ccali123]

u are truely an inspiration! my boyfriend's mother has MS and i didnt understand completely what it is and the effects of it until i started watching ur videos, and to c u so happy and joyful inspires me, u r truely a blessing and i wish nothing but the best for u! keep doing what ur doing because u r changing lives!

[laurenvparrott]

@ccali123 Thank you so much!! Oh my gosh, you are so sweet! Thank you!!

[realtimehealth]

Such a fantastic video! Patient narrative is so important.

[laurenvparrott]

@realtimehealth Thank you so much! I agree!

[sparky413]

I love your attitude. I've watched many of your vids and I think I've learned more from you than from any other source on M.S.

[laurenvparrott]

@sparky413 Oh my gosh, thank you so much for saying that!!

[medad1]

WOW … what a beautiful heart surrounding your neck Lauren …more beauties :)

Lauren ..do you believe in the ALTERNATIVE MEDEICEN ?

Mody :)

[laurenvparrott]

@medad1 Hi Mody!! Thank you! You are so sweet :) I do believe that alternative medicine works - I know several people that have found great results. Are you doing any? I hope you're feeling well!!

[medad1]

@laurenvparrott I guess I'll tray some herpes for treatment very soon … I'll tell you the results then

love

mody :)

[mattalleng1990]

I have kaiser so I find that my biggest issue when it comes to communication would simply be the lack of communication itself... You can NEVER get ahold of your doctor! So I agree with the journaling because I have a horrible memory issue so I keep my blog for not only other people but for myself so I can look back and keep track of when everything happened along my progress, important dates, etc,

[laurenvparrott]

@mattalleng1990 I know, it can be very difficult to get a hold of doctors because they are so busy.  And I'm so glad that you journal everything! It really does help!

[lilliputin1]

Hi Lauren, I was diagnosed about 5 months ago and I really know what you're saying. My GP's never were willing to listen to me, even though I knew in my heart I had MS. I'm angry at myself for not being more insistant that they listen to me. At 40 I was embarrassed, scared and wanted it to be something else, so I just accepted what they said. You are really informative and an inspriration. You've kept me going on some really dark days. Thank you.

[lilliputin1]

Hi Lauren, I was diagnosed about 5 months ago and I really know what you're saying. My GP's never were willing to listen to me, even though I knew in my heart I had MS. I'm angry at myself for not being more insistant that they listen to me. At 40 I was embarrassed, scared and wanted it to be something else, so I just accepted what they said. You are really informative and an inspriration. You've kept me going on some really dark days. Thank you.

[laurenvparrott]

@lilliputin1 Oh my gosh, thank you so much for your comment! I'm so glad that you like my videos!! I understand your frustration. Please write to me anytime!!

[OneManTagTeam]

@laurenvparrott my last comment was too long!

Last November, it was thought I was suffering from swine flu but looking back, I think it was my first relapse as the feelings were the same each time

I was prescribed 1000mg of methylprednisolone a day for 3 days whilst awaiting the result of lumbar puncture & MRI scan but now they're puting me on Tysabri, with my first infusion on 1st November.

From watching your videos, it looks like the best option. You're looking good & always positive

[laurenvparrott]

@OneManTagTeam I am so excited for you!! I really hope Tysabri works for you as well as it has worked for me!

[OneManTagTeam]

Hi, I've just been diagnosed with MS & have had 2 relapses in as many months. The first relapse I had, the doctor thought it was labrynthitis as I had been really dizzy & sick.

The second time, I couldn't lift my left leg & my hands had the tingling sensation, so the doctor referred me to the neurologist.

A week later, I had a MRI scan & lumbar puncture which confirmed that I had MS as I had alot of lesions, and they think it's something I've had for quite a while.

Looking back, last Novembe

[laurenvparrott]

@OneManTagTeam Hello! Don't worry, I know it's scary at first. But if you work with your doctor, stay positive and stay active, everything will be fine. I promise! Please ask any questions anytime. Have you thought about a type of treatment yet?

[tonywilde1234]

welcome back Lauren !! lovely to see you again, & as inspiring as ever :-) Sending all my best wishes for grad school, i know you will do amazingly well, don't worry about being away too long, we have all your previous videos to keep us entertained!!

sending much love & hugs

your friend,

Tony xxx

[laurenvparrott]

@tonywilde1234 Hi Tony!! Thank you so much! It's great to hear from you as always! You are so sweet :) Thank you for your good wishes in school!!

I'm sending you much love!!

xoxoxo

Lauren :)

[AzUdo2day]

Thanks for sharing Lauren... glad you decided to return to school~.~

[laurenvparrott]

@AzUdo2day Thank you so much!

[mrsrhendrie]

Great job Lauren. It's so true...we need to be sure we have a doctor that we can really talk with. It's good to hear from you and see that you're well and able to be busy with school!

[laurenvparrott]

@mrsrhendrie Thank you! Yes, we definitely need to have good relationships with our doctors! Thank you for writing!

[laurenvparrott]

@sandyCanada56 Thank you!! It's great to hear from you!

[gphx]

It just struck me how many videos in a row I've seen with you happy and animated and how long it's been since the unhappy ones. Keep up the good work.

[rickileeway]

Thanks Lauren. So Happy & positive as usual. :-)

Rick

[laurenvparrott]

@rickileeway Thank you Rick!

[wisdaniel]

Hi Lauren. Is tysabri still working well for you? You look great.

[laurenvparrott]

@wisdaniel Hello! Yes, Tysabri is working incredibly well for me!! I feel so blessed. Thank you so much!

[ThePennygirl]

Good words Lauren! I should buy the book for my Neuro! LOL

[laurenvparrott]

@ThePennygirl Thank you so much! Yeah, wouldn't that be great?

[jvjvjvjvcool]

This is what nurses are the best at :)

A good nurse is worth 2 doctors, in my opinion.

[laurenvparrott]

@jvjvjvjvcool I agree completely!! I LOVE my nurses!!

[mightydistinguished]

Great to see you back. Adorable and inspiring as always.

[laurenvparrott]

@mightydistinguished Aww, thank you so much!!

[lovingfatalist]

Good video :-)

For me, the classic MS journal is "Journal of a Disappointed Man" by W. N. P. Barbellion (1919).

It's a great read. Not very happy - he dies at the end - but I'm sure that writing it was very therapeutic, and made his last days more meaningful.

"Narrative therapy" sounds very Freudian to me.

Not so popular these days, but I'm a fan...

I think modern time constraints have got quite a lot to do with how psychoanalysis has generally been replaced by quick-fix CBT, no?

Toby x

[laurenvparrott]

@lovingfatalist Thank you Toby! I totally agree with you about time constraints. Now I want to read Barbellion's journal. I understand that it must have been very therapeutic for him, and it would be so interesting to read...despite the sad ending. I hope you are doing well!!

[lovingfatalist]

@laurenvparrott Hope you can find the time to read it :-)

I'm fine, ta. Busy with my new house. Learning DIY skills! Will make videos again when I get a new camera / computer x

[MSVlogSupport]

Hi Lauren, DITTO everything you said :-) Good job on your homework!

[laurenvparrott]

@MSVlogSupport Hi Andrea! It's great to hear from you! Thank you, I'm trying my best!!

[donotconcede]

Hi Lauren, thanks for doing a video on this. I sure do wish my neuro were not looking at his watch and saying "oh, we're out of time". :-( Very nice to see you. Hope you are doing well too. :)

[laurenvparrott]

@donotconcede Exactly! I know what you mean. It's great to hear from you! I'm doing great! I hope you are too!!

[zekest]

Thanks lauren...and Go MSU and Iowa Hawkeyes !

[laurenvparrott]

@zekest That's right! Go BIG TEN!!

[irishbear76]

There are people who practice narrative medicine.

They are called nurses. :)

Great to see you. Love your smile and upbeat attitude.

This is a very interesting video. I like how you talk about making the most of the year and positive thoughts for the future!

God bless,

Mark

[laurenvparrott]

@irishbear76 Hey Mark! I couldn't agree with you more - I LOVE my nurses! You are so sweet, thank you so much! I'm still hoping I can accomplish goals that I've set for myself in 2010, and it's possible!