Living with Multiple Sclerosis - College and Multi-tasking

[MusicIsEndlessXD]

I can totally relate with you for the emtional thing. When I was first dealing with my MS I used to cry all the time ! Constant mood swings .. it was horrible :( Glad to see your better now tho ! :) x

[laurenvparrott]

@MusicIsEndlessXD Yes, I'm still emotional but I'm used to it now! :)

[NikiBoBicki]

Hi Lauren! It is not only college, I found the multitasking in University was a big issue for me, but it carries over into the work world as well. It is important to be your own advocate in the work place, and not allow undue pressures to accumulate! I needed to stand up for myself regarding overtime/extra projects at my job, and I found it relieved A LOT of my stress! It is understood that I cannot work late nights and weekends, but that I am there with 100% effort during my regular hours :)

[laurenvparrott]

I totally understand! I write EVERYTHING down and I try my best every day!!

Take care!

[mprplaysguitar]

You are a beautiful woman, inside and out. Your boyfriend is very lucky. I do not have MS, but do have various movement disorders. Stay positive dear :)

[laurenvparrott]

Wow, what a nice comment - thank you! I wish you the very best!

[BretagneShrew]

wow thats so remarkable you manage to do what you do on top of collage! I'd love to go to back to collage. I have multitasking difficulties, to the point where I can't write while theres someone talking or have a conversation while theres music playing etc. does anyone with MS get this?

[laurenvparrott]

Oh thank you! I definitely have those same issues, and so do other MS patients. That's why I made the videdo!! I encourage you to go back to college! My Mom is in college and I'm so proud of her! Good luck!

[chourtnii]

thank you. Riley had the biggest smile on her face. it made her day. thank you.

[laurenvparrott]

Oh I'm so happy!!

[collectstones]

Hi Lauren its Craig from England. As usual your latest video is so helpful..with just starting university i know what you mean by finding a friend who you are similar too..i have and im so thankful of that we laugh at the same things and help each other with our work i have known him 3 weeks but it feels like i have known him 3 years i feel so blessed.......i have emailed you on our next step to making music if you need the chords sending to you i will. Hope to hear from you soon

Craig

[laurenvparrott]

Hi Craig! I'm so glad that you have a friend who you are similar to!!! That is so helpful! Thank you for emailing me! Sending the chords would be great to! I can't wait to get started!!!

[ruetoyou]

Hey Lauren!

I wrote once before. My brain MRI was mostly normal but my doctor still believes I have MS so now on to a neurologist to have everything else ruled out. Starting with stress (my mom very depressed and tried multiple suicides) to a very bad car wreck in '95. My first symptoms started in '97.

All that said, I am with you on multi tasking!! What about opposite emotions - I can't seem to ever cry!! There are times I really want to and the tears just won't come. Am I weird or what?

[laurenvparrott]

Hello! Let's see what the neurologist has to say...if it is MS, you know who you can talk to! I took anti-depressants during my relapse and I couldn't cry at all. It was the weirdest thing. Are you taking any medications? That might have something to do with it. Please keep me posted!!

[BretagneShrew]

I have this too from anti-depressants, its soooo weird! it feels very unnatural :/

[faroo7a21]

U r completely right lauren,

i agree :)

your health is the most important thing.

May God keeps you on this remarkable optimism :)

[laurenvparrott]

Thank you so much!! God Bless!

[nayaz75]

CONt.I would try and explain to them that i was not clinically depressed i was depressed about the situation. Still it was very frustrating.Lately i am doing much better with the crying and actually made it through a nuro app. last month without crying and it was the best appointment.I left feeling like i got all my questions answered.The thing is though I did not know that being emotional and crying was a symptom of MS.I have never been told that.Have you read that somewhere that I could read?

[nayaz75]

i too have always been a very emotional person. It got really bad around the time of my diagnosis. i was going though a lot as i am sure you were too around the time of yours. there is also all that fear. So at all my doctor's appointment I di d alot of crying and they are always tight scheduled as it is and it would cut my appoitments short because i was not able to ask the questions that I needed to. most doctors would tell me that I needed counceling to deal with having MS...

[laurenvparrott]

Yes, I was definitely even more emotional around the time of my diagnosis. I was actually very depressed right before my diagnosis because I didn't know what was wrong. I cried a lot after though, too!

[jadejsmith1]

hi. my name is jade. i'm 24, and in short, it is very suspicious that i have ms, though not yet confirmed. i have watched all your videos tonight and just wanted to tell you how much of a boost you have given me in the last hour. you are such an inspiration. you are so beautiful and radiate positivity. i love it. i wish you all the best. you are sure to do great things. much love- jade

[laurenvparrott]

Hi Jade!! Oh my gosh, you are so sweet! You just made my night! It was so shocking when I found out I had MS, so I know what you mean about it being suspicious. I wish you the very best and please keep in touch!!

[NikiBoBicki]

Oh. My. Goodness.

Listening to this post was like listening to myself! I struggled alot through my degree and could never understand why I never felt like I couldn't handle the same schedules as my friends/ roommates. Everything you said was so relevant to me! AND I also have a friend ( and former roommate) who is one of the only friends I have who completely gets me and never has an issue with my MS and my needs with respect to that. Her name is also Stephanie! Scary!

Take care!

Niki

[laurenvparrott]

Hey Niki!! Oh my gosh...what a similar situation! That is scary! I'm so glad that your Stephanie was understanding, too! I'm so glad that I have someone I can relate to...that's so nice to know that I'm not alone!! I hope you're feeling well!

[comedyguy21]

my tits are SO sore right now!!! :( M

[vincekelly1]

Hi Lauren,

I wanted to get your thoughts on my MS happenings: I, like you, was diagnosed when I was 18 (10 days after my 18th B-day, that was a helluva present, huh?).

Going to start taking Tysabri and I wanted to ask you about the liver damage caused by Tysabri. I read that alcohol makes it worse. I dont drink every day or every week, just sometimes with friends.

Do you know how prevalent this liver damage is? Would be nice to be able to have a drink every so often. Do you drink?

[laurenvparrott]

Hi! I'm sorry your diagnosis was just after your birthday...really, what a helluva present. About liver damage, we could all potentially get liver damage from every MS drug. As long as your neurologist takes blood tests regularly and checks that everything is ok, you'll be fine. I did drink quite a bit in college and my bloodwork came back fine. Now, I drink occasionally but not often. I wouldn't worry about Tysabri affecting your liver but if you're concerned, talk to you doctor :)

[ishutmyeyes]

Thanks Lauren! I actually never thought of MS and multi-tasking, but everything that you said is so true! :) Agata

[laurenvparrott]

I know! I never thought about it either but it makes so much sense now!!

[lizzy890]

I'm in college with MS, it really is difficult sometimes. I can still remember a few days that I have had in which I had an extremely horrible shock down my spine, or an absolutely uncomfortable sensation in my head.Those were days where I just felt like dropping to the floor and I had no one with me.I think it's important to develop friendships with people,to have people around you to understand and be with you in case something were to happen. Sometimes the comfort is strongly needed.

[laurenvparrott]

You're so right - it is really important to develop friendships with people who can understand and will be there if you need help. One time when I was taking my shot, the needle hit a vein and I had to go to the hospital. My friends called 911 and an ambulance came. Thank God they were there to help! The comfort is definitely needed. Good luck and I wish you the best!

[mrsfirecracker]

Lauren, as usual you are an angel that brings inspiration to us. It always lifts my spirits to hear your videos. It is great to hear from you and keep up the great work. May God bless you.

[laurenvparrott]

Thank you so much for your kind comment! That means so much to me! God Bless!

[ibuzzproautomation]

Hey Lauren,

Hope you know that you are an inspiration to many.

Do you know that multi tasking has the same effects as smoking marijuana.

[kaazoom]

Hi Lauren. Thank you for your prayers and concern. Paul

[laurenvparrott]

You're welcome Paul - that's the least I can do.

[navymuret]

Hi Lauren! Its so nice to hear your voice. Sorry I haven't written lately, but I don't want to burden you with my rambling musings! Anyway, the emotional part of MS you experienced (crying, etc.) may be the "pseudo-bulbar effect" experienced by many patients. It can also cause uncontrollable laughter, too. I also can get very emotional for no reason, and I almost ran my car off a freeway due to uncontrollable laughter due to a comment by my daughter. THAT was an experience!!!

[laurenvparrott]

Hi Andy!! I LOVE hearing from you! Don't be silly about "rambling musings!" I can't believe you said that...I laugh uncontrollably all the time! Joel and Anthony find it so amusing when I laugh at things that aren't funny, or at silly jokes that no one else laughs at but I think are hilarious! I definitely think I have the "pseudo-bulbar effect". That's really funny, but scary too, about your daughter making you laugh in the car!! It's so great to hear from you! I hope all is well!

[dmplaura]

Multitasking is tough! Like I've told you before, mine's sensory as opposed to say, cognitive...and yet, I have trouble multitasking.

I think it's because we can be so engrossed in other thoughts that the mundane things we're doing (laundry, for example), tends to escape us. We get easily distracted. Least I do!

The shaking with tons of clothes/covers is what put me off work Lauren, and it was honestly overload for me too. Scary stuff huh?

[laurenvparrott]

Thank you for telling me this! It makes me feel so much more normal! You look fabulous, and even though this is scary stuff, we can get through it!

[dmplaura]

We're sexy strong girls! Guys, lookout! :D

[laurenvparrott]

That's right!!

[teafourtao]

Multitasking is the toughest thing about being in nursing school (and having MS). i take it one day at a time. thanks for the video Lauren. You're our Ambassador to the World!

[laurenvparrott]

You are so sweet!! I can imagine how difficult it would be to have to multi-task in the field of nursing. Good luck!!

[tonymac2008jtv]

There goes my hero, watch her as she goes.

[laurenvparrott]

You are so sweet!

[tonymac2008jtv]

Dude your like my new female hero , k check out a song called my hero by the foo fighters , thats your new theme tune. Peace dude .

[laurenvparrott]

Hey! Thank you - you are so sweet :) I'll definitely check that song out. Talk to you soon!

[jcrane722]

Hi Lauren! Its Jcrane722. I had 1 brother and 1 Sister die of Lou Gehrig's disease, and then a few years in the future I got M.S. These things are terrible but with my Faith and my family I am doing just fine. I always enjoy your "REAL" video's about M.S. Keep it up! As I like to say "I have M.S. but it don't have me"

Be Well

Jcrane722

[laurenvparrott]

Hey! I'm so sorry to hear about your brother and sister...that's so hard...but it sounds like you're doing extremely well with your diagnosis and I am so happy for you! You couldn't be more right - "I have M.S. but it don't have me!"

[peterpan3930]

I say that too

"i have MS but MS doesnt have me"

thats the first thing i said to my parrents when i told them my diagnosis..

i swear lauren- we should get a LAUREN IS OUR HERO group going

lauren girl u seriously are my voice for MS.. u find the words

keep it up

;P