how are you feeling?

have you gotten used to this question yet? ever since i was diagnosed that question pops up again and again. when talking to a healthy person, people ask, "how are you?" get a disease and people ask, "how are you feeling?" with that sad look when they emphasize feeling.

after 17 years i've come to expect it. fortunately, people i see regularly don't ask. i tell them things along the way so they know the answer. i understand it. i think i've done the same to others. when you care about someone who's been sick, you want to know how they're feeling. i just prefer to discuss other things in addition to my MS.

also, there's not always an easy answer. how was i feeling the last time i saw you? if you remember, i can tell if things are the same or different. if i have to list all the details, it sounds horrible. it's easier just to say that symptom x is a little worse. it's great when i can say things are about the same.

another hard question is, "how's the new med doing?" for drugs that are meant to keep things as they are, it's tough to know if things are getting worse or not.

ya know though, all of these questions are valid and come from the heart. i've always encouraged others to ask questions. the more i can educate my friends, family and strangers, the more understanding people have of MS, all help to move forward support for research and services for people like me. it's amazing how many people want to help. i can use all the help i can get.

so, keep questioning. just remember that MS is not the only thing we want to discuss.