*MegaSpecial = awesome people that have MS/Multiple Sclerosis*
Tag: Pilates
What a wonderful afternoon! My first ever proper group Xmas meal with the Pilates peeps! 25+ ladies & 3 gents!
I was so nervous about going because of my MS and how anxious I get about every silly little thing! As always there was no need for me to worry, Hannah Bailey our Pilates instructor made sure of that! Thank you so much for looking after me Hannah! Did I get you when I threw my drink across the table? That ‘was’ an accident I promise, don’t make it a hard pilates class because of it! 😉
It was a lovely meal which I managed to cut by myself becasue I remembered to take my ergonomic cutlery! This may seem odd to people but I feel so proud of myself for doing that, that’s a massive step to acceptance for me.
I loved how people in the group kept coming to our end of the table to mingle as it meant I could stay sitting which wouldn’t add to my fatigue!
Thanks to Kate King (old *not in years* pilates instructor) for making an appearance! I’m amazed I managed to keep that suprise to myself!
Thanks to Hannah (1 of our current pilates instructors) for looking after me! Even though for some reason she was hanging onto me on the way out!
Really Hannah! Not a good idea to hang onto a wobbly MegaSpecial especially one that was as fatigued as me after that busy busy wonderful lunch 😉
Lisa Perry, you were definitely missed girly! I hope u are resting up and not feeling to poorly now 😐
And lastly a huge thanks to Linda Treadwell for organising the whole meal! What an amazing job u did! ❤
Left to right: Kate, Hannah & me sitting down Left to right: Hannah & KateLeft to Right: Kate & meLeft to Right, Top row: Hannah, Colin, me & lovely lady I sat next to! 😨 MeSsy moment... I forgot her name! Oops! The Pilates peeps!
When your so tired you could fall asleep as soon as you sit down!
Yesterday I called into the vets to collect ‘Princess Olivia’ aka Ollie medication which should have been ready and wasn’t. Humph!
Basically now my hands are weaker (thanks MS) I have been struggling to ‘pop’ the capsules out of the blister pack without splitting the capsule resulting in the contents of the capsule – tiny Tramadol beads flying everywhere!
I’m sure you’ll agree that this isn’t the best when you then have to bend down and pick the hundreds of tiny, and I mean tiny, balls up!
I’m a strong believer in making people aware of a potential flaw in a product and it’s packaging. So I phoned the vets last week asking them if it would be possible to revert back to the brand of medication Ollie had previously as the packaging for these was fine.
It turned out that they weren’t able to do that and when I had explained my troubles they agreed it would be fine for a member of staff to ‘pop’ the capsules out of the blister packs for me.
I left it in their capable hands and at the beginning of this week I had a call advising me that Ollie’s medication was ready for me to collect.
That’s where I was when I took this photo!
Yes her medication was there but it wasn’t ready! The staff I had spoken to about the packaging hadn’t left any notes about my phone call and so the capsules were still in the blister packs.
When I explained to the lady serving me that “I think the back part of the blister pack is made out of led” She tried to ‘pop’ one and guess what happened! Well the capsule didn’t break but it was very squashed.
The lady disappeared, when she returned she said they were more then happy to take the capsules out of the original packaging for me but, next time if I could ask for them to do it before I call in to collect! Really! I HAD just explained it all to her!
She advised they would be a while and invited me to sit down and wait.
When Ollies’s Tramadol was ready a different staff member bought them to me and again asked me if I could advise them to do this before calling in to collect! Oh my days! I had honestly already spoken to 3 different people over the phone about this before collecting! Me thinks the staff members need to learn how to make notes!
*Photo time!*
I look awful in this photo, (it shows better in the first picture how tired I look) I’m quite proud of myself for sharing it with you!
This is how tired I get after an hour in a Pilates class, a coffee after (tiring because of all the noise and not just from our table) and then a very brief shopping experience for groceries (also extremely tiring, maybe even the most tiring because of the noise and also the amount of people busying around!)
What I didn’t need was to have to wait for Ollie’s medication, like I said at the beginning… I sit down, I wanna sleep!
Some people don’t think I have a busy life because I don’t work, actually I’ll change that… I don’t work because I can’t work!
Some people just don’t realise how it’s a full time job maintaining your own health when you have MS!
This is what I work at! Staying well for myself and my family!
Some people don’t think about all the little things that they can do and without a second thought, actually these little things can be the hardest things for us to do!
How hard it is to get up in the morning, how hard and how exhausting it is to have a shower, how tiring it can be to drive anywhere, how stressful in can be to make sure you are at a Pilates class in time!
I’m very lucky that I have the most wonderful Pilates instructors who are so understanding and compassionate!
It doesn’t take much to have a little compassion!
Finally I feel like I’m joining earth again after my 2 month burn out!
I’m still not back to my ‘MegaSpecial’ standard but getting there.
I wasn’t just tired, I was exhausted which meant I found it so hard to ‘cope’ with my pain!
I haven’t been able to go to Pilates classes as much as I used to and, I can’t remember the last time I went into the gym!
I really miss the gym and how incredible it made me feel afterwards! I haven’t had that feeling when I’ve been to the gym for a long time. I guess because I was so low on my energy resources!
Well now it’s time to recoup them but in a balanced way, using exercise to help build my energy.
This week has gotten off to a great start! Unlike last week I’m planning my days better and sticking to my plans!
Even though my pain in my back is gradually getting worse, making my cognition or Cog Fog incredibly bad I’m able to stick to appointment times now. I couldn’t even do that last week! I only made it to one Pilates class on time and that was because I didn’t go alone!
Yesterday’s Pilates was brilliant, just what I needed to help stretch out my back.
I spoke to the instructor ‘Lisa Perry’ before the class started and explained my problems with my back. She then adapted the class to suit the lower. . back with nice stretches and exercises to strengthen it too. That’s what it needs, strength.
Today’s class was even better than yesterday, I felt totally focused and more in control of every muscle! I feel like I’m getting stronger again. Remembering how I felt nearly 2 months ago when I was taking steroids, I’m definitely on my way back!
I even managed to hold ‘Plank’ for a short time, probably about 15 seconds which doesn’t sound much but have you tried it?
Plank
Plank, or front support in Pilates, is a well-known exercise. It is one of the most popular exercises for developing core strength and stability.
While Plank really targets the abdominals and shoulder stability, you will find that plank is an excellent way to get a full body challenge. In order to do Plank properly there must be integration of all the core stabilization muscles. The arms, glutes, and legs are active as well.
Plank can look like the up part of a regular push up. But, in most cases, a regular push up entails much more strain in the upper body — especially in the shoulders and neck — than plank in Pilates or yoga.
Picture taken from Pinterest
I was more like the second from the bottom in the above picture, for the short time I held it & then I definitely looked like the one that says ‘FAIL’ even though it was more ‘success’ than fail!
Then we did ‘Downward dog’ which is practised in both Yoga and Pilates.
Downward dog
One of the most recognized yoga poses in the West, Downward-Facing Dog — Adho Mukha Svanasana (Ah-doh MOO-kuh shvan-AHS-uh-nuh) — is a standing pose and mild inversion that builds strength while stretching the whole body. It’s named after the way dogs naturally stretch their entire bodies! Downward-Facing Dog (also sometimes called “Downward Dog” or just “Down Dog”) is an essential component of Sun Salutations and is often done many times during a yoga class. It can be used as a transitional pose, a resting pose, and a strength-builder.
Benefits of Downward-Facing Dog
If you struggle with Down Dog, be compassionate and patient with yourself; you are not the first person with tight hamstrings or weak arms. On the other hand, be diligent. Ultimately, Down Dog will start to feel so good that you will really empathize with the full-body joy that dogs display while doing the pose.
Shiva Rea
Downward-Facing Dog energizes and rejuvenates the entire body. It deeply stretches your hamstrings, shoulders, calves, arches, hands, and spine while building strength in your arms, shoulders, and legs. Because your heart is higher than your head in this pose, it is considered a mild inversion (less strenuous than other inversions, such as Headstand) and holds all the benefits of inversions: Relief from headaches, insomnia, fatigue, and mild depression. The flow of blood to the brain also calms the nervous system, improves memory and concentration, and relieves stress.
Regular practice of this pose can improve digestion, relieve back pain, and help prevent osteoporosis. It is also known to be therapeutic for sinusitis, asthma, flat feet, and for the symptoms of menopause.
Picture taken from Pinterest
Now I have only ever done ‘Downward dog’ once before in another of Lisa’s class so, I’m not 100% sure if I did it correct. All i know is that it felt really good and I got the thumbs up from Lisa so that’s all that matters!
Knowing Lisa, she would have corrected me if I was doing it incorrectly.
It was an excellent Pilates class today, my back felt good after which was wonderful!
I felt really proud of myself for doing so well!
When I got home I decided to treat myself to my old winter favourite, Galaxy frothy top – hot chocolate & decaf coffee! So yummy, I thought I deserved a treat! It may not be good for the waist but according to the recent news it would be good for my debilitating MS fatigue!
Just incase anyone missed the wonderful news about chocolate and MS fatigue… http://mssoc.uk/1NDk5BX
I’m ok with that news!
Then to make the day even better in an odd way I declined going to the gym with Deb and our friend Adam! My reason, because I was just so awesome in my Pilates class that I needed to relax for the rest of the day and evening!
Such a shame I couldn’t go because I was really looking forward to lifting some weights with Adam! My thoughts, there’s no rush!
Plans for the rest of the week… dentist check up tomorrow! Eik!
So true!
For the time I’m in a pilates class I am that focused I am able to exercise through the pain!
Stretch it out!
My pain is so bad again!
Roll on pain clinic 4th January! Fingers crossed for a cancellation because I don’t know how I’ll manage with this pain just getting worse!
It’s hard to stay positive when your in pain but I try my best!
Yes I set 3 alarms to wake me for the gym!
Yes I cancelled all 3 alarms when they went off this morning, I didn’t even select snooze!
Yes I slept until 9am!
NO I didn’t go to the gym!
No I’m not annoyed with myself!
No I can’t still go to the gym. Oldest dog, ‘Princess Olivia’ has hydrotherapy at 11 & then doors to gloss
This is the first time I’ve been ok that I haven’t been to the gym!
Last week I only went to one Pilates class as well!
It’s ok to rest!
It’s ok to take it steady!
There’s no competition!
Tuesday was my first day back to the workout I love so much, the one I am most passionate about, Pilates*
*Pilates aims to strengthen the body in an even way, with particular emphasis on core strength to improve general fitness and wellbeing.
6 weeks is a long time!
It has been 6 weeks since I noticed my legs were much weaker than normal, since I went numb from my torso down to my feet, since my balance disappeared and I started walking with my feet wider apart making it a little easier to stay upright.
Steroids
It has been 4 weeks since I saw my GP and was prescribed Steroids for a possible relapse!
The neurologist that I have no faith in!
It has been 3 weeks since I had an appointment with the Neurologist that was so rude to me and made me cry! The Neurologist that told me I’ll be feeling better in the spring, that I don’t have Drop Foot even though my Neuro Physiotherapist referred me to be assessed for FES (Functional electrical stimulation *FES* is a treatment that uses the application of small electrical charges to improve mobility. It is particularly used as a treatment for foot drop.) He told me I don’t need the ‘Foot-ups’ or also known as ‘ankle splints’ that my Neuro Physio gave me. I have been told to use these on both legs all the time to help with my ‘drop foot’, because if I don’t I trip and fall! Yeah, I’m to throw those in the bin! And he said I don’t need the 2 crutches I was using that day (because the steroids I was taking make me feel weak!) His reply was that steroids don’t make you weak they make you strong and that is why athletes take them!
Now I understand that not everyone will know this but, from experience of taking steroids and understanding them in great detail I am aware that there are different types of ‘steroids’ and they are used for different things!
Corticosteroids – a class of drugs used to treat relapses in Multiple Sclerosis and many other conditions
Anabolic steroids – abused by some athletes and others to enhance performance.
Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances related to the male sex hormones (androgens). They promote growth of skeletal muscle (anabolic effect) and the development of male sexual characteristics (androgenic effects).
It doesn’t take a degree to work out which ones are taken by athletes to make them perform better!
Looking at the huge list of side effects that come with Corticosteroids (the type of steroids I was prescribed by my GP) Methylprednisolone in particular, you will notice it states that Muscle weakness is one of them!
I was told that I didn’t have a relapse which is fantastic news! If I had then they would have taken me off my monthly drug ‘Tysabri’ that helps to stop relapses. I’m so grateful that my MS team are happy for me to stay on Tysabri! I’ve been on it for 3 years now and in that time this last ‘flare up’ has been the closest I’ve felt to relapsing. Before Tysabri I was relapsing every month so I’d rather stay on it!
Back to my workout
There’s always a first for everything! For the first time I actually gave myself time to recover from my flare up, I didn’t go to a Pilates class until I felt completely ready! I didn’t think it would be as long as six weeks though! Another first is that I am taking it steady as well, I’m not going to over do it because my body isn’t what it used to be. It’s the only one I have and I need to take care of it!
Tuesday was my first day back to a Pilates class, it was so much harder than I remember which is proof that I do need to take it steady. It was amazing and yet frustrating at the same time. One thing that isn’t a first for me is ‘beating my self up’ I get so annoyed with myself when I can’t do all the stretches properly. The new Pilates instructor Lisa Perry kept telling me how well I was doing. I took the compliment and had a little chat with myself, I have nothing to prove to anyone, not even myself! For someone of my limited mobility I’m doing pretty amazing! That feeling after when my muscles had woken up was brilliant. Lisa’s classes are such good fun. The stretches she teaches are great, I’m sure she adds in a few Yoga posses which are hard but feel incredible! I’d like to learn Yoga but definitely one thing at a time!
Yesterday was my second time back at Pilates, a different type of class with Hannah Bailey. Fantastic! Hannah’s energy is amazing, she puts every ounce of it into her classes and really pushes you to reach your ultimate! Her classes are fast, she qualified to teach PiYo* earlier this year, I’m sure she is throwing in a few PiYo exercises into the Pilates class. If she is then I’m up for it but I must take it steady!
*PiYo combines the muscle-sculpting, core-firming benefits of Pilates with the strength and flexibility advantages of yoga. Piyo cranks up the speed to deliver a true fat-burning, low-impact workout that leaves your body looking long, lean, and incredibly defined.
This is the week I’m going to make all the difference!
Remember it’s not ‘why me’ it’s ‘TRY ME!’
My alarm is set for gym o’clock! #thisgirlcan
Best thing I’ve ever done and believe me it still isn’t easy! I make myself look at me in a mirror 3 times a week! Why? Because I love pilates!
This is so true!…
Had enough of what I saw in that mirror!
No stopping me now until I like what I see again!
#ishapeme
If you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop reaching for it and I don’t mean the biscuit tin! 😂
Happy funtastic Friday peeps! This is where it begins!
TODAY
•Back to basics Pilates class with Kate King = Love!
•Collecting MegaSpecial Sistaaah Sarah Hickman & nephew Lewis from train station = More love
•Rugby World Cup starts = Happy
•England v Fiji = Adrenalin
TOMORROW
•Shelley’s family fun day at The Weavers Arms, Fillongley in aid of MS-UK = FUN
•Me in the stocks at the event = Arghhhh
•A group of MegaSpecials (MSrs) all meeting together at event = Amazing & dream come true!
•Adam’s 35th birthday party in evening = Shattered me, Sare & Sista Rosemary plus more fun!
Have u ever heard that saying, ‘proud as punch’ well that’s how u feel right now!
Proud of all my friends that made up team BAM4MSUK because we have been chosen as fundraiser of the month for doing so well in the ‘Color Run’ http://www.ms-uk.org/fotm
I know it says my name but it was a team effort! We did it guys! Same next year!?
Click on the link to read my story & stay tuned as I’ll be sharing more about it soon! 😄 🌈
Living life the MegaSpecial way! 