The "Three Minute Pee"!

So I am sitting here, curled up on the sofa with yet another UTI. I'm so sore and feeling utterly sorry for myself! About two weeks before I was diagnosed with MS, I had my first ever UTI that wouldn't shift with anti- biotics. I have had many since! MS can encourage UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections), due to the positioning of certain lesions on the brain. I think that the culprit lesions are around the spinal cord area. My Copaxone nurse told me the reason- the lesion is preventing my brain from telling my bladder (correctly) that it is empty. When you go to the loo, and fail to get rid of all the urine, it starts to breed bacteria and can result in an infection.

I think most of us drinkers are familiar with "breaking the seal" on a night out. You can go to the pub, and spend two hours happily drinking... then you go to the toilet (and break the seal), and then every 10- 15 minutes, you need to go to the toilet for the rest of the night. A very good friend of mine called Joy, (a perfect name for her, as she is truly joyous) told me about the concept of the "three minute pee", where when you go to the loo on a night out, you need to stay on the loo for three whole minutes. You will pass urine when you first go to the loo, but your bladder will nearly always expel more urine the longer you sit there, therefore allowing you a longer break before you need the loo again. This leads to more drinking and dancing time!!!

I found this concept to be truly revolutionary! I would always do it on a night out, but never realised how useful it may be to my MS. So from now on, I shall be occupying the bathroom for three minutes at a time... I'm sure the time spent on the loo will prevent time being spent in the doctor's surgery!

Cog Fog at it's best!!!

Yesterday, this was less than hilarious, but I can now look back and see how ridiculous the whole thing was!

The past few days, I have been very "foggy", essentially, my brain is not functioning at normal speed. It is a terrible symptom of MS, and it seemed to appear as the weakness in my arm and leg flared up too.

I was so sleepy all day yesterday, I got out of bed at 11am and napped twice before 5pm, but I had agreed to spend the weekend minding an 11 year old. When I arrived at the kid's house, I didn't take my bags from the car as my foot- drop was in full swing. The eleven year old decided he wanted chips for dinner, so I drove to the local chipper, five mins down the road. I used to work in the chipper, so spent the few minutes waiting for my order chatting away to old colleagues, not a care in the world!

When I got out of the chip shop, I noticed my car's passenger window was fully open. I had never even noticed that it was open. I thought nothing of it, as I was gone less than ten mins, and could see my car from the window of the chipper. Then it hit me.... my handbag was missing from the passenger seat. Panic struck, and I thought of all the bits in my handbag; my new purse, keys, money, bank cards, etc. Luckily my phone was in my pocket! I thought, "I'll get back to the house and phone the Gardai". So I was pissed off at myself, driving up the road, and glanced to the back seat of the car. MY LAPTOP WAS GONE!!!!  It is a brand new laptop, and was a gift from my brother. I immediately pulled over, and was shaking as I phoned the Gardai from the roadside. I didn't know whether to cry or vomit, I was so shaken. The Garda was so nice, and was trying his best to calm me down. I explained to him that I forgot to close my window but was gone a matter of minutes. As I was telling him the story, I put my hand to the back of the driver's seat, and felt my bloody laptop bag- it had fallen under my seat! I immediately told the Garda, and told him that I would get back to the house and phone him regarding my stolen handbag. He agreed I should do this, along with reminding me to calm down. Walked into the house, so shocked and filled with adreneline, and there it was... my lovely bright orange handbag, sitting on the kitchen table!!!

I never felt so silly. My emotions were all over the place, I was chuffed that I hadn't lost my bag and laptop, but felt so stupid that I had left my window open. I also felt so embarrassed that I had phoned the Gardai in such a state. Of course, I phoned back to say all was well, and apologised for bothering him. He was so lovely... It probably gave him and his mates a laugh!!