I’m back in my happy place.
My wife, Laura, and I, along with our Yorkie-poo and our Maine Coon cat, have made it back to our Florida home after 16 hours and about 1,000 miles of driving over two days. There were no traffic jams, we had a comfortable motel bed, my multiple sclerosis bladder problems were pretty much under control, and Laura and I didn’t kill each other. So it was a good trip.
It’s not easy making this journey twice a year, since most of my moving is done on a mobility scooter. I also have the usual MS fatigue problems, and Laura has a horrible back. Between the two of us, we barely equal one able-bodied person. So you might wonder why we drag ourselves down here each fall.
I feel better in sunshine
It may sound crazy, but after just two days, I’ve returned to standing in the shower. In our Maryland home, I’ve been sitting while showering for the past few months.
I’ve also returned to standing — well, mostly — when feeding the pets in the morning. In Maryland I’d taken to performing that chore on my scooter, so I wouldn’t have to squat. In Florida, however, my body feels healthier. My mind is more engaged and less stressed.
I like it hot
Unlike many living with MS, the cold affects my symptoms more than the heat.
My bladder is better behaved when it’s warm. My spasticity and leg cramps bother me less in warm weather, too. And it’s more convenient here to swim in a pool and work out in a gym, both of which do me a world of good. I think the Florida sunshine and walking in the swimming pool help Laura, as well.
For us, 80 F is much better than 30, or even 50.
It’s also a social thing
Something else in our Florida life is important, I think: social activities and a sense of community.
In Florida we live in a community of interesting people, most of whom are retired from interesting jobs, and that leads to interesting conversations. I’m not a socializer by nature, but there seems to be something about this place that encourages me to chat, or even to start a conversation.
There are activities, too. It may sound like a cliché for old people, like Laura and me, but things like bingo, trivia, and Saturday morning breakfasts in the clubhouse keep me engaged several times a week. It doesn’t hurt that the breakfasts include mimosas or bloody Marys and that a bottle of wine is never out of place at the evening games and cookouts.
Maybe something else works the MS magic
Who knows? Maybe it’s not the sun or the temperature, nor the exercise, conversations, or fun and games. Maybe I feel better just because I’m more comfortable in my Florida bed.
MS treats each of us differently. Some of the things that make me feel better may not work for someone else with this illness. All I can do is go with my flow, and my flow leads me to the Sunshine State.
[Have you taken a look at my little book? It answers a lot of questions about MS that I see asked here on social media.)
(A version of this post first appeared as my column on the MS News Today website.)
