Patrick’s Blog
I’m Patrick and I run this website. This is a rambling series of articles based around my life disabled with multiple sclerosis (M)S & how I cope. It became so big that I have had to break it down into small groups which you will see on the right hand side.
I am an optimist and like to see the happier side of life. I hope this comes through in these articles on my life with MSNo one likes a person who does not smile
My own cannabis experiment
I’ve had MS since 1972 and it has had a huge impact on life. It now affects me in every which way. The wonderful NHS prescribes drugs that will ease my symptoms so every day I have to take a cocktail of pills. Time to look at other solutions. I decided to do my own cannabis experiment. […]
I forget what I was going to tell you
I’ve had too many ideas on blogs to write over the last few months. Some frustrations, some positive experiences and even some actual thoughts. But when I start to write a blog there is a crisis that needs my full attention then I forget what I was going to tell you. I’m ten Recently this […]
What has happened to my energy?
What has happened to my energy? Back in the day, I had so much get up and go. I had a 9 – 5 job, 3 young children, a garden to look after and numerous other responsibilities. From about 2005 the wheels began to come off the car. I gradually had less energy to fit […]
A UTI with advanced multiple sclerosis is no fun
It crept up on me very slowly, just think of a lion stalking its prey. Initially, I was blissfully unaware that I had an infection. Looking back with the benefit of hindsight I can see how I slowly deteriorated followed by a slow recovery. A urinary tract infection or UTI with advanced multiple sclerosis is […]
My interview on Tring Today – Friday 18 February
Bored on Friday 18th at lunch time? Why not tune into Tring radio on Friday between 12 and 1 and listen to my interview as a guest on Tring Today. Tring Radio is a local community radio station run entirely by volunteers. Two people started the station two years ago at the start of the […]
Shopping in a wheelchair is a challenge
If you find walking easy then I am going to issue a challenge, go shopping in a wheelchair. Before you leave don’t forget to tie your legs together. You must go out on your own and don’t forget a shopping list or shopping bag. You will need some cash, credit cards and your mobile phone. […]
Understand MS fatigue, logic can fly out of the window
For many people fatigue is an unenviable part of multiple sclerosis, its severity varies from person to person. People do not truly understand MS fatigue unless they suffer from it. The cause of this hidden disability is not properly understood. Worse still, too many people do not appreciate that fatigue is a chronic hidden disability. […]
Something vaguely interesting, dining across the divide
Its July, the middle of a dreadful summer and I’ve got nothing to do so I‘m surfing the internet. I find something vaguely interesting, The Guardian are offering a chance to have a discussion with someone who holds opposing views. A free meal is thrown in. I answer the questions on my views, submit my […]
I attempt a stupid walking challenge, only 100 Km
Earlier this year I tried a stupid walking challenge, only a mere 100 Km over 10 months. I have used an FES for over six years, it helps my walking. A year ago I completed a one hour walk. At the end I was exhausted but it was deeply satisfying especially as I raised over […]
Would a spiky ball foot massage help me with my balance?
I was toppling onto the floor far too often and I could see a wheelchair hovering over me 🙁 So, I arranged to see a physiotherapist at the Chilterns MS Therapy centre. At the start of every appointment the physiotherapist massaged my feet and ankles with a spiky ball to improve my balance. Would a […]
Medical retirement sounds relaxing until it happens
Imagine I’m 10 years younger, a mere 56 but still with advanced MS. Faced with the prospect of returning to the office or still working from home then the idea of early retirement is exciting. The children have flown the nest and grandchildren are imminent. Would a city break in Europe suit me and The […]
Now I’m comfortable in my skin
Multiple sclerosis affects everyone differently. My life was busy with work, family and a tiny wee bit of MS until medical retirement arrived. My MS started in 1972 but it was not diagnosed until 1996 with RRMS. MS made no impact on my life even after diagnosis, the relapses were very sporadic and disappeared as […]
Broken skin: my Functional Electrical Stimulation story
MS affects my left leg and I have been using an FES since late 2014. For the previous 10 years I had used a Musmate a simple mechanical device that is a walking aid for foot-drop. My foot-drop and leg-drop mean that I cannot walk unaided and I walk very slowly. My Functional Electrical Stimulation […]
The curious incident of the missing disability ramp
I often travel by train on London NorthWestern Railway, I ride The Tike to my local station, flash my disabled person’s travel card, and buy a ticket. The staff check which train I am catching and my destination. When the train arrives at the station a member of the staff puts up disability ramp up […]
Dog chews the internet cable
Stress happens when there is an excess of emotional or mental pressure. Something totally unexpected happens and the body does not know what to do. The flight or fight reaction creates a conflict which leads to stress. Dog chews the internet cable taking my stress levels to a new high. The Lunchbox show Every Thursday […]
I have a radio show
I have a radio show with Tring radio every week. We, me and Jessie, present a magazine show, just chat and music. This Thursday 3rd June will be my 10th show live on air. I have always wanted be on the radio but never admitted that to myself. The organisers, Tim and Rachel together with […]
2021 MS Awareness Week or living with my multiple sclerosis
It’s the annual chance to make people more aware of the problems of living with multiple sclerosis. Yup, its the MS Awareness week. Multiple sclerosis is different for everyone, The handicaps, niggles and disabilities all gang up and form your own personalised version of MS. I have my own unique selection, but hey-ho things could […]
My positive attitude despite MS disability
Isn’t it great when a positive event happens, I love it. The wretched pandemic has imposed so many restrictions on everyone’s life, mine has been no exception. It’s not always easy to see when there is an opportunity that is exciting and fun. I always try to have a positive attitude despite MS disability. Gardening […]
The urgent search for hope by Patrick Burke
I always enjoy unexpected surprises. One started in early November. I was having my 18-month check-up for the MS-Stat2 drug trial with simvastatin. It’s always a pleasure going down to the MS centre at Queens Square, the staff are really friendly. Also there is an urgent search for hope for people with MS. The end […]
With MS I now move like a tortoise slow but steady
As I move forward through time, ticking off the years, multiple sclerosis has an ever growing impact upon my life. Nowadays I must always have one hand holding onto something firm and stable. The happy days of nipping upstairs or popping next door are history. Now everything must be carefully considered. I now move like […]
I’m a lucky guy Fampridine works for me
I take Fampridine and use an FES or Functional Electrical Stimulator, they both improve my quality of life. I can only walk with a rollator and it is agonisingly slow. Without them I would have to use a wheelchair. OK. my left leg is useless courtesy MS but I do have an excellent right leg. […]
Table topics competition at Toastmasters floors me
I have been a member of Toastmasters since 2012. It was September 2017 and I had entered a national competition. Either give a prepared humorous speech or talk on an unprepared subject. I had reached the second round of the unprepared speech, the table topics competition. Table Topics competition Make an impromptu unrehearsed speech on […]
Now I’m a volunteer with Tring radio
I have decided to volunteer with Tring Radio. Starting off with a little role. I had a sneaky feeling that when I completed my sponsored #Walk4onehour in September I was going to feel lost. A new challenge was required and I was right. The sponsored walk had been a wonderful success. It had concentrated my […]
Managing MS fatigue, an overwhelming inability to continue
Managing MS fatigue is a long story. As recently as 1995 I played badminton singles in the local sports centre, after just half an hour I was physically exhausted and very sweaty. I’ve now hung up my badminton racket, personally I blame multiple sclerosis,. I still suffer intense exhaustion but no sweating. Walking very slowly […]
Now I have twitchy legs at night
There are hidden joys of multiple sclerosis. Its one long story of new challenges and survival. My latest problem, twitchy legs, only surfaced recently. It’s an uncontrollable twitch, starting in a muscle but culminating with my leg definitely twitching and repeats itself again and again. For some reason the fun only starts after the sun […]
Blogger’s block or possibly bored with lock down
20-June 2020 It’s been over 3 months since we were all catapulted onto a different planet. My day-to-day existence rules change every day. You as well? Subtle changes every day. Surely me, a person disabled by multiple sclerosis, should have no problem finding topics to write on and post them on my website. Nope its […]
My exercise routine at home that ticks a lot of boxes
7 June 2020 I am proud of myself. Bit of an arrogant statement but what the hell. Every day always starts with a quick burst of aerobic activity. Enough to get my heart beating faster. Remember I’m badly disabled by multiple sclerosis, I cannot walk unaided. Is this exercise routine at home good for me? […]
Busy doing nothing, I want some variation
5 May 2020. So here we are, over six weeks into the lock down. Forty-two times one day has morphed into the next. The only variation is the weather. I am busy doing nothing. I have a garden, I can see trees and everyone is friendly so I am lucky. Sadly I am not keeping myself […]
Enjoying our garden during the lock-down
24 April 2020 Well, isn’t the weather glorious, but it looks like some rain is due any day. I’m enjoying our garden during the lock-down. In this time of chaos l am able to quietly watch it evolve. More by good luck than design there is always at least one plant flowering in the garden […]
I must ensure exercises become a routine activity
18 April 2020. The coronavirus lock down started at the end of March. Our lives were then thrown into chaos. Everyone had to find a new routine, a new rhythm and this includes me. I made a simple promise to myself. I need to take more exercise and I must ensure the exercises become a […]
Suffering from consequences of panic buying
20-March 2020. People are buying huge amounts of essential food and clearing supermarket shelves on a daily basis. I get out of bed at about 8.00. It takes me nearly an hour just to get dressed. Factor in breakfast and 90 minutes of the day is gone. At this stage of the morning some supermarkets […]
Further handicaps because of MS
I have a problem with expecting too much from myself. This in turn hurts me more than it helps me. I am always looking at my life and trying to simplify everything I do but it is harder than it seems. The biggest problem with advanced MS is how an ordinary activity is suddenly fraught […]
Chemistry in the kitchen
Cooking food is simple and easy for me plus everyone enjoys food cooked by somebody else. I have also rediscovered baking, just four or five basic ingredients and you create a cake. Incidentally I love raw cake mixture, but the cooked product is sooo much better. It was after a recent cake disaster that I […]
Disabled and can’t walk unaided, welcome to my world
The pernicious creature multiple sclerosis affects me more and more as time goes by. I do have two legs but one of them is virtually useless. My brain cannot send messages to all the muscles in my left leg. Also, my left leg does not tell my brain everything that it has done. Messages cannot […]
Discounted theatre tickets for disabled people
Almost every British theatre offers discounted tickets for disabled people. Basically the carer gets in for free. I have seen excellent productions as well as extremely good actors via this scheme. This opportunity of discounted tickets for disabled people is available all over the UK. If you can show that you are disabled then your […]
My last ten years with multiple sclerosis
In the last last ten years I have changed from a man in full-time employment to a man with very visible, full-on, multiple sclerosis. Until 2011 my multiple sclerosis was affecting me physically but my thinking and problem-solving skills were still good. Employment was always somewhere in Europe as a contract computer analyst programmer or […]
