Multiple Sclerosis Expert Jake Crest shares Multiple Sclerosis management news and commentary at MultipleSclerosisCentral.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808 http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808 http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/37599/olympic Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:20:00 -0400 Jake Crest Mandy and I were sitting in front of our TV tonight watching the Beijing Olympics. We watched in utter amazement as young men and women, with seemingly little effort, lifted themselves off the ground and up into the air where they became whirling human tops. The only thing on the screen still stationary was the gymnastic equipment upon which those kids performed.Still watching, I said to my wife, “You know, I wonder what it must feel like... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/37599/olympic http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/35416/happy Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:30:00 -0400 Jake Crest I write from a caregivers perspective. I write about what it's like being a caregiver, about lessons learned, sacrifices made, insights gained, and more. But events of this past weekend served to reinforce a simple truth-- we are all either caregivers current or caregivers in waiting.This weekend Mandy and I traveled some hours to visit the home of my mother who is going to celebrate her 80th birthday this week. There was a big family party... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/35416/happy http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/33987/shift Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:48:00 -0400 Jake Crest The night was winding down, as were we. I was in the kitchen leaning against the counter. I was waiting-- listening for the popcorn that I had just put in a pot on the stove to start popping. Suddenly Mandy came into the kitchen, took something out of the fridge, and then walked past me and into the living room.The caregiver in me woke. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed that little ‘hitch’ in Mandy’s walk. Ninety-nine out... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/33987/shift http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/32407/staying Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:34:00 -0400 Jake Crest “What do you mean ‘You can’t see.’!?,” I asked. We were speeding north through Maryland on Interstate 81 heading to NJ for a family weekend. Mandy was a little quiet and, when I glanced over, I saw real fear on her face. In a slightly panicked voice, she said that for the past 15 minutes she had strange wavy lines coming in and out of her field of vision. They had started appearing towards the peripheral areas. Now... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/32407/staying http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/30740/hard Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:14:00 -0400 Jake Crest Face it, after you’ve been a caregiver for a while, you find it almost second nature to keep one eye on the person in your charge. But when that person has relapsing-remitting MS, as does my wife, there are times when the remitting part overtakes the relapsing part. That’s right -- there are times when the other person just... feels good.That doesn’t sound like much of a problem, does it? Well, it’s not -- unless... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/30740/hard http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/29539/human Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:31:00 -0400 Jake Crest When you’re an able-bodied person traveling with a handicapped person, situations arise that afford you a glimpse of life from an unfamiliar vantage point. Not too many years ago, while she was in the middle of an MS exacerbation that forced the use of a cane, Mandy and I found ourselves in London on a business trip. During our trip, short walks were OK, but anything longer than 15 minutes or so without a rest would cause Mandy great... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/29539/human http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/28183/mirror Mon, 19 May 2008 10:24:00 -0400 Jake Crest Last post I spoke about how when my wife, Mandy, succumbs to fatigue so common among MS sufferers, that we figuratively say goodbye to each other, knowing that MS is going to once again steal from us that which is most precious... our time together. Yesterday was such a day, but MS played no part . This time it was a migraine brought on from a stiff neck; a remnant of our recent flight to the midwest for one of our children’s college... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/28183/mirror http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/26941/sleep Mon, 05 May 2008 10:47:00 -0400 Jake Crest I live with two women. There’s my wife, Mandy, the woman that I first came to know – strong, confident, and independent. Then there’s the other Mandy, the one that makes an appearance now and then, uninvited, and proceeds to toss strong, confident Mandy out the door without so much as a ‘nice t’see ya.’Chronic diseases do that to people. While none of us act exactly the same day in and day out, those who... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/26941/sleep http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/25638/world Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:39:50 -0400 Jake Crest Do you remember being a child, always in a hurry to get to nowhere? I do – I remember how my father would yell at me to ... “SLOW DOWN.” Then would come the lecture about how my moving too fast without thinking would someday be the death of me. As I grew older, my penchant for reacting to events without thinking through the consequences did not, despite repeated admonitions, cause me to slow down. Until, that is, fate... kind... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/25638/world http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/24471/oh-i Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:32:00 -0400 Jake Crest Caregiver. Maybe you need one. Maybe you are one. This blog is written from the perspective of someone who found himself in the position of making a choice to become a caregiver. It’s to the other caregivers out there to whom I am writing. The rest of you are encouraged to stick around though. It will be worth your while.You’ll note that when talking about being a caregiver, I said that I chose to become one. That’s because... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/95808/24471/oh-i