When You Have Multiple Sclerosis, Let Assistive Devices Assist You

Original Source

MS News Today. This article is reposted with permission from MS News Today.

How Voice-to-Text Software Will Enable This Columnist to Keep Writing

Aside from a few unpleasant moments, I enjoyed my time as a medic in the U.S. military — so much so that when I began to slow down noticeably, I decided to continue in that field by applying to become a physician assistant (PA). I initially wanted to apply to the Army’s program, but when it was discovered that it was multiple sclerosis (MS) slowing me down, that was no longer an option. Undaunted, I started the application process to several civilian programs while I was being retired.

At the time, I had steadily increasing mobility issues, but few symptoms anywhere else. I reasoned with myself that I could still be a good PA with a cane, or even from a wheelchair if it came to that. Functional legs didn’t matter as long as MS left my hands, eyes, and cognition alone.

Of course, MS didn’t leave any of those alone, so PA school was completely off the table. When brain fog hits, it’s like trying to think through Jell-O. My eyes see double (known as diplopia), and I have extreme difficulty focusing when I become fatigued. My dominant hand spends most of its time as a loose fist, and I’m down to about 30% function in my other.

As you might imagine, all of these make typing slow and difficult. What I once did adeptly with all of my digits is currently done letter by letter, with one finger. In fact, I think this column will be the last I write this way. From here on, I’ll be relying on voice-to-text software to put my thoughts on “paper.”

I’ve been practicing with this software, and it’s easier, smoother, and much faster than my current method. There’s a bit of a learning curve, though; voice-to-text apparently wasn’t made for musing or rambling. The finished product is full of extra periods where I paused too long, and it turns out that I say “um” and “you know” a lot. Regardless, a few minutes of fixes are much easier than hours of single-finger typing.

Better Late Than Never

I should’ve started using this technology a year ago at least, but I was slow to adopt it. I guess it felt as though I were surrendering another part of me to multiple sclerosis. Actually, it felt like someone else was making the decision to surrender for me. I just felt that I was losing another ability because I wasn’t fighting hard enough to keep it. MS takes, and it often makes me feel like I’m running out of things to give.

Fortunately, I have dear friends who reminded me of my own words when it came to assistive devices. I often ignore my own advice, as I’m reluctant to listen to the person responsible for all of my bad decisions, but he gets it right sometimes. I apparently once said that canes, rollators, wheelchairs, weighted utensils, grabbers, etc., are just tools available to keep me involved in my own life. As I have no intention of stopping writing, I think I’ll add another tool to the box.

Refusing to use the means to keep going would really be surrendering, and I’m not ready to raise the white flag yet.