Derek M. Cole talks about his upcoming Ocrevus infusion for MS, his concerns about recovery timing after COVID, and recent progress with walking and exercise. He thanks listeners for support and invites messages on social media.
Chapters
Foreign. Night. Me and the Vegas the cat are sitting here on the couch and just thinking about everything. Tuesday is my. My next infusion for my Ms. Been through quite a few of them, so I'm not too worried about it. Not to say there's no worry whatsoever, but I would say I'm not too worried about it. I'm more worried about the aftermath and the recovery. Last year, around this time when I got it, I got a little earlier than this, but last year, this time I got Covid. So, you know, that's in the back of my mind, my mind a little bit. So I try to stay away from a lot of people within the weeks of, you know, the treatment. But I'm excited. I'm ready for the next treatment. It's going to be, you know, a couple days after of it's gonna be difficult. I think last time, to me, probably three days to recover from takes that they are telling the truth when they say it takes a lot out of you. Even though you're just, you know, sitting there getting the infusion, your body is working pretty hard. So I take. I take it seriously now that. Because I've. I've done, you know, medications before and I said, you have this or this kind of side effect. And I've been blessed, not have too many side effects, but this one, Okravas has worked fantastic for me, but does not be down for a couple days after the infusion. I've been walking the last few weeks. I've been walking about almost every day. I kind of committed to myself, you know, two or three times a week. And I just. The more I've walked, the better my heart rate has become, the better my leg endurance and stamina has come. So, I mean, that's why I keep doing this, because I keep getting better, keep feeling better. So I feel like I need to, you know, I can go out there and. And walk, walk a few miles. I did three miles is the test earlier this week, and I will be sticking to two miles for a while. Three miles was a little much, but I did it anyway. But I'm going to be sticking to two piles until. Till I get that down to a decent time. And I feel like I can keep stretching it a little bit, but it's been something. I mean, it's been warm. I've been walking quite a bit because it's been so nice outside. I mean, I kind of hate to. To waste the opportunities of a beautiful afternoon or, you know, if we've had temperatures in, you know, the mid-70s and 80s and crazy, crazy stuff for February. But I've been taking advantage of it and going there and walking so that's, that's helped keep the pace up a little bit. It's not been cold and rainy and snowy and bad weather and it's been, it's been beautiful. So the beautiful weather has helped me stay outside and, and, and keep walking. So that's good. Vegas. What are you doing, man? Hey. He's grunting, making all kind of noises and now he's staring at me. Anyway, just want to jump on real quick, say hello. It's not really a, a formal episode, I guess you would say it's just more of a chicken in saying high and might just put bones on this one. Might leave it like episode number. But anyway, everything is good. Feel good going into the infusion, drink some, drinking some liquids, make sure my veins are nice and hydrated and, and ready to go and ready to do this. And Okravis has been, has been great. They've helped me with the co payment and the payment and the insurance have been great and we've been blessed and everything has been great. The medications worked very well. I feel better. Not quite as foggy as I was. I still have ms, but at least I'm not, you know, dealing with the. Too much of the brain fog. And it's been, it's been really good. And like I said, my leg with the walking has helped. I will keep trying to do that and do it when I can do it. And I've learned a couple years ago not to, not to push, I mean push, push a little bit, but not to push that much because I will pay for it later. So keep working on that. Hope all is good with you. Hit me up on dm. Derek M. Cole. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook. Let me know what you think. Let me know how you're doing. Let me know what's going on with you. I'm always, I'm always amazed to hear folks are listening to the podcast or watching YouTube videos. It comes from a place being of being grateful. I mean you're giving me your time to listen to my thoughts, whether it be life or home, whatever it is. Taking time to listen. So thank you for that.
