Living with MS means having battle drills to react to situations
You may not have time for a perfect plan, but you'll have to 'do something'
Written by |
Not long ago, while the family was all together in the car, a squirrel ran into the road in front of us. It froze for a couple seconds, then darted one way, and then another, before finally choosing a direction. Fortunately, it turned out to be the right direction.
Watching it, I was reminded of a mentor in the Army who told me that a particular moment in a training exercise was not the time to go through a deliberate planning process. As I recall, his exact words were, “You don’t have time to come up with the perfect plan. Do something! Even if it’s wrong, do something!”
I always liked making a detailed plan, as well as having a backup plan, and another backup for that one, which is good because the Army taught and encouraged it. But the Army also emphasized the need for immediate action when it wasn’t safe or practical to form a plan. As a result, they made us practice what were called battle drills so that if something occurred, we could react to it immediately.
A different battle with MS
When I retired a decade ago, I thought those days were far behind me, but multiple sclerosis (MS) had other plans. The battle might be different, but there are still immediate action drills that I have to be ready to initiate at a moment’s notice. A life with MS does necessitate plenty of detailed planning, complete with lots of redundancy, but there are plenty of times when there’s no time for that and I have to “do something!”
For example, once upon a time, I practiced things like, “react to ambush” or “react to indirect fire,” but now I “react to full bladder.” Being wheelchair-dependent probably adds an extra step or two for me, but a large number of us with MS experience bladder issues. Mine may not quite be the same as someone else’s, but not having the luxury of holding it until I’m good and ready, or finding a bathroom that I like, seems to be a universal problem. I actually have three distinct reaction drills: one for at home, which can vary depending on if we have guests; one for the car; and one for when I’m out in public.
Any mobility aid, or mobility difficulty, necessitates having a reaction drill in place. I might have to “react to stuck wheelchair,” but when I used a rollator or cane, or walked with an unassisted limp, I had to be ready to react to a sudden loss of balance. Waiting until I was in the act of falling before I came up with a course of action was not a very good option.
I may not drive a vehicle anymore, but I bet everyone around me is glad that I have a rehearsed drill for “react to double vision” when I’m driving my wheelchair in the vicinity of their feet or shins. Since it also plays a significant role in my wheelchair driving ability, I have one for “react to extreme fatigue” as well. Fatigue seems like something a person would never have to react immediately to, but MS often requires it.
Unfortunately, my battle drills seem to change monthly, and while they may be small, they’re enough to make it impossible to operate from a manual like we had in the Army.
Do you have battle drills? Please share them in the comments below. If you don’t have any, you may need to come up with some sooner rather than later.
Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.
Leave a comment
Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published.