Multiple sclerosis can turn a fun hobby into a dreaded chore
When activities that were once enjoyable become too much to deal with
About a decade ago, I got caught up in the home brewing craze. I don’t know that I qualified as crazed, but I had a lot of fun with it and felt that since it was probably encoded somewhere in my Hofmeister DNA, I should at least try it. One attempt went badly, but on the whole, I was pretty good at brewing beer. People weren’t lined up to buy it, of course, but that’s OK, because I wasn’t planning to sell it anyway.
It’s flattering when people sample the results of your work and ask if you’ve ever thought about marketing it. I’ll admit that I did mull it over, but I never got past that. It wasn’t because I didn’t think my creations were good enough to one day appear on a store shelf, but rather that I didn’t want a fun hobby to turn into a stressful job.
I haven’t brewed beer in years, because the disabilities in my upper and lower limbs make it almost impossible to do so. Unfortunately, multiple sclerosis (MS) turned what was once an enjoyable activity into a chore. It’s done that with quite a few things in my life.
Take the various vehicles in my driveway, for example. I used to really enjoy tinkering with them. I’m much too particular about the cleanliness of my hands to be a mechanic, but I was proud of what I could do. Now, thanks to problems with dexterity, my tools sit in the garage unused, mocking me. I doubt I could securely hold a wrench now, but even if I could, MS would make working on cars too difficult to enjoy.
In addition to assembling mechanical things, I also used to enjoy preparing meals. I appreciated the ceremony of enjoying excellent food with good company. I’m thankful that MS hasn’t taken the good company from me, but I’m at the point where the only thing I can make is a sandwich that’s not very aesthetically pleasing. Fortunately, my three kids like being in the kitchen, so they don’t mind being coached by their father. I still get to have my hands involved, so to speak.
I’ve written before about how much I miss my singing voice. I wasn’t destined to be on stage or anything, but I could carry a tune and liked the sound of my voice. Singing probably doesn’t qualify as a hobby, but I still feel like MS turned it into a chore. Because my vocal cords and the muscles associated with breathing are weak, I don’t care to hear my weak and raspy voice anymore.
This is the point where some might say that victory is much sweeter when you’ve had to work hard to achieve it. For me, any feelings of accomplishment are extinguished by exhaustion. It just doesn’t feel the same when you have to ask for help.
I also used to spend a lot of time outdoors hiking, canoeing, camping, and fishing. I can’t do any of that without help now, thanks to MS. Requiring assistance to do things I used to be able to do is a constant reminder of my diminished abilities.
MS has turned many enjoyable hobbies into unpleasant chores. If you have MS, I imagine you can think of plenty of similar examples in your own life.
Thanks to technology, MS hasn’t been able to take the joy out of writing this column, though. I’m grateful for the therapy I get from writing it and from interacting with my readers in the comments section below and at the MS News Today Forums. Drop me a line!
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.
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