Today I had a phone call from a neuro councillor. Apparently my ms nurse referred me to the service as I am too positive about my ppms and I am always cheerful! I’ve now got to have six counselling sessions to explore why I am positive and cheerful! I asked why this is a negative thing and she said that’s something we can explore during the sessions.
Does anyone else have a positive outlook despite having a ms diagnosis or is it just me?!
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Hi Louisej
I was diagnosed with PPMS almost 5 years ago and have always been really positive - doing as much as I can and not worrying about what I can no longer do. No one’s told me I’m too positive and in fact my MS nurse thinks it’s great. Keep smiling and keep enjoying life.
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Too positive, is there such a thing? You are not text book is probably what they mean and are now a case study.
No doubt your nurse is acting with the best of intentions, but it still sounds like a solution in search of a problem.
I am the same positive person today, as I was before PPMS, just with a few bits that don’t work terribly well.
Being positive is far better than the alternative.
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Only thought is if your nurse thinks you haven’t accepted the diagnosis .
If you have accepted it and decided to get on with your life as best as you can then it is probably healthy and you will do a lot better than saying woe is me.
If you are in the U.K. there are very few resources for psychological treatment . Maybe go along with an open mind?
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What utter bollocks! A positive mental attitude is a hard won state of affairs.
Without being delusional it IS possible to train your mind to look forward and not back and concentrate on the possible and not dwell on the no-longer-possible.
I’m still “me”, as me is my consciousness. I control my environment by being on top in my mind, the body can be more incidental though the pain & stiffness can be a nuisance. That said, I don’t know if I’d feel the same if my mind started to go. Had a flavour of this in the 3 days of mega-heat this week as my brain and mobility were both significantly affected.
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Well, I guess they just want to be sure it isn’t a fake positive reaction I might be wrong though. Personally, I almost laughed when I got diagnosed with RMMS at 21. I didn’t find it funny it was either I laugh or cry. You’re lucky they want to look out for your mental health. I wish I was offered counselling (impossible since it was right before the Covid pandemic hit) but I still struggle with my diagnosis at times which is normal, I guess. I’m glad you have taken it so well and continue to do so.
Hi LOuise, wow that’s novel!
I’ve just had a call to offer me a 2nd botox treatment for a spasming arm, which i have declined.
My arm no longer spasms so I dont wish to take up valuable resources, which I dont feel the need for.
You could decline the treatment if you feel it unnecessary.
Great to hear and other PPMSers are doing ok. I have PPMS too and feel I manage it well most of the time…that’s because I have Jesus in my corner.
Boudsx
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Hi Louise i am astonished you’ve been told you’re too positive. I thank my positivity for keeping me as well as i can be. Keep up the good work
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What a horrible thing for that nurse to do! Unless you’re showing signs of not acknowledging your illness (which I’m not seeing here), she should be glad that you’re not all gloomy and depressed.
If it was me, I’d go to the counseling sessions, and then when they were all done, I’d ask for a notice in writing that I’m perfectly sane and mentally healthy, and then I’d report that nurse clear up the food chain. I’m an American, though, and we like to sue people. 
To actually answer your question, yes, I’m nearly always positive. It took me a long time to get a diagnosis, so there was a great sense of relief after that. I love my life! Few people get to live one that’s all sunshine and roses, and I’m okay with the hand I’ve been dealt.
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So I really try and stay positive and most of the time I am, sometimes and its very rare I get bloody fed up of all the pain, lack of mobility and the fatigue GRrrr, but stay positive I will, I also like to look after myself, I always tried to look nice before MS and took pride in my appearance and did a lot of exercise to stay slim and fit, sadly I can’t do the exercise thing anymore, but I still take prie in my appearance and up to a point watch what I eat, my view is just because I’ve got MS doesn’t mean I have to let myself go and doing the things I do keeps my spirits up.
Jean
Maybe the MS nurse thinks your positivity is fake or a mask. In which case a counsellor might help. I prefer to be positive and try to enjoy the good bits and learn from the bad bits. I did learn that anger and too much negativity is very energy sapping and I don’t have enough to waste.
All the best
Mick
Thank you everyone for you replies. I’ve been a primary school teacher for 24 years so I’m naturally a positive cheerful person anyway! I’m pretty sure I have accepted my diagnosis. I live one day at a time and celebrate things that have gone well for me and think ‘tomorrow is another day’ if anything hasn’t gone well.
I shall go along to the counselling sessions with an open mind and if I learn something new then that’s another positive!
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In fairness, I spent ages feeling super positive about it. Not letting it phase me etc
Recently I’ve taken an absolute crash. Debilitatingly so, so might be worth exploring before you get to that point
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Spot-on, GCCK. Your opening sentence sums it up perfectly.
Ta! 
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Hi Jean, brilliant response!
I had botox in my bladder yesterday at HRI. I have a GA, cos unlike you, I’m a scardy cat. LOL !
But really I know you have a local cos you dont react well with a GA, eh?
It went well, but I had a headache last night and this morning my eyelids were hurting! Wonder if they did try eyelid cosmetic surgery, but I dont look any younger today!
I still like to make an effort with my appearance too…although I am still fat!
Keep the faith!
love Boudsxx
Now, that is a very good point, and what has happened to you is probably the risk that the nurse is trying to manage in the OP’s case.
Thank you for sharing your experience at what sounds like a tricky and difficult time for you. I hope that you recover your balance soon.
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I am with GCCK!