My father developed MS before there were any effective treatments - mid 1950s. Never lost use of his hands, bladder or bowels. Hang in there. He had a full and fulfilling life. Lived into his late 60s. Only treatment was physical therapy and aspirin.
by about the half way point of this video i wanted to shut it off becuase it was making me very emotional. over a guy i watch play the bass on youtube who ive never met. it was really hard for me to get through. yet i have not been that riveted to a video on any topic in a very, very long time. you ought to do some acting or just read voice overs. you have a way of getting your point across on any topic that always keeps me listening very closely. you are an inspiration to know you are getting so much done but youve been secretly (to me) fighting something huge this whole time and i had no idea. ill remember that next time i feel beat down at work, or tired of im being a whiny baby. that there is a guy out there who is sick and fighting through it and is very productive and going through stuff that even on my worst day probably cant approach. i got your back brother. im sure this video will be very, very helpful to someone who was just diagnosed, in a way that i cannot appreciate. you continue to do the lords work. what you feed, grows. im going to remember that one.
Hi there and happy new year ! You have more issues to take care and worry about than only figure out your bass lines. I have seen few of your videos and noticed at first look that this guy has a special way to devote to his teaching. I like it and it's goof for me. I've been teaching some 50 y now. I think you have a good blend of new and traditional lectures going hand in hand. What comes to your illness, I'm suprised that you got strength to manage it and still share it with the others. Good heart you have. I wish you love and power ever more. Thanks for your tips for good bass playing. Take care !
God bless you! And thank you for sharing your journey. I lost a dear friend this past year to MS. I had no idea what she was going through. I pray for your continued success. I love what you bring to our musical community, and your concise descriptions of the music we love. I'm a bassist for 53 years, and we have some stories to swap. Stay strong, my friend.
@@pdbass Hi my friend. As a Bass player of 56 years I enjoy your videos. I had no idea that you have MS. I can fully understand how you fear the possible progression of this illness and the fact that it might make playing more difficult. I've lived with a wife (Marian) who was diagnosed with MS. ( in 1969) before we married and so I've seen the loss of dexterity that has crept up on her over these years. If it is of any encouragement to you, there are many differing types of this illness. Hopefully you're in the mild level . I love your determination to keep playing as the movement of your hands will keep your arms strong and nimble. I believe that playing bass is the "solid rock" of any band and lifts me when I get a bit down in mood. Keep at it bro. I've got your back . John.
My Dad was diagnosed with MS when he was 14 ...13 years before I was born, completely ruined his life, completely ruined my mental health, and it profoundly effected my life. He passed last year at 71, MS doesn't just effect those with the disease, it get's their family too.
"Feed the good stuff... and don't ever quit." AMEN! Thanks for sharing your story and being an awesome inspiration in life as well as bass. Peace and Love to you.
It didn't feel right to click the "like" button on this because I definitely don't "like" that you or anyone have to experience this disease, but thank you for sharing your story so eloquently, and for not ever quitting! I love your bass videos and have learned a lot from them.
I cannot believe 17 years have passed since your diagnosis. We will also never forget that day. ❤️ and then the fantastic day we got the awesome news “NO MORE NEEDLES!” We love you so much Paul/Uncle Paul! You are truly inspiring. And I love what your therapist said. I’m going to hang on to that one. 😘
"Keep playing music until I can't play anymore, and have as much fun as I possibly can while I'm doing it, and I'm not gonna quit." Amen to that, brother. 🙏🏼
The best part about having ms is being diagnosed in my opinion possibly the best day of my life. I had an answer... I lived with the symptoms for 12 years thinking that everyone must just go through this
I could not tell you had MS. I reacted emotionally to what you said because I had sciatica several years ago and I started to think my life was over. I'm glad you've got, at least, a partial solution.
I'm a musician and my partner has MS, so I'm relating to everything you're sharing here. Our biggest lesson from MS has been not just to seize the day, but seize the good moments, because we may not get an entire good day. Thank you for being strong, for sharing, and for being you. ~ Your newest subscriber
Wow. My wife has MS. Non progressive, relapsing-remitting so far. Here in the netherlands the neurologist told her not to take meds but focus on food and excercise mainly, ofcourse checked up by an scan every year or so. At least, that's the choice she has got. Your symptoms sound oh so familiar. The outside temp, drinking or eating to late can throw her off ballance too. The fact that you still are able to play your basses so wonderful and express joy and happiness in your videos is both a positive sign and worth a big compliment to you! Wish you all the health and best and appreciate your closing line even more now: take care of yourself and please love tour neighbour. Love to you and yours from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. And forgive my last remark. You somehow remind me so much of Al Jarreau, in your facial expressions and your use of your vocals. It is a joy.
Hi K. May I ask you what kind of diet is your wife on? I'm about the find my diagnose hopefully soon but sadly I'm ticking almost all the boxes for ms now. If you could let me know what your wife eats and supplements she takes, it would be very helpful. All the best to you both
@@pavlinajirankova7382 Hope you are okay? 6 out of 7 days we eat vegetarian, lots of veggies, less carbs and glutes in general. More nuts and seeds. Supplements wise, not a specific thing, just plantbased vitamins, especially vitamin B12. She is doing good!
@@kcameo1 Thank you for your tips. I'm doing better. Started to do lots of yoga, weight lifting and bit of meditation. All seems to help but also read stories of some people who managed to rid of ms through fixing eating/digestive issues and changes in lifestyle.
Good for your Dr not pushing the meds and encouraging diet and activity. I don't want to start treatment, I also don't want to be miserable. God bless your wife
Don't know what to say dude, other than that's one of the most powerful, and brave moments I ever had watching a video. Yet somehow made me feel proud. Your articulate commentary caused me to pause and reflect on what a gift life is and shouldn't be taken for granted in anyway. Thanks for sharing, and good luck with your fight.
Finding the words to comment on this vid is difficult, this is how impactful it was. I love the example you are setting by harnessing your positive mental, physical, and creative energies to keep kicking the effects of MS as far down the road as possible. Very inspiring. Peace.
Hi Paul, thanks for sharing this. I have autoimmune diseases. Mine are psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. My life may well be shortened by the effects. But at the moment I’m on a form of medication that really sorts me out. It’s given me my life back. I love you and your work. So I’m sending that love ‘vibes wise’! I hope you keep well, and I hope medicine can help you fight this condition. The psychological effects of my autoimmune system diseases were ultimately as powerfully debilitating as the physical stuff. I was very very VERY depressed, for some time. Years. Bad times. I still have a lot of issues: heat issues (like you), appalling headaches (ditto). I take fortnightly injections. I get very fatigued, and yet my sleep patterns are often pretty screwed up. But now I’m happy. Very happy. Partly cause my meds work so well. Partly cause I have a lovely wife (like you!). Anyway, big love to you from us in the UK. Keep well. Keep on keeping on, brother.
Thank you so much for sharing. I love your channel. I've had MS since 2004, got diagnosed in 2010. It wrecked me pretty bad. After diagnosis I started to exercise and build myself back up. I borrowed a bass guitar from a friend to get dexterity back in my fingers. I've been in love with the bass since. Bless you and thank you. Keep fighting brother!
“I’m not going to wait for it”… my favorite take-away from your story. I was diagnosed with end stage liver disease from hepatitis in 2005. It has caused other issues over the years. But that’s been a lot of years. Several self produced albums, 2 children with my loving wife, and a lot of living. Like your story, it wasn’t easy to come to terms with, but once I did, I realized I still had a bunch of living left to do. So long-term chronic illness means you might have to re-think or re-plan things once in a while, but you never give them up. Your story makes me remember how lucky I still really am. Thanks for sharing!
My wife was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in 2005. Thankfully it hasn’t affected her speech or cognitive skills, but she’s been through multiple neurologists who’ve given her conflicting information. I wish someone had told her to exercise back then. Now she can barely walk and spends most of her time in bed. Keep going brother, I’m going to show her this video. ❤️
@@pdbass thank you for your reply and encouragement. Love your channel, I play keys & bass and write music for sync licensing. We’re about the same age as you, my wife & I also have faith this will be resolved in our lifetime. All the best to you!
It is easy enough to say exercise. But I have an undiagnosed condition, that mimics MS in many ways. As well as fibromyalgia. 2yrs ago, MS symptoms started appearing in my life, and I am yet to get a diagnosis. My biggest issue is I cannot exercise. I used to be fit and strong. Now I can’t even do body weight exercises, the reason is not strength, I have strength, the issue is, my symptoms get 100x worse when I exercise. I exercise still, very gently, but literally everything, no matter how gentle, causes my symptoms to flare, and remain flared for weeks. Unless I do literally nothing (I can’t even do gentle yoga more than once a week, without having symptoms flare) I have extreme nerve issues in my arms and legs. I want to exercise, I miss exercise. I used to run and walk huge hills, I used to hike, I used to bike, I used to lift. I can’t do any of it anymore.
Sending all the love your way, brother. You’re videos always inspire and now I feel like I understand a little more about your drive. I count you among my heroes and I don’t even play bass.
Your openness with your condition and treatment is very inspiring. I just discovered your channel today and I hesitated to click in this particular video because I am dealing with my own health ordeals. I watched anyway and I am glad I did. Your strength and honesty were a gift. Sending love and positive thoughts your way.
You are an inspiration to us all. I started following your channel for the bass wisdom, and now I also follow your channel for the life wisdom as well. As your therapist said, “what you feed grows”, and I have a feeling your channel will grow huge as you continue to share your wisdom and knowledge. Thank you for being a beacon of light to others
Thank you for all that you do and represent for the music and MS community. Truly you are an inspiration and I will share your life story with my daughter who was diagnosed at age 12 (now 26) and wife who was diagnosed in 2017 at age 51. God bless you. Respectfully...James
Thank you for sharing. My mother was diagnosed with MS in the early 80's. It slowed her down, but never stopped her, and she lived a pretty full life... and that was before alot of modern testing and treatments.
I watched your "The Nightfly" video just last night, and came across this video about ten minutes ago. Prayers, positivity and mad respect from a Jersey bass player. "What you feed, grows." I'll remember that for the rest of my life. It'll probably be as important as any note I'll ever play.
My wife have an autoimmune disease called Traverse Myelitis like a form of MS which came late in our marriage as she turned 38 (Her birthday is March 15th btw) but she had weird symptoms for a couple years before no doctors could figure out. A life changing event for us. She gets infusions every 6 months to keep things stable. Just want to say stay strong as you are and much respect to your wife. I had to take care of my wife through paralysis twice and I know how challenging it is. One love!
Paul, you have said everything my wife has told me for the past 5 years. She doesn't have MS, but Psoriatic Arthritis, which is a similar and rare autoimmune condition, Her story is SO similar to yours. I HEAR you, my friend. I watch it, I see it every day, and my wife amazes me how she copes, and now you do as well. The fog, the fatigue, the loss of coorindation, the pain, I see it ebb an flow every day, and all I can say is that I wish you well, I wish you love, I wish you to cope and thrive. My wife tries t hide it, but I see it, I don't understand it, but hearing you, a great communicator, say it in your words, it helps me understand. I got friends with MS. I worked with a bloke in the early 90s, his dad was electric wheelchair bound due to the lack of treatment and how far his condition had gone untreated. I'm glad you are getting great treatment, and you are a man who deserves a good long life behind those 4 heavy strings! Man, my brother found you online (where in Australia BTW), he's an old school Vinyl DJ, and he found your clips breaking down famous funk basslines (he's a big Hip Hop Record Collector and we've always loved seeking the sources) , and put me straight onto you, I have a little more musical training in theory, but we both love great music, both love a groove and have a broad taste, and I say from us both, you're channel is a GIFT! You are truly giving it all, and we say thank you. It took me a long time to learn that being a sharing musician is better than a jealous and guarded one - you embody the ultimate generosity of the teacher and bandmate that we all should aspire to be. We are all learning, whatever level and skill. You live, live with it, and I hope to live with you, many miles away, listening to your lessons, as they enrich my life, my playing and my musicianship. A true gift, from a faraway and unknown friend. Regards, Andrew
Thank you for sharing this, I have health issues similar to yourself but have not had a definitive diagnosis, hearing from others with health issues like this is vital to keep us moving forward and help us all to deal with our challenges whatever they may be....
The fact you told your story while going through MS is brave. To play the music that you are gifted to teach and play, is a wonder of its own. I am so glad that I have stumbled into this channel, because the bass line is always the vibe of the whole song, and you shown it with love, care, attention, precision and patience in my eyes is pure perfection. Thank you, Good sir. thank you so much for making me love the bass even more.
I found your channel yesterday and have been watching your videos on walking bass. Those videos are cool and helped me right away. You're a great teacher, and from what I can tell, a great musician. This video may be the most important one I've seen yet. It normalizes and humanizes the experience of diagnosis, genetics, and the daily struggle. Please make more of them.
It’s been a privilege to know and work with you, Paul. I remember the day you posted on social media about the new oral therapy available to you. Grateful that you have options to manage your MS that will keep you sharing your talents and your wonderful self with the world. Thank you for taking time to make this important video, which I think will bring a great deal of hope and inspiration to those who are also managing MS. Lisa Hindmarsh
I've just come across your channel in the past couple of months and I thought I loved your videos before seeing this one. Your story that you tell here is amazing. I don't have MS but I know people who do, and I've gotta say I admire your candidness and your strength. Your bass videos inspire me to practice more and become a better bassist, but this video inspires me not only to exercise more and to become stronger and healthier, but to take life one day at a time and to persevere through what life throws at you. Thank you for the work you put into making your videos, and I pray for your health, strength and happiness.
Thank you for sharing this - I've been living with MS for over 30 years and can relate to the feeling of grief you describe at receiving your diagnosis. It sounds like you have a wonderful support network and a great attitude. Having discovered your channel through my own journey to learn to play despite the effects of MS, and to help manage them, your example is an inspiration
I was diagnosed in 1990, age 26, with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP). I initially realized an issue at a Valentine's Day gig when I was missing notes like yourself. And I was missing HALF notes! Several months later I got my diagnosis at the University of Michigan. I was incredibly fortunate. I underwent treatment with corticosteroids and plasmapheresis and experienced dramatic remission, from 80% deficit to near normal in about 36 hours. Most folks with this diagnosis face symptoms like weakness and exhaustion even with routine IVIG treatments. Thanks for sharing your story. I wish you all the best living, loving, playing through your days and years!
Love and strength to you brother. I have had MS since 2000. You reminded me of the feelings in the beginning. Although I'm secondary progressive now and use a wheelchair, I stay positive and strong. This is all you can do. Keep on keeping on until you can't anymore. Too much to write here!
Thank you for your openness and honesty 💖🙏🏾 I, too, have had to dance with chronic illnesses, diabetes, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, depression, PTSD, and kidney failure 😨. I can relate to repeatedly going through the stages of grief; again, thank you because until I heard you describe your process, I had not realized what was happening to me. My nephew is working on his Ph.D. Bass and Jazz Studies, at USC., and enjoy sharing your videos with him 😊. All the best to you, my dear brother 💖🙏🏾
Damn, Paul, I never would have known. Kudos for your accomplishments, all well wishes in your struggle, and deepest respect for your courage and heroism.
Damn bro. We’re about the same age. I didn’t have my life together at all at age 30 and you had to deal with this. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good fight! I appreciate what you do and thanks for keeping up the bass tradition and passing it on. Your videos are inspirational and I think you won’t even ever know how much of an impact you have had on younger people pursuing their dreams.
Thank you so much for sharing this, especially the beautiful bit at the end. As someone who has lived with an autoimmunise disease for most of my life now, it's very important to hear this kind of message from time to time. Keep it up, you're doing amazing!
Man, so true about the emotional adjustments. The dx really is life changing. A total paradigm shift. And that's awesome that you're working out. I started lifting last year and I wish I'd started it much sooner. It's the best thing!
I appreciate you for sharing your journey with MS . Its a reminder that we all have a cross to bear ... the key is how we respond to it . And you're responding magnificently ... it's inspiring . You're a true soldier , marching on . Play that bass till the strings fall off . Keep the videos coming ... Godspeed 🙏 🌍 🎸 🎶 👊🏽 ☀️
PD - Thanks for sharing, love your videos. My mom had primary progressive MS my entire life, its a very misunderstood and harrowing disease. Meds back then were very damaging, they had her on methotrexate for 20yrs, a chemotherapy drug that does considerable damage in the long run, as well as antidepressants, klonopin (a benzo-type drug for sleep), and others. It was awful what those drugs and the disease did to my mom. She also continued to smoke, eat a terrible diet, use artificial artificial sweeteners, and not exercise, which all increased inflammation and further damage her nervous system. I'm glad the oral meds are working, consider also switching to an anti-inflammatory diet entirely. Also, I understand Paul Stamets has found a mushroom supplement stack with niacin that has potential to regrow damaged myelin. Stay well brother.
Mate, I’m sorry to hear about another fellow musician with ms. Never lose sight of the positives, bad days are just that, not always a sign of disease progression. I’ve been dealing with it for around 20 years, and there have been times when I’ve wanted to give up on playing music, because my fingers, hands and brain don’t feel like my own some days. I do however see the whole thing as a blessing, because it’s given me a narrower focus on my daily abilities and really helped to simplify my goals. I can no longer play like I used to, but in a nutshell I would rather play 10 meaningful notes with true passion behind them than play 10,000 notes that are just mediocre. Thank you for sharing your journey and providing another voice for awareness. I sincerely hope that you receive all the love and inspiration you need.
Thanks for sharing your story. You look great and I'm sure your exercise routine is highly beneficial. I was reading about stroke last night and exercise was stressed as one of the best deterrents along with avoiding alcohol, smoking, and junk food.
Man!! I literally just started watching your videos randomly, I’m also a musician. But I also just happened to have MS, newly diagnosed. It’s really refreshing and relieving to hear another musician that has MS and are still rocking! Thanks for sharing, I’m less scared of losing music in my life! 🤗
Thank you for sharing your story, so moving. I appreciate your honesty and you show such courage and are a really fabulous teacher. I hope your health continues to hold up and that somehow you find inner peace. Bless you and your family and thank you again for your dedication.
Thank you for posting this. Chronic pain is bad as it really attacks your pleasure in life. Now in my later life I struggle with arthritis and continue to work on the music as a bassist while working a day job. I agree with you , feed the good stuff and enjoy the beautiful things in life. We all struggle and that shared material gives us a common ground of understanding. I reflect on that with Bob Marleys words, " Who feels it knows it ".
Thank you so much for sharing your life. Your story has helped me. I have a niece with MS. I never asked her about it because I did not want to pry or be intrusive. I don't know her "MS" story but I should! I never wanted her to feel as if I see or think of her as disabled. This is why when we talk, I don't mention her condition. I don't want her to feel "Not Normal" with me. I now see that I need to talk with her if she wants and not assume that she doesn't want to speak about it. Talking to her will place me in a better position to assist her. Like you, I have been going to doctors over the last three years trying to get a diagnosis for my health concern but I still have not gotten an answer. Can't give up though. Your story gave me the courage to learn more about MS and to have that loving conversation of concern and education with my niece. Again, I thank you for sharing! Kelvin, Sr
I am so sorry to hear about your MS diagnosis... I was really moved by your spirit and determination, and I want to thank you for sharing this. We as musicians can tend to allow ourselves to think of our very beings as the music that we make. This makes it easy for us to get depressed when we feel like we aren't able to do what we know we COULD. Your comments about not quitting are so inspirational. Thank you!
I appreciate your spirit and sharing your story. Your example will provide hope and a source of courage to others not with MS, but to those who might have other challenges in their lives. Remember to stay encouraged and KEEP FIGHTING LIKE HELL!!!
Listening to your story reminds me so much of what my father went through as a musician with MS. Your description of the symptoms are very similar what he experienced. The frustration, anxiety, embarrassment without knowing what's going on with your body is extremely difficult to understand and come to grips with once a diagnosis has been pronounced. Thank you for sharing your experience.
I think I’m starting to notice symptoms. Over 10 years ago started getting left lazy eye/blurry vision in left eye. Broke my leg and doctors kept me in hospital for 3 days because low white blood cell count. Started noticing weird cramps in my body, numb left foot when I wake up, now my left side of my chin is numb twice today when I woke up. Fatigue every day. Been urinating tons of white blood cells for about a year now. All symptoms of MS
Wow, this was powerful and beautiful. I love what you're doing, PD. You seem like such a gentle and lovely man. I think making your body strong so it can better tolerate everything this experience throws at it is an important lesson for all of us. Thank you for all the great content. Keep on, Michael
You are a Gladiator man. To be a musician with that disease is remarkable and courageous. To open up and let people know your struggle and put it out there shows what kind of leader you are. I would be honored to take lessons from you.
First off, as a longtime rock bassist who's been developing an interest (and recent gigging) in jazz, I really appreciate the content on this channel and how helpful it is. Second, my father was diagnosed with MS when I was seven years old, so even though I cannot know that pain first hand, I've definitely seen just how extremely impactful it can be on someone's life. And as someone who was somehow lucky enough to beat stage 3 colon cancer nearly two years ago, I'll just say, cheers, and thanks for what you do.
My thoughts are with you .......I am a life long Bass player, I worked backstage @ The Hammersmith Odeon in London in the 90's....I got sick @ 28......all the signs were towards MS...I spent a year worried about the diagnosis......finally got the spinal tap & it was negative. I finally got better....but I will never forget the experience. Your channel is awesome, content is fantastic.....all power to you my friend!
Pd, I’m a man of faith so the only thing I can do is consistently pray for you! Long life, no flare ups, no quality of life reduction, and keep feeding strength!! That transparency is rare and I highly respect you for it! Blessings
Thank you for telling your story. Being open and therefore vulnerable is very powerful and inspiring. I have my own health battle I’m going through and making my body as strong as possible and feeding the good stuff is solid advice and very practical. Much gratitude for this and all the bass videos. My dad was a bass player from Pittsburgh, PA so your videos somehow make missing him more bearable. Keep having as much fun as you can. Thank you
Wow, Paul... This is powerful and it brought tears to my eyes. I haven't seen you since high school, well, maybe a couple of times in the mid-to-later 90s, and I cannot help but recall our school conversations regarding your musical gift and mine in baseball. You remain such a positive force & inspiration. Please know that I'm sending you prayerful thoughts & warm vibrations. Be well and always keep a positive thought... ~Bo
Thank you for sharing this. I think it's great when we have the courage to open up about our lives like this. Full marks to you for keeping going through the difficult days and nights you have faced. You're an inspiration to me as I'm also dealing with a condition that causes constant pain, insomnia and cognitive issues. It also restricts my ability to get outside. I've turned to music for solace and inspiration. I literally just realised that music could save me from sinking, and your story has added to my hope and belief in what's possible. God bless you for sharing and in all that you do.
I discovered your videos just a few months ago and I absolutely love them. As a saxophone player, I'm discovering so many things about what the bass is doing and it is having a huge and wonderful impact on my playing. Thank you for that! Learning about your story and dealing with MS is enlightening, scary and beautiful at the same time. Thank you so much for sharing.
Oh man. Thank for your open and honest peak into the private world of living with MS especially concerning a great, creative musician like yourself. Kudos to your support structure and your mental fortitude for handling it. May your bad days be less bad. A hug from across the pond.
I really appreciate you sharing this side of yourself. You're a whole person who happens to be a fantastic music educator and bass player. Thanks so much for being here with us and giving so freely.
I don't know how I forgot you have MS. I've been listening to you for a while cause you put down some good licks and I played bass in bands around Chicago for a long time. Someone I know was recently diagnosed with MS so I just recorded everything I wish I knew when I was diagnosed 9 1/2 years ago. I will finish your video and compare notes. Salud
Paul, thank you so much for sharing your battle with MS. It is a subject near and dear to my heart. My best friend since seventh grade has battled MS for over 30 years. He started on guitar when I started on bass, we had our first band together. He was diagnosed in his early thirties this was in the early 80's. His illness progressed over 20 years from numbness and fatigue to total impairment. He was unable to play anymore and gave his guitars to his son. He sold his software company, he was unable to code anymore. He needed an aide to get out of bed and on his scooter. But he never let it stop him. He took his family to the Olympics in Mexico City, he fought New York Life over his disability insurance, he had guitar students even though he couldn't play anymore. I hope the best for you and your health. I love your channel and your musical knowledge has helped my playing so much. And you know my dear friend and great guitarist, Teddy Pantelas. Much respect and Love, be Well!
Thanks for sharing, brother. I was on Interferon for nine months back in 2009 to treat stage 3 cancer. It was debilitating. I couldn’t play music or do much of anything else. Fortunately, I found a natural therapy with zero side effects and got off Interferon. Very thankful for that find!
Hello my dear, I'm am so happy to hear that there is treatment available with zero side effects, Can you please share what this treatment is, I pray that it can be helpful for my brother, whose MS has progressed, Lots of love &light
Thank you so much for sharing your story, for being strong and resilient, and being the excited person / musician / groove lover you are! Your videos always bring up some bass jam I'd forgotten about and constantly inspire me to pick up my bass. You are da bomb and know that people out here SEE you and care about you and what you do. Keep up the fight and know you have thousands of people pullin' for ya.
This is just so well thought out and sincere. I just got out of the biggest depressive slumps of my life and everything you're saying about depression looming over everything is spot on. I've been working out non-stop since then, eating better, practicing more, drinking less, etc. and I can't remember ever feeling this good. Yours and your therapists thoughts at the end were just so nice to hear coming from someone who you know isn't bullshitting you.
Thanks for sharing. I also suffer from Psoriasis and the arthritis associated with condition. Not to the point of taking meds, but just enough to cause me pain in my joints. I'm not a music major or university student, however I am a long time student of music guitar, bass, and percussion. I can't imagine my life without music. Personally speaking, a life without music would not be a good existence for me. I'll reach out to you by comment here on your channel or email. Thanks for all your hard work with preparing your videos. Very helpful information, indeed. My best wishes in managing your health. Peace be with you.
Thanks Paul for sharing your heart, being vulnerable, HONEST, and encouraging all at the same time (not to mention having one of the best bass channels on UA-cam).
Thanks for the share. I am a person with PPMS. DX Jan/21. Symptoms for 3 years prior. Inspiring to see the motivation you have and the mind set you have adopted towards your personal story and circumstances. I hope to be there some day. But as you mentioned acceptance is a process. Stay strong and good luck with your journey. Jim
You did a wonderful job on this video. I’m a bass player who has a lifelong disability and those words of yours “what you feed, grows“ really hit home. Well done!
Watched a couple of your bass videos last night, and then found this one. My daughter has just been diagnosed with MS. To see you still being able to play your instruments so well, and speak so well is an inspiration to me, and fills me with hope for my daughters future. Thank you. God bless.
Wow, i really honer your courage and honesty for talking about your health condition. I wish you the very best for your future life and musicianship. 🙏🏽
Sorry for your struggles. Happy for you that you are handling it well. I can tell that you are a good person. I’ll always wish you good health and look forward to your next video!
It sounds like in spite of the incredibly bad hand you've been dealt that you have found ways of staying strong & positive. Thank you for being so open & sharing your story with the world because you truly are an inspiration! Who know, with all the research they are doing, you may see the day when they find a cure. Keep the faith, stay strong, & thank you for being a wonderful loving human being who's love of music is infectious. :) ;)
Paul, this was a very moving talk - I appreciate you sharing your story. My Son in Law was just diagnosed with CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia). He's only 27 years old, he and my daughter just had their 1st child. It completely came out of nowhere and we are all struggling to deal with it. Your advice regarding food, health, and exercise gives me a feeling of hope and I look forward to sharing this with them. Thank you for your honesty and I wish you continued health and success.
Thank you most sincerely for your candid, direct and generous video!! I watched it for a second time with my wife to help her with her cancer journey (I expect we will watch it again in a week or so:-) As a caregiver, I would love hear from your girlfriend/ now your wife. PD, thank you, again, most sincerely for your excellent content and more importantly for sharing a glimpse into that special part of you that we all see and recognize but now better understand from where it emanates!!
My heart goes out to you. You are a wonderful , inspiring and important person on this planet. I wish you all the best and continued success in keeping this condition under control.
Paul, that was an impressive, strong yet vulnerable story. I'm so sorry for you. I lost a very close friend 3 years ago on MS. He had a very progressive form and had no chance. So good to hear you are doing well! Stay strong my friend! Love, Louis. ps, I LOVE your inspiring channel. Rock on...
My father developed MS before there were any effective treatments - mid 1950s. Never lost use of his hands, bladder or bowels. Hang in there. He had a full and fulfilling life. Lived into his late 60s. Only treatment was physical therapy and aspirin.
Never heard of aspirin as a treatment
by about the half way point of this video i wanted to shut it off becuase it was making me very emotional. over a guy i watch play the bass on youtube who ive never met. it was really hard for me to get through. yet i have not been that riveted to a video on any topic in a very, very long time. you ought to do some acting or just read voice overs. you have a way of getting your point across on any topic that always keeps me listening very closely. you are an inspiration to know you are getting so much done but youve been secretly (to me) fighting something huge this whole time and i had no idea. ill remember that next time i feel beat down at work, or tired of im being a whiny baby. that there is a guy out there who is sick and fighting through it and is very productive and going through stuff that even on my worst day probably cant approach. i got your back brother. im sure this video will be very, very helpful to someone who was just diagnosed, in a way that i cannot appreciate. you continue to do the lords work. what you feed, grows. im going to remember that one.
Thank you 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Hi there and happy new year ! You have more issues to take care and worry about than only figure out your bass lines. I have seen few of your videos and noticed at first
look that this guy has a special way to devote to his teaching. I like it and it's goof for me. I've been teaching some 50 y now.
I think you have
a good blend of new and traditional lectures going hand in hand.
What comes to your illness, I'm suprised that you got strength to manage it and still share it with the others. Good heart you have.
I wish you love and power ever more. Thanks for your tips for good bass playing. Take care !
God bless you! And thank you for sharing your journey. I lost a dear friend this past year to MS. I had no idea what she was going through. I pray for your continued success. I love what you bring to our musical community, and your concise descriptions of the music we love. I'm a bassist for 53 years, and we have some stories to swap. Stay strong, my friend.
@@pdbass Hi my friend. As a Bass player of 56 years I enjoy your videos. I had no idea that you have MS.
I can fully understand how you fear the possible progression of this illness and the fact that it might make playing more difficult. I've lived with a wife (Marian) who was diagnosed with MS. ( in 1969) before we married and so I've seen the loss of dexterity that has crept up on her over these years. If it is of any encouragement to you, there are many differing types of this illness. Hopefully you're in the mild level . I love your determination to keep playing as the movement of your hands will keep your arms strong and nimble.
I believe that playing bass is the "solid rock" of any band and lifts me when I get a bit down in mood.
Keep at it bro. I've got your back . John.
Thank you for sharing ❤
My Dad was diagnosed with MS when he was 14 ...13 years before I was born, completely ruined his life, completely ruined my mental health, and it profoundly effected my life. He passed last year at 71, MS doesn't just effect those with the disease, it get's their family too.
That is exactly why I told my love to go and I never married. I was so scared about my children watching me not able to do easy daily tasks.
crying while reading, its like ur speaking about me
"Feed the good stuff... and don't ever quit." AMEN! Thanks for sharing your story and being an awesome inspiration in life as well as bass. Peace and Love to you.
It didn't feel right to click the "like" button on this because I definitely don't "like" that you or anyone have to experience this disease, but thank you for sharing your story so eloquently, and for not ever quitting! I love your bass videos and have learned a lot from them.
I cannot believe 17 years have passed since your diagnosis. We will also never forget that day. ❤️ and then the fantastic day we got the awesome news “NO MORE NEEDLES!” We love you so much Paul/Uncle Paul! You are truly inspiring. And I love what your therapist said. I’m going to hang on to that one. 😘
No more needles means ???
@@Lifesepanga Did you watch the video all the way through? If so you'd understand what was meant by 'no more needles'.
I don’t have MS but I have various health issues. I feel you and your pain! Great message! One day at a time! 👊🏾❤️
"Keep playing music until I can't play anymore, and have as much fun as I possibly can while I'm doing it, and I'm not gonna quit."
Amen to that, brother. 🙏🏼
The best part about having ms is being diagnosed in my opinion possibly the best day of my life. I had an answer... I lived with the symptoms for 12 years thinking that everyone must just go through this
same here!
I could not tell you had MS. I reacted emotionally to what you said because I had sciatica several years ago and I started to think my life was over. I'm glad you've got, at least, a partial solution.
I'm a musician and my partner has MS, so I'm relating to everything you're sharing here. Our biggest lesson from MS has been not just to seize the day, but seize the good moments, because we may not get an entire good day. Thank you for being strong, for sharing, and for being you. ~ Your newest subscriber
Wow. My wife has MS. Non progressive, relapsing-remitting so far. Here in the netherlands the neurologist told her not to take meds but focus on food and excercise mainly, ofcourse checked up by an scan every year or so. At least, that's the choice she has got.
Your symptoms sound oh so familiar. The outside temp, drinking or eating to late can throw her off ballance too.
The fact that you still are able to play your basses so wonderful and express joy and happiness in your videos is both a positive sign and worth a big compliment to you!
Wish you all the health and best and appreciate your closing line even more now: take care of yourself and please love tour neighbour.
Love to you and yours from Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
And forgive my last remark. You somehow remind me so much of Al Jarreau, in your facial expressions and your use of your vocals. It is a joy.
Hi K.
May I ask you what kind of diet is your wife on?
I'm about the find my diagnose hopefully soon but sadly I'm ticking almost all the boxes for ms now.
If you could let me know what your wife eats and supplements she takes, it would be very helpful.
All the best to you both
@@pavlinajirankova7382 Hope you are okay? 6 out of 7 days we eat vegetarian, lots of veggies, less carbs and glutes in general. More nuts and seeds. Supplements wise, not a specific thing, just plantbased vitamins, especially vitamin B12. She is doing good!
@@kcameo1 Thank you for your tips. I'm doing better. Started to do lots of yoga, weight lifting and bit of meditation. All seems to help but also read stories of some people who managed to rid of ms through fixing eating/digestive issues and changes in lifestyle.
Good for your Dr not pushing the meds and encouraging diet and activity. I don't want to start treatment, I also don't want to be miserable. God bless your wife
Don't know what to say dude, other than that's one of the most powerful, and brave moments I ever had watching a video. Yet somehow made me feel proud. Your articulate commentary caused me to pause and reflect on what a gift life is and shouldn't be taken for granted in anyway. Thanks for sharing, and good luck with your fight.
Finding the words to comment on this vid is difficult, this is how impactful it was. I love the example you are setting by harnessing your positive mental, physical, and creative energies to keep kicking the effects of MS as far down the road as possible. Very inspiring. Peace.
Hi Paul, thanks for sharing this. I have autoimmune diseases. Mine are psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
My life may well be shortened by the effects. But at the moment I’m on a form of medication that really sorts me out. It’s given me my life back.
I love you and your work. So I’m sending that love ‘vibes wise’! I hope you keep well, and I hope medicine can help you fight this condition.
The psychological effects of my autoimmune system diseases were ultimately as powerfully debilitating as the physical stuff. I was very very VERY depressed, for some time. Years. Bad times.
I still have a lot of issues: heat issues (like you), appalling headaches (ditto). I take fortnightly injections. I get very fatigued, and yet my sleep patterns are often pretty screwed up.
But now I’m happy. Very happy. Partly cause my meds work so well. Partly cause I have a lovely wife (like you!).
Anyway, big love to you from us in the UK. Keep well. Keep on keeping on, brother.
Don’t ever quit! Thank you 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Thank you so much for sharing. I was diagnosed in 2021 so it it still pretty new to me, but I am learning to accept my new life.
Thank you so much for sharing. I love your channel. I've had MS since 2004, got diagnosed in 2010. It wrecked me pretty bad. After diagnosis I started to exercise and build myself back up. I borrowed a bass guitar from a friend to get dexterity back in my fingers. I've been in love with the bass since. Bless you and thank you. Keep fighting brother!
👊🏽
“I’m not going to wait for it”… my favorite take-away from your story. I was diagnosed with end stage liver disease from hepatitis in 2005. It has caused other issues over the years. But that’s been a lot of years. Several self produced albums, 2 children with my loving wife, and a lot of living. Like your story, it wasn’t easy to come to terms with, but once I did, I realized I still had a bunch of living left to do. So long-term chronic illness means you might have to re-think or re-plan things once in a while, but you never give them up. Your story makes me remember how lucky I still really am. Thanks for sharing!
My wife was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in 2005. Thankfully it hasn’t affected her speech or cognitive skills, but she’s been through multiple neurologists who’ve given her conflicting information. I wish someone had told her to exercise back then. Now she can barely walk and spends most of her time in bed. Keep going brother, I’m going to show her this video. ❤️
Hang in. We’re in this together and I know there will be an end to this sometime in our lives. 🙏🏽❤️
@@pdbass thank you for your reply and encouragement. Love your channel, I play keys & bass and write music for sync licensing.
We’re about the same age as you, my wife & I also have faith this will be resolved in our lifetime. All the best to you!
It is easy enough to say exercise. But I have an undiagnosed condition, that mimics MS in many ways. As well as fibromyalgia. 2yrs ago, MS symptoms started appearing in my life, and I am yet to get a diagnosis. My biggest issue is I cannot exercise. I used to be fit and strong. Now I can’t even do body weight exercises, the reason is not strength, I have strength, the issue is, my symptoms get 100x worse when I exercise. I exercise still, very gently, but literally everything, no matter how gentle, causes my symptoms to flare, and remain flared for weeks. Unless I do literally nothing (I can’t even do gentle yoga more than once a week, without having symptoms flare) I have extreme nerve issues in my arms and legs. I want to exercise, I miss exercise. I used to run and walk huge hills, I used to hike, I used to bike, I used to lift. I can’t do any of it anymore.
Sending all the love your way, brother. You’re videos always inspire and now I feel like I understand a little more about your drive. I count you among my heroes and I don’t even play bass.
Thank you!
Your openness with your condition and treatment is very inspiring. I just discovered your channel today and I hesitated to click in this particular video because I am dealing with my own health ordeals. I watched anyway and I am glad I did. Your strength and honesty were a gift. Sending love and positive thoughts your way.
You are an inspiration to us all. I started following your channel for the bass wisdom, and now I also follow your channel for the life wisdom as well. As your therapist said, “what you feed grows”, and I have a feeling your channel will grow huge as you continue to share your wisdom and knowledge. Thank you for being a beacon of light to others
Thank you, Kevin!
This guy is an inspiration for me I could hear his story and it’s very impressive but above all I could feel his message in my soul ❤
Thank you for all that you do and represent for the music and MS community. Truly you are an inspiration and I will share your life story with my daughter who was diagnosed at age 12 (now 26) and wife who was diagnosed in 2017 at age 51. God bless you. Respectfully...James
Thank you for sharing. My mother was diagnosed with MS in the early 80's. It slowed her down, but never stopped her, and she lived a pretty full life... and that was before alot of modern testing and treatments.
I watched your "The Nightfly" video just last night, and came across this video about ten minutes ago. Prayers, positivity and mad respect from a Jersey bass player.
"What you feed, grows."
I'll remember that for the rest of my life. It'll probably be as important as any note I'll ever play.
My daughter (diagnosed last year) is taking the dimethyl fumarate as well. Glad to hear you're getting good results.
That's what I take. It's generic Tecfidera.
My wife have an autoimmune disease called Traverse Myelitis like a form of MS which came late in our marriage as she turned 38 (Her birthday is March 15th btw) but she had weird symptoms for a couple years before no doctors could figure out. A life changing event for us. She gets infusions every 6 months to keep things stable. Just want to say stay strong as you are and much respect to your wife. I had to take care of my wife through paralysis twice and I know how challenging it is. One love!
Paul, you have said everything my wife has told me for the past 5 years. She doesn't have MS, but Psoriatic Arthritis, which is a similar and rare autoimmune condition, Her story is SO similar to yours. I HEAR you, my friend. I watch it, I see it every day, and my wife amazes me how she copes, and now you do as well. The fog, the fatigue, the loss of coorindation, the pain, I see it ebb an flow every day, and all I can say is that I wish you well, I wish you love, I wish you to cope and thrive. My wife tries t hide it, but I see it, I don't understand it, but hearing you, a great communicator, say it in your words, it helps me understand. I got friends with MS. I worked with a bloke in the early 90s, his dad was electric wheelchair bound due to the lack of treatment and how far his condition had gone untreated. I'm glad you are getting great treatment, and you are a man who deserves a good long life behind those 4 heavy strings!
Man, my brother found you online (where in Australia BTW), he's an old school Vinyl DJ, and he found your clips breaking down famous funk basslines (he's a big Hip Hop Record Collector and we've always loved seeking the sources) , and put me straight onto you, I have a little more musical training in theory, but we both love great music, both love a groove and have a broad taste, and I say from us both, you're channel is a GIFT! You are truly giving it all, and we say thank you. It took me a long time to learn that being a sharing musician is better than a jealous and guarded one - you embody the ultimate generosity of the teacher and bandmate that we all should aspire to be. We are all learning, whatever level and skill.
You live, live with it, and I hope to live with you, many miles away, listening to your lessons, as they enrich my life, my playing and my musicianship. A true gift, from a faraway and unknown friend.
Regards,
Andrew
Thank you for sharing this, I have health issues similar to yourself but have not had a definitive diagnosis, hearing from others with health issues like this is vital to keep us moving forward and help us all to deal with our challenges whatever they may be....
The fact you told your story while going through MS is brave. To play the music that you are gifted to teach and play, is a wonder of its own. I am so glad that I have stumbled into this channel, because the bass line is always the vibe of the whole song, and you shown it with love, care, attention, precision and patience in my eyes is pure perfection. Thank you, Good sir. thank you so much for making me love the bass even more.
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
@@pdbass I'm so glad that you are doing something that bring joy to all of us. Keep up the great work my brother!
I found your channel yesterday and have been watching your videos on walking bass. Those videos are cool and helped me right away. You're a great teacher, and from what I can tell, a great musician. This video may be the most important one I've seen yet. It normalizes and humanizes the experience of diagnosis, genetics, and the daily struggle. Please make more of them.
It’s been a privilege to know and work with you, Paul. I remember the day you posted on social media about the new oral therapy available to you. Grateful that you have options to manage your MS that will keep you sharing your talents and your wonderful self with the world. Thank you for taking time to make this important video, which I think will bring a great deal of hope and inspiration to those who are also managing MS. Lisa Hindmarsh
I've just come across your channel in the past couple of months and I thought I loved your videos before seeing this one. Your story that you tell here is amazing. I don't have MS but I know people who do, and I've gotta say I admire your candidness and your strength. Your bass videos inspire me to practice more and become a better bassist, but this video inspires me not only to exercise more and to become stronger and healthier, but to take life one day at a time and to persevere through what life throws at you. Thank you for the work you put into making your videos, and I pray for your health, strength and happiness.
Thank you for sharing this - I've been living with MS for over 30 years and can relate to the feeling of grief you describe at receiving your diagnosis. It sounds like you have a wonderful support network and a great attitude.
Having discovered your channel through my own journey to learn to play despite the effects of MS, and to help manage them, your example is an inspiration
I was diagnosed in 1990, age 26, with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP). I initially realized an issue at a Valentine's Day gig when I was missing notes like yourself. And I was missing HALF notes! Several months later I got my diagnosis at the University of Michigan. I was incredibly fortunate. I underwent treatment with corticosteroids and plasmapheresis and experienced dramatic remission, from 80% deficit to near normal in about 36 hours. Most folks with this diagnosis face symptoms like weakness and exhaustion even with routine IVIG treatments. Thanks for sharing your story. I wish you all the best living, loving, playing through your days and years!
Love and strength to you brother. I have had MS since 2000. You reminded me of the feelings in the beginning. Although I'm secondary progressive now and use a wheelchair, I stay positive and strong. This is all you can do. Keep on keeping on until you can't anymore. Too much to write here!
Sending prayers and love your way, Mark. Thank you for your comment and spirit. Here's to living!
Thank you for your openness and honesty 💖🙏🏾 I, too, have had to dance with chronic illnesses, diabetes, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, depression, PTSD, and kidney failure 😨. I can relate to repeatedly going through the stages of grief; again, thank you because until I heard you describe your process, I had not realized what was happening to me. My nephew is working on his Ph.D. Bass and Jazz Studies, at USC., and enjoy sharing your videos with him 😊. All the best to you, my dear brother 💖🙏🏾
Thank you for being so transparent my Brother we really appreciate you .
I never knew you had MS. I was diagnosed back in '04. Glad to see you're doing what you love and taking care of yourself .
Damn, Paul, I never would have known. Kudos for your accomplishments, all well wishes in your struggle, and deepest respect for your courage and heroism.
Damn bro. We’re about the same age. I didn’t have my life together at all at age 30 and you had to deal with this.
Thanks for sharing and keep up the good fight!
I appreciate what you do and thanks for keeping up the bass tradition and passing it on. Your videos are inspirational and I think you won’t even ever know how much of an impact you have had on younger people pursuing their dreams.
Thank you so much for sharing this, especially the beautiful bit at the end. As someone who has lived with an autoimmunise disease for most of my life now, it's very important to hear this kind of message from time to time. Keep it up, you're doing amazing!
Man, so true about the emotional adjustments. The dx really is life changing. A total paradigm shift. And that's awesome that you're working out. I started lifting last year and I wish I'd started it much sooner. It's the best thing!
I appreciate you for sharing your journey with MS . Its a reminder that we all have a cross to bear ... the key is how we respond to it .
And you're responding magnificently ... it's inspiring . You're a true soldier , marching on . Play that bass till the strings fall off .
Keep the videos coming ... Godspeed 🙏 🌍 🎸 🎶 👊🏽 ☀️
PD - Thanks for sharing, love your videos. My mom had primary progressive MS my entire life, its a very misunderstood and harrowing disease. Meds back then were very damaging, they had her on methotrexate for 20yrs, a chemotherapy drug that does considerable damage in the long run, as well as antidepressants, klonopin (a benzo-type drug for sleep), and others. It was awful what those drugs and the disease did to my mom. She also continued to smoke, eat a terrible diet, use artificial artificial sweeteners, and not exercise, which all increased inflammation and further damage her nervous system. I'm glad the oral meds are working, consider also switching to an anti-inflammatory diet entirely. Also, I understand Paul Stamets has found a mushroom supplement stack with niacin that has potential to regrow damaged myelin. Stay well brother.
Mate, I’m sorry to hear about another fellow musician with ms.
Never lose sight of the positives, bad days are just that, not always a sign of disease progression.
I’ve been dealing with it for around 20 years, and there have been times when I’ve wanted to give up on playing music, because my fingers, hands and brain don’t feel like my own some days.
I do however see the whole thing as a blessing, because it’s given me a narrower focus on my daily abilities and really helped to simplify my goals.
I can no longer play like I used to, but in a nutshell I would rather play 10 meaningful notes with true passion behind them than play 10,000 notes that are just mediocre.
Thank you for sharing your journey and providing another voice for awareness.
I sincerely hope that you receive all the love and inspiration you need.
Thanks for sharing your story. You look great and I'm sure your exercise routine is highly beneficial. I was reading about stroke last night and exercise was stressed as one of the best deterrents along with avoiding alcohol, smoking, and junk food.
Uncle Paul you are a legend! Been a pleasure to have you around my life all these years and here's to many more!
Man!! I literally just started watching your videos randomly, I’m also a musician. But I also just happened to have MS, newly diagnosed. It’s really refreshing and relieving to hear another musician that has MS and are still rocking! Thanks for sharing, I’m less scared of losing music in my life! 🤗
👊🏽💪🏽🙌🏽
You have a great attitude about this. Don't ever let yourself lose this!
Thank you for sharing your story, so moving. I appreciate your honesty and you show such courage and are a really fabulous teacher. I hope your health continues to hold up and that somehow you find inner peace. Bless you and your family and thank you again for your dedication.
Thank you for posting this. Chronic pain is bad as it really attacks your pleasure in life. Now in my later life I struggle with arthritis and continue to work on the music as a bassist while working a day job. I agree with you , feed the good stuff and enjoy the beautiful things in life. We all struggle and that shared material gives us a common ground of understanding. I reflect on that with Bob Marleys words, " Who feels it knows it ".
Thank you so much for sharing your life. Your story has helped me. I have a niece with MS. I never asked her about it because I did not want to pry or be intrusive. I don't know her "MS" story but I should! I never wanted her to feel as if I see or think of her as disabled. This is why when we talk, I don't mention her condition. I don't want her to feel "Not Normal" with me. I now see that I need to talk with her if she wants and not assume that she doesn't want to speak about it. Talking to her will place me in a better position to assist her.
Like you, I have been going to doctors over the last three years trying to get a diagnosis for my health concern but I still have not gotten an answer. Can't give up though.
Your story gave me the courage to learn more about MS and to have that loving conversation of concern and education with my niece.
Again, I thank you for sharing!
Kelvin, Sr
I applaud your proactive approach, persistence, and ability to keep playing music through it all.
I am so sorry to hear about your MS diagnosis... I was really moved by your spirit and determination, and I want to thank you for sharing this. We as musicians can tend to allow ourselves to think of our very beings as the music that we make. This makes it easy for us to get depressed when we feel like we aren't able to do what we know we COULD. Your comments about not quitting are so inspirational. Thank you!
So proud of you for making this video. Stay in the moment, and stay well.
I appreciate your spirit and sharing your story. Your example will provide hope and a source of courage to others not with MS, but to those who might have other challenges in their lives. Remember to stay encouraged and KEEP FIGHTING LIKE HELL!!!
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 GOD bless brother! Your videos are always deep but this is EXTRA heavy!
Listening to your story reminds me so much of what my father went through as a musician with MS. Your description of the symptoms are very similar what he experienced. The frustration, anxiety, embarrassment without knowing what's going on with your body is extremely difficult to understand and come to grips with once a diagnosis has been pronounced. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Listening to your story, WOW! You are a true Warrior my Brother. Hang in there. Much love and respect to you.
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Thanks from a person that's just been diagnosed 😢 ..
How you doing?
May i ask, what were you first symptoms?
I think I’m starting to notice symptoms. Over 10 years ago started getting left lazy eye/blurry vision in left eye. Broke my leg and doctors kept me in hospital for 3 days because low white blood cell count. Started noticing weird cramps in my body, numb left foot when I wake up, now my left side of my chin is numb twice today when I woke up. Fatigue every day. Been urinating tons of white blood cells for about a year now. All symptoms of MS
Wow, this was powerful and beautiful. I love what you're doing, PD. You seem like such a gentle and lovely man. I think making your body strong so it can better tolerate everything this experience throws at it is an important lesson for all of us.
Thank you for all the great content.
Keep on,
Michael
Wow! Your bass videos are awesome, but this is by far your greatest video. You are truly inspirational. Never quit!
You are a Gladiator man. To be a musician with that disease is remarkable and courageous. To open up and let people know your struggle and put it out there shows what kind of leader you are. I would be honored to take lessons from you.
First off, as a longtime rock bassist who's been developing an interest (and recent gigging) in jazz, I really appreciate the content on this channel and how helpful it is. Second, my father was diagnosed with MS when I was seven years old, so even though I cannot know that pain first hand, I've definitely seen just how extremely impactful it can be on someone's life. And as someone who was somehow lucky enough to beat stage 3 colon cancer nearly two years ago, I'll just say, cheers, and thanks for what you do.
My thoughts are with you .......I am a life long Bass player, I worked backstage @ The Hammersmith Odeon in London in the 90's....I got sick @ 28......all the signs were towards MS...I spent a year worried about the diagnosis......finally got the spinal tap & it was negative. I finally got better....but I will never forget the experience. Your channel is awesome, content is fantastic.....all power to you my friend!
Pd, I’m a man of faith so the only thing I can do is consistently pray for you! Long life, no flare ups, no quality of life reduction, and keep feeding strength!!
That transparency is rare and I highly respect you for it!
Blessings
Thank you for telling your story. Being open and therefore vulnerable is very powerful and inspiring. I have my own health battle I’m going through and making my body as strong as possible and feeding the good stuff is solid advice and very practical. Much gratitude for this and all the bass videos. My dad was a bass player from Pittsburgh, PA so your videos somehow make missing him more bearable. Keep having as much fun as you can. Thank you
Wow, Paul... This is powerful and it brought tears to my eyes. I haven't seen you since high school, well, maybe a couple of times in the mid-to-later 90s, and I cannot help but recall our school conversations regarding your musical gift and mine in baseball. You remain such a positive force & inspiration. Please know that I'm sending you prayerful thoughts & warm vibrations. Be well and always keep a positive thought... ~Bo
Bo!!! We're getting OLD!
@@pdbass : Yes, so true! LOL! 😂🤣😂🤣 We're getting BETTER & WISER, my friend. Great to connect with you.
Thank you for sharing this. I think it's great when we have the courage to open up about our lives like this. Full marks to you for keeping going through the difficult days and nights you have faced. You're an inspiration to me as I'm also dealing with a condition that causes constant pain, insomnia and cognitive issues. It also restricts my ability to get outside. I've turned to music for solace and inspiration. I literally just realised that music could save me from sinking, and your story has added to my hope and belief in what's possible. God bless you for sharing and in all that you do.
I discovered your videos just a few months ago and I absolutely love them. As a saxophone player, I'm discovering so many things about what the bass is doing and it is having a huge and wonderful impact on my playing. Thank you for that! Learning about your story and dealing with MS is enlightening, scary and beautiful at the same time. Thank you so much for sharing.
Oh man. Thank for your open and honest peak into the private world of living with MS especially concerning a great, creative musician like yourself. Kudos to your support structure and your mental fortitude for handling it. May your bad days be less bad. A hug from across the pond.
I really appreciate you sharing this side of yourself. You're a whole person who happens to be a fantastic music educator and bass player. Thanks so much for being here with us and giving so freely.
I don't know how I forgot you have MS. I've been listening to you for a while cause you put down some good licks and I played bass in bands around Chicago for a long time. Someone I know was recently diagnosed with MS so I just recorded everything I wish I knew when I was diagnosed 9 1/2 years ago. I will finish your video and compare notes. Salud
Can't thank you enough for sharing this with all of us. I love what you do here.
Truly inspiring. Never give up!
Paul, thank you so much for sharing your battle with MS. It is a subject near and dear to my heart. My best friend since seventh grade has battled MS for over 30 years. He started on guitar when I started on bass, we had our first band together. He was diagnosed in his early thirties this was in the early 80's. His illness progressed over 20 years from numbness and fatigue to total impairment. He was unable to play anymore and gave his guitars to his son. He sold his software company, he was unable to code anymore. He needed an aide to get out of bed and on his scooter. But he never let it stop him. He took his family to the Olympics in Mexico City, he fought New York Life over his disability insurance, he had guitar students even though he couldn't play anymore. I hope the best for you and your health. I love your channel and your musical knowledge has helped my playing so much. And you know my dear friend and great guitarist, Teddy Pantelas. Much respect and Love, be Well!
Thanks for sharing, brother. I was on Interferon for nine months back in 2009 to treat stage 3 cancer. It was debilitating. I couldn’t play music or do much of anything else. Fortunately, I found a natural therapy with zero side effects and got off Interferon. Very thankful for that find!
Thankful YOU are still here!
Hello my dear, I'm am so happy to hear that there is treatment available with zero side effects,
Can you please share what this treatment is, I pray that it can be helpful for my brother, whose MS has progressed,
Lots of love &light
You're a great player and an even greater person.... sending positive thoughts to you brother
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Wow what an inspiring story. Thank you for sharing. That last sentence gave me goosebumps.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, for being strong and resilient, and being the excited person / musician / groove lover you are! Your videos always bring up some bass jam I'd forgotten about and constantly inspire me to pick up my bass. You are da bomb and know that people out here SEE you and care about you and what you do. Keep up the fight and know you have thousands of people pullin' for ya.
This is just so well thought out and sincere. I just got out of the biggest depressive slumps of my life and everything you're saying about depression looming over everything is spot on. I've been working out non-stop since then, eating better, practicing more, drinking less, etc. and I can't remember ever feeling this good. Yours and your therapists thoughts at the end were just so nice to hear coming from someone who you know isn't bullshitting you.
Thanks for sharing. I also suffer from Psoriasis and the arthritis associated with condition. Not to the point of taking meds, but just enough to cause me pain in my joints. I'm not a music major or university student, however I am a long time student of music guitar, bass, and percussion. I can't imagine my life without music. Personally speaking, a life without music would not be a good existence for me.
I'll reach out to you by comment here on your channel or email. Thanks for all your hard work with preparing your videos. Very helpful information, indeed. My best wishes in managing your health.
Peace be with you.
Thanks Paul for sharing your heart, being vulnerable, HONEST, and encouraging all at the same time (not to mention having one of the best bass channels on UA-cam).
Thanks for the share. I am a person with PPMS. DX Jan/21. Symptoms for 3 years prior. Inspiring to see the motivation you have and the mind set you have adopted towards your personal story and circumstances. I hope to be there some day. But as you mentioned acceptance is a process. Stay strong and good luck with your journey.
Jim
God Bless you Sir! My Little Sister had it. 🙏🏿
You did a wonderful job on this video. I’m a bass player who has a lifelong disability and those words of yours “what you feed, grows“ really hit home. Well done!
THANKS SO MUCH FOR CONTINUING YOUR LOVE FOR MUSIC AND SPREADING IT TO US!!! BE BLESSED AND KEEP UP THE FIGHT. I AM PULLING & PRAYING FOR YOU!!
Watched a couple of your bass videos last night, and then found this one. My daughter has just been diagnosed with MS. To see you still being able to play your instruments so well, and speak so well is an inspiration to me, and fills me with hope for my daughters future. Thank you. God bless.
Wow, i really honer your courage and honesty for talking about your health condition.
I wish you the very best for your future life and musicianship. 🙏🏽
An inspiration, man. Thanks for sharing your story.
Sorry for your struggles. Happy for you that you are handling it well. I can tell that you are a good person. I’ll always wish you good health and look forward to your next video!
It sounds like in spite of the incredibly bad hand you've been dealt that you have found ways of staying strong & positive. Thank you for being so open & sharing your story with the world because you truly are an inspiration! Who know, with all the research they are doing, you may see the day when they find a cure. Keep the faith, stay strong, & thank you for being a wonderful loving human being who's love of music is infectious. :) ;)
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Your wife is amazing to stay with you and support you through that really traumatic moment.
Paul, this was a very moving talk - I appreciate you sharing your story. My Son in Law was just diagnosed with CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia). He's only 27 years old, he and my daughter just had their 1st child. It completely came out of nowhere and we are all struggling to deal with it. Your advice regarding food, health, and exercise gives me a feeling of hope and I look forward to sharing this with them. Thank you for your honesty and I wish you continued health and success.
Thank you most sincerely for your candid, direct and generous video!! I watched it for a second time with my wife to help her with her cancer journey (I expect we will watch it again in a week or so:-) As a caregiver, I would love hear from your girlfriend/ now your wife. PD, thank you, again, most sincerely for your excellent content and more importantly for sharing a glimpse into that special part of you that we all see and recognize but now better understand from where it emanates!!
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You are a very strong person, and a great musician too...thank you for sharing...
My heart goes out to you. You are a wonderful , inspiring and important person on this planet. I wish you all the best and continued success in keeping this condition under control.
Paul, that was an impressive, strong yet vulnerable story. I'm so sorry for you. I lost a very close friend 3 years ago on MS. He had a very progressive form and had no chance. So good to hear you are doing well! Stay strong my friend! Love, Louis. ps, I LOVE your inspiring channel. Rock on...