My MS Story

2006-05-16T17:17:00.000-07:00

On February 13, 2004 about 4:00 p.m. I got the phone call that would eventually bring me to where I am today. My neurologist called me to tell me that the spinal tap had confirmed what he already suspected based on the previous MRI results. I, indeed, have MS. I think I knew what the results were going to be. My emotions were very mixed. On one hand I was relieved to finally have a name to what was going on with me. I had spent several months, where at least three days a week I was in the hospital for some sort of testing, procedure, surgery, you name it. It seemed like the results were always enough to tell the doctors there was something wrong with me, but not what my diagnosis was. I was becoming a human pushpin, or at least that is how I felt. I was tested for everything from RA & Lupus to Leukemia, Lymphoma, Anemia, and more. It ended up being a blessing because some other health concerns were found early as a result!

I have had my fair share of health problems (okay, so my family would say much more than my fair share....see my blog for more information) but, this illness is unlike anything else I had experienced before. Sure, I knoe what MS was. At least I was familiar with it, that is more than some patients can say when they get the diagnosis. I was blessed in the fact that before my diagnosis I worked in the medical field, I had known at least two people during my lifetime that have had MS, and at the time lived in a community with one of the better research hospitals in the country. I was fortunate enough to have previously worked with my neurologists medical secretary when I worked at the School of Medicine. So, all in all, I felt like with the right attitude and resources, I could make this work.

The first year was not as bad. That first flair that made me pay attention to the symptoms I was having (which looking back was actually more like my 3rd flair). I tried to live my life as normal, continue working, going to school, just go on with my life. I did start the Copaxone injections as prescribed by my neurologist. I was not completely in denial, I knew I had MS, I just did not make the adjustments to my life that I needed to in order to have a better quality of life. I should have slowed down, and in that since, I was in denial. I figured because I took this injection, I could just do things like I always did. And, some people with MS can. Everyone is different, you just never know how you will respond. You MUST take it day by day.

I continued to progress during the 2005 year, to the point that I am no longer able to work. I have had significant flairs, which have on a couple of occasions left me needing a walker. I have found that with lifestyle changes, reducing stress, exercise, diet, simple modifications, there is so much that I CAN do to help myself. I moved to be closer to my family who provide me with a support system and together we all work to make this illness more manageable. Everything happens for a reason, and although I don't understand my purpose for having this illness at this time, I know there is a lot of good that I can do. I have been given the opportunity to reach out to others, and have already been so inspired by many MS'rs and hope to have done the same for them. This illness, although challenging, has taught me how to live, what IS important in life, where my priorities should be, how to redirect my life, and it has helped me to be closer to my family. That is something isn't it?

I do not wish for anyone to go through this illness, but I would hope that we would all be so blessed to learn the lessons I have at my young age. Please take care of yourselves. I hope you are all well.

Who Am I?

2006-05-16T17:06:00.000-07:00

So, Who Am I? You may be asking yourself that very question. Here is a bit about me......I am 29 years old, single mom to Nathan, who is 11. I was diagnosed with MS on Friday the 13th, that should have been a clue. I am a regular person, who like all of you is trying to live life day by day. I don't want to hear it's going to be okay, it's going to get better......it's not. There will be good days and bad days, that is just how it is. Hopefully the good will outweigh the bad. Tell me like it is, give it to me straight, I don't need a to have it sugarcoated. I am too smart for that. I worked in medicine for almost 13 years, have a background in business and accounting. I love to spend time with my family, my dog, and my friends.

My Philosophy: If it won't matter when we are dead, then it wasn't that important to begin with.

MY MS Journal

My MS Story

Who Am I?