Know Multiple Sclerosis

My mom. 'Nuff said.

hi everyone i have been diagnosed since 1990 after my last baby and i did not want to live but for the grace of God i lived and found out my life was not over i'm married to a wonderful man i have 4 children 3 adults an one teenager i'm a christain and i'm entering the best years of my life i'm getting ready to celebrate my 50 th birthday i'm not getting older i deceided i was not getting older just wiser life has taught me some things and now i have learned how to laugh more bells

I admire Niel Cavuto from Fox News business. He just goes on everyday and reports business news in the best way. I can't imagine doing what he does. He also has SPMS.

Read ... Read ... Read and ask every question you can think of. Even about sex.

I agree with the previous post as well as to surround oneself with positive people. One of the most imortant and helpful thing for me, is prayer and yoga. Of course not everyone believes in a higher power, but yoga has been very helpful in my healing.
And as the previous post says: READ! READ READ

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. If asked, I would not have been able to tell the difference between MS, ALS or MD. I was certain that I would be one of Jerry's Kids after being diagnosed and was disabused of that notion an hour later at the book-store.

Well, for certain it pushed me to do more ... to do better. You just don't know what you have till you no longer have it.

I was diagnosed in 2003 and spend the first couple of years coming to terms with the disease but also recovered from several of the relapse symptoms I had while waiting for diagnosis and to go on interferon.
My nephew was getting married in Alaska in 2006 (big trip from Edinburgh, Scotland) so with a year notice we planned a trip of a life time including sea kayaking and a trip to Denali park. It really helped focus me on trying to get as fit as possible and get as much out of life with MS as possible. We hired an RV for the trip so I always had a toilet and shower on hand (I have some incontinence problems). The kayaking was booked for the whole family, thinking they could go always without me if necessary - but I managed no trouble at all in a double kayak and an extra large incontinence pad - not needed but it meant I didn't have to worry.
It was a great trip and gave me the confidence to start trying other things. We have a dry ski slope near us and I have a problem walking any distance as my balance when on one leg when walking is fairly poor so walking a couple of miles even with sticks is hard work. However skiing is on 2 legs and is fine and my leg muscles are relatively fit from the hard work they put in walking - so that led us to have another family holiday skiing in France (a lot of stops in piste side cafes and only every second day), but something I never imaged I would get back to.
Having a relapse just now (caught a viral infection on the plane home) so can barely get up and down the stairs now but we have another ski trip booked for next year, I an sure I will be fine by then - travelling by train next year.
Life with MS is definitely not over, it is different and is definitely more appreciated. You do have to take it on a day to day basis but don't be scared of trying new things (but give yourself a couple of days rest between), you really don't know which nerves are okay and what you are capable of until you try.

It has brought my family closer together... also explained why I have been so lazy for so many years.

I don't wait to do things until I think I won't make a fool of myself. I figure now is the time to try the most ridiculous challenges I can think of. Running a marathon was completely stupid. I got rides from the mailman during the mandatory runs before field hockey practice in high school. I trained, but it still took me 6 hours to do the NYC Marathon. In working toward this ridiculous goal, I met members of the Achilles Track Club who awed me. I received the Avis We Try Harder Award along with a soldier who had lost an arm in Afghanistan. Sometimes, when I embrace my "misfitness" I meet other people who have stopped worrying about outward appearances and focus on living.

Most difficult part? Getting an honest line from the medical professionals. Nobody really knew how to 'cure' it so the snake-oil salesmen were out in force pushing mis-information. Ghaaa.

For me, it was not knowing. My neurologist didn't tell me anything, for fear it would stress me out. He gave me a bunch of valium to take - all I really needed was some honest answers. I feared the worst - something terminal. When I finally was diagnosed 9 months after my initial visit, it was a bit of a relief find out it was multiple sclerosis. At least I knew what I was dealing with now.

I am haveing difficulty dealing with not knowing the fate of my future. I see my children and it makes me want to cry sometimes. I want to always be there for my children, and it is scary when I think that someday I will disspoint them and worry them. I am so blessed that I have such wonderful daughters. I feel like I am letting my kids down every day, when they ask me to do something with them and I know in my heart that I can't. I sometimes try and I fail and the look on their faces tears my heart appart, sometimes they say something that hits me in the heart, but they don't mean it. Then they say there sorry, and I see it on there face. They are just kids, and I know they are going through allot, but I can't say it doesn't make me feel like I am letting them down.I feel like I am asking them for more than they barganed for exspecially my oldest daughter, I ask of her more than I would like, thank god she helps me as much as she does, but she is only a 9 year old little girl and she is not supposed to be worrying about mom. I do try my hardest to keep up with them and I think I do well, I just can not do as many things for long periods of time.Thanks for listening.