| MS and me... |
| This page is for anyone who is curious as to what I have gone thru with MS,and how I am doing today...! The very first noticeable symptom I had was,an electricity like shock when I would look down,it went from my neck to my lower back. Of course I didn't think anything of it,so it was ignored! With in the next week I started to feel a tingling sensation in my left arm,I thought that maybe I just slept on it wrong or something...About 2 days later I woke up,and my whole left side was completly numb. At the time,I was working between 40-56 hours a week as a "casual" for the Postal Service...I was diagnosed with RRMS (Relapsing Remitting MS) about 2 weeks after my 1st symptom in January 1998,at age 18. I than had to quit my job with the Post Office,because I couldn't work (due to paralysis of left side)! Besides I needed to figure out what was happening to me,and what was MS!? I had never heard of that word or disease before the doctor mentioned it to me...He than said "do you want to talk about it!?" I said "No,I will call the National MS Society,and read up on what they have for me!" I sure learned alot about it,but today there are many things I still don't understand! Symptoms since diagnosis....I have had too many symptoms and/or attacks to remember the order of occurance,but here is a list of symptoms I have had so far: ***Dizzy spells/lightheaded/Vertigo-I get those off and on,but it seems that since I have been taking betaseron I haven't had any vertigo spells (which I would take Dizzy spells over Vertigo anyday!!) For this I have been givin Meclizine,but it has not worked for me! ***Fatigue-a constant feeling of being tired,worn out,no energy,weak,etc. I tried Amantidine for Fatigue,but that did not work for me. I am now on Provogil,and that is working wonders for me! ***Off Balance-I have this off and on,depending on my days. ***Gait-Usually when my balance is off,so is my Gait. ***Itching-You itch but it just won't itch away,it's like a feeling of tiny little bugs under your skin running around. ***Numbness-Basically you can't feel anything when you are completely numb,sometimes I am just partially numb though. (Have you ever been to the dentist,and they give you a shot of novocaine? well,that is what my numbness is like!) I have been givin Prednisone to help with the numbness,it works sometimes but not always! ***Cognitive Problems-I have a hard time with short and long term memory,and I have a hard time concentrating,but I also have A.D.H.D.(Attention Defesit Hyperactivity Disorder) ***Optic Neuritis-Blurred vision,double vision,drop down of 1 eye lid. It is said that most people diagnosed with MS,their first symptoms are Optic Neuritis,and that is how they are dx-in my case it was not! ***Pain-When I am 1/2 numb,my skin feels pain,sometimes when I am on Prednisone (to treat MS symptoms) my joints will be in alot of pain. ***Sexuality-Loss of sensation,can't reach climax. ***Spasticity-So far it only seems to bother me at bedtime once in a while. ***Bladder Problems-Urinate too frequent,sometimes I can't urinate for over24 hours,at times I have to run to bathroom before I wet myself! I have been treated with Detrol,and that has worked great for me! ***Emotions-My emotions are a real roller coaster!! My mood swings aren't all that nice either sometimes! Oy Vey! Laughter is my source of medecine for this! ***Depression-I am on Zoloft to help control my depression,but it is still there every once in a while.Paxil was the first anti-depressant I had tried,but that only made me more suicidal than with out it! ***Muscle Weakness-I get that when I am numb,or even from Fatigue. ***Swallowing Problems-If I am not paying too much attention to when I am swallowing,I get things caught in wrong tube,and choke. ***Tremors-I get tremors after taking a shower or bath (NO,not because the water is hot!!),or after a very busy day I can also get them,or just on a day I am weak. ***Heat-Heat is a killer for me and MS! Even when it is below zero,I won't wear a jacket/coat because than I usually sweat. ***Attaxia-When I go to touch my nose,I poke my eye out instead! How I am today... |
| The information provided on my site is designed to support,not replace,the relationship that exsists between a patient/site visitor and their exsisting physician. Do not use any information on this page to diagnose or treat yourself or anyone else,I advise you to talk to your physician. |
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| Modified:12/27/03 |
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