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My Multiple Sclerosis Confession: Stephanie
Last Updated: Jul 30, 2020 6:20:32 PM
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Stephanie was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her early 20s. Now, almost a decade later, she’s learned how to cope with the disease, but still feels uncertain about what the future holds.
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I'm Stephanie, and this is my MS confession. Having MS has really impacted my life in a number of different ways. When I was first diagnosed with MS, I was in my early 20s and I had a lot of symptoms initially, and that's how I was originally diagnosed. One of the symptoms that happened early on was something called optic neuritis, where I've had vision problems in my right eye. And while over the years, it has gotten better, most recently, over the past couple of months since having a baby, my optic neuritis has become really hard to manage. So really dealing with these vision problems has been a really big challenge and has really impacted my life. Because while most people may see me on the outside and it may look like I'm fine, I'm really dealing with a lot of these challenges. And that's one of the hardest parts about having a disease that maybe looks invisible to others.
What scares me the most about having MS is really just the unknown. Symptoms can happen at any time and I don't know how severe they're going to be. And now having a small child, it really makes it hard not to know what the progression of this disease is going to be. And while I do everything that I can to stay healthy and I eat well and exercise and try to prevent new symptoms from occurring, because of new lesions, there really is just no way to know what my future is going to be with this disease. And that's really what scares me the most about having MS.
The silver lining I've found from being diagnosed with MS is that I have really made an effort to take such better care of myself. Since learning that I have MS about nine years ago, I really took an interest in trying to be the best I possibly can to my body, trying to eat well, trying to exercise, and really doing whatever I can to stay ahead of it. I also have connected with so many other families and especially women who have been diagnosed with MS over the years, and building this support network has really been something that's been so incredible throughout this journey.
Medical Reviewers:William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Review Date: 07-08-2020
Review Date: 07-08-2020
2020 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
or reprinted without permission from Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. Use
of this information is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement.
Multiple Sclerosis Video Center
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My Multiple Sclerosis Confession: Christina
Last Updated: Aug 31, 2020 6:13:06 PM
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For Christina, the hardest part of life with multiple sclerosis is the unknown; she doesn't know when MS will change her life again. But she's grateful for her support system and for treatment that lets her live a normal and full life today.
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I'm Christina, and this is my MS confession.
One of the most dramatic experiences of having MS was after that first initial diagnosis, I ended up in the hospital for several weeks while they were trying to figure out the best type of treatment. And I didn't know if I'd ever be able to walk again or regain the feeling in my extremities.
The scariest thing about my condition is not knowing when the next relapse is going to happen. I could go five, 10, 20 years without having any type of symptom, or I could wake up tomorrow morning and not be able to feel one side of my body. So I think it's the fear of the unknown that's the scariest.
The silver lining of my MS is that with the right treatment, I can live a perfectly happy, healthy, and normal life. I think another silver lining is that it's really showed me that my friends and family who care about me and support me are there when I need them and that it's okay for me to slow down and not be as hard on myself.
Medical Reviewers:William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Review Date: 08-05-2020
Review Date: 08-05-2020
2020 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
or reprinted without permission from Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. Use
of this information is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement.
Multiple Sclerosis Video Center
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My Multiple Sclerosis Confession: Bianca
Last Updated: Jul 30, 2020 6:12:00 PM
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In the two years since Bianca’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis, she’s lost use of her right hand and often feels off balance. There are some things she can’t do–but she’s more grateful than ever for what she can do.
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I'm Bianca, and this is my MS Confession.
I was diagnosed with MS two years ago. During this time, I had my first and second relapse. I lost control of my right arm and my right-dominant hand, and the scariest thing during this time was not being able to write or do any kind of fine-motor tasks. I also experienced horrible nerve pain along the right side of my upper body for a few months. Currently, my right hand is still numb to this day.
What scares me the most about my condition right now, I'd have to say, is my balance. My balance and pain. It's a constant thing that's on my mind when I'm walking outside and I worry that in the future, these flare-ups will eventually take over any kind of enjoyable life that I might have. I think, like many people who have MS, the unknown is the scariest part about this disease because it is so unpredictable. And it's pretty mysterious, so you never know what's going to happen in the future.
The silver lining of my condition, I would have to say, is the things that MS has shown me that I'm capable of doing. I really work hard in focusing on healthier lifestyle habits and just promoting happiness on a daily basis, which is something I've always worked towards. But now having this diagnosis, I'm really mindful about not wasting a day and practicing gratitude and appreciation. There's a thin line between the things you can and cannot control, and that's a big lesson that I've learned by having multiple sclerosis.
Medical Reviewers:William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Review Date: 07-24-2020
Review Date: 07-24-2020
2020 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
or reprinted without permission from Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. Use
of this information is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement.
Multiple Sclerosis Video Center
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My Multiple Sclerosis Confession: Dan
Last Updated: Jul 30, 2020 6:13:56 PM
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Dan met his wife at a multiple sclerosis event almost 20 years ago, and although it can be difficult when both partners are managing the same disease, they've learned how to get through it together.
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I'm Dan, and this is my multiple sclerosis confession. A dramatic experience I had as a result of my multiple sclerosis actually happened just before I was diagnosed. I went to the doctor because my hands and my feet were numb. And when I got to the doctor's office, I felt like I didn't put my sock on correctly and so it felt like I had something bunched up into my shoe. When I went into the exam room, I thought, oh, well, let me take off my shoe and I'll straighten out my sock. Turns out there was a bat in my shoe. It had gotten in there and they can crawl into little holes apparently and I couldn't feel it because my feet were numb. What scares me most about my multiple sclerosis is that I've been living with the disease for 21 years and I have the relapsing-remitting form of the disease.
Now, when I was first diagnosed, they said that after about 10 years living with the disease, you would elevate to a more progressive form of the disease. Well, after 10 years, I felt like I've been living on borrowed time because I feel like I'm still doing okay and I still have relapsing-remitting MS. Not that I think about it all the time, but on some levels, you still feel like I'm waiting for the next shoe to drop because it has been 21 years.
The silver lining of my multiple sclerosis actually is my wife, Jennifer. Jennifer also has multiple sclerosis and we met at an MS event about 18 years ago. And it just truly was love at first sight. And I think that's one of the things--I wouldn't want to have another partner in crime with this disease. They always make fun of us because, oh, you have a built-in support system, and we do but the challenge is when one of us is sick, it makes it really difficult for the other one because we're both living with the disease. But truly, my wife is the silver lining and also the countless other people we've met who are living with the disease. Also, all of the opportunities we've had to travel to speak and just meet other people.
Medical Reviewers:William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Review Date: 07-02-2020
Review Date: 07-02-2020
2020 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
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Multiple Sclerosis Video Center
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My Multiple Sclerosis Confession: Jennifer
Last Updated: Jul 30, 2020 6:15:19 PM
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Jennifer's multiple sclerosis has brought with it many challenges, but also many rewards, including her husband, Dan. She doesn't know what the future holds, but she's grateful to have a partner along the way.
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Hi, I'm Jennifer, and this is my multiple sclerosis confession.
A dramatic experience I've had as a result of my multiple sclerosis is that, because of the disease, I'm no longer able to transfer myself into bed. And one day my husband was transferring me at a hotel in Detroit and we fell, actually I fell, and he had to call the Detroit Fire Department to come rescue me and get me into bed.
What scares me the most about my life with multiple sclerosis is that I am getting older. I've had the disease for 23 years and I'm no longer able to do some activities of daily living, like bathing or fixing my hair, or cooking for myself, and I worry about how I'm going to get those things done as I continue to age.
The silver lining of my multiple sclerosis has to be my husband, Dan. He also is living with the disease and we met in an MS function almost 18 years ago, and I cannot imagine living a moment of my life without him. So definitely, he is my silver lining.
Medical Reviewers:William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Review Date: 07-02-2020
Review Date: 07-02-2020
2020 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
or reprinted without permission from Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. Use
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Multiple Sclerosis Video Center
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My Multiple Sclerosis Confession: Marni
Last Updated: Jul 30, 2020 6:19:24 PM
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Marni’s multiple sclerosis has affected all aspects of her life—especially her eyesight. It’s challenging to have an invisible disease like MS, but she finds strength in her community and in raising awareness and money towards a cure.
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My name is Marni, and this is my multiple sclerosis confession.
A dramatic experience I've had as a result of my MS has been any time I have a flare-up that regards my eyes, specifically optic neuritis, is when I have blurry vision and I usually have it in one eye. I've had it three times, twice in one eye, once in the other. And every single time it happens, my eyesight gets a little worse and it's not so much my eyesight, but it's the color of what I could see. And it's really scary. I'm not allowed to drive. It changes my normal activity and my normal life and it's really ... it's challenging.
What scares me the most about having MS is really wondering if I'm going to pass this gene to my son, who is currently four years old and not knowing if he's going to get it one day. It wasn't in my family, but an autoimmune disease was, and it's really scary thinking that I might be responsible for something that he's going to have to go through.
The silver lining with having MS, for me, is since I've had it for 14 years, I've really come to be that person that people go to when they know somebody that's newly diagnosed. I'm very open about it. I'm not scared to talk about it. I want people to know that it's an invisible disease and that you could look healthy, but you may not feel well. So through that, I've met so many people, so many women, and I've actually raised a lot of money. I've done walks and bike rides and music events to raise money for the research to help find a cure.
Medical Reviewers:William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Review Date: 07-08-2020
Review Date: 07-08-2020
2020 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
or reprinted without permission from Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. Use
of this information is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement.
Multiple Sclerosis Video Center
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My Multiple Sclerosis Confession: Joanna
Last Updated: Jul 30, 2020 6:18:05 PM
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Joanna's MS causes vertigo that can put her life on hold, but her diagnosis has also helped her live a healthier life.
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My name is Joanna and this is my multiple sclerosis confession. One of my main symptoms of my MS is vertigo. When that happens to me, it takes over my whole body. I become paralyzed in my brain and my entire body. I can't move. And I know that the only way to get over it is to lay in bed and rest. It could take a day. It could take a few days. It could take a week. But I know that, as long as I lay down and rest, my body will go back to normal.
What scares me the most about my MS is when my vertigo does come on and I'm not at home, I can't drive. So, there have been situations, especially at work, where it will come on while I'm teaching and I've had to go to the school nurse. And I've had my parents and my husband come get me and drive me home. I also worry about the future. And, because this is such an unpredictable disease, I do not know if I could have other symptoms in the future. And that scares me.
Before I was diagnosed with MS, I would do things like skip breakfast. I would eat a lot of sugar. And I would always feel it. Once I was diagnosed, I knew that I had to eat healthier. I had to start working out and exercising. The silver lining was that I basically made myself more aware of what I need to do in order to stay healthy. And, when I eat healthy, I feel great.
Medical Reviewers:William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Review Date: 07-23-2020
Review Date: 07-23-2020
2020 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
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of this information is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement.
Multiple Sclerosis Video Center
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My Multiple Sclerosis Confession: Alexa
Last Updated: Jul 30, 2020 6:16:57 PM
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Alexa's MS pain can interrupt her favorite activities, and she's fearful of what the future holds. However, her MS has also shown her what's really important and helped her to be more mindful and not take anything for granted.
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I'm Alexa and this is my multiple sclerosis confession. A dramatic experience I've had because of multiple sclerosis was recently, I was hiking with a few friends and we got to about halfway through the hike and my left leg, which is affected by MS, started to kind of give out and fatigue, and stiffen up. So I was in a lot of pain and my friend had to find a walking stick to help me complete the hike because we were still in the middle of the woods.
And it was just a really sad and scary moment for me, where I really felt how much MS was affecting me at the time in a way it hadn't before. What scares me the most about having MS when I think about the future is losing mobility, losing the ability to walk and do the things that I love to do like dance and hike, and just have independence and freedom. And thinking about not having that scares me on a daily basis.
The silver lining of having MS is it kind of pulls into hyperfocus what really matters and what's really important, and not taking things for granted. And just knowing that nothing's guaranteed and nothing's promised. And kind of living more mindfully and being more present and finding more gratitude for the things that I still do have. And the support that I have and the access to really good medical help and resources. So there's a lot of silver linings.
Medical Reviewers:William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Review Date: 07-23-2020
Review Date: 07-23-2020
2020 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
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6 Surprising Facts About Multiple Sclerosis
Last Updated: Dec 22, 2015 9:34:02 PM
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Learn tips on how to manage your MS.
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Multiple sclerosis affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide, yet there's a lot about it we don't know.
MS is unpredictable and often disabling, but experts aren't exactly sure what causes it. And while treatment can be effective, researchers are still working on a cure.
Number 1: MS interrupts essential communication between your brain and body. MS is a disease where the immune system strips away the protective covering of the body's nerves.
Everything we do from walking to talking is a result of the brain communicating instructions to the rest of the body. This is why people with MS are sometimes unable to walk or control other movements and bodily functions.
Number 2: MS can damage your eyes, but it's rarely permanent. MS harms nerves all over your body, including your optic nerve, which connects your eyes to your brain.
Damage to the optic nerve can lead to blurry vision, color blindness and difficulty with depth perception. Sometimes MS can even cause blindness in one or both eyes. The good news is, MS-related vision problems typically resolve on their own without treatment.
Number 3: MS treatment is holistic and effective. There isn't a cure for MS yet, but most treatment plans tackle the disease from all angles.
Your doctor will prescribe medications to help you keep MS from progressing quickly, recover from flare-ups, and aid in managing symptoms like pain, stiffness, fatigue, or depression. And a physical therapist can help you stretch and strengthen your muscles, and show you strategies for performing daily tasks.
Number 4: it's easy to find the right doctor to treat multiple sclerosis at Healthgrades. By using Healthgrades' Guided Physician Search, it's easy to find a doctor who's the best fit for you and your MS.
Number 5: music therapy can help with MS. Music therapy teaches you to match your body's actions with a rhythm, and it can also help improve coordination, endurance, concentration and memory. In addition, this type of therapy gives you tools for coping with fear, stress, and depression.
Number 6: vitamin D may help you manage MS. A low vitamin D level has been associated with more frequent and severe MS flare-ups, and research suggests that people with a healthy level of vitamin D might experience fewer MS symptoms. So try getting more sun and eating fatty fish to increase your vitamin D levels.
And don't forget, you can find the right doctor to treat your MS at Healthgrades.