Hello all MSers. I haven't been around any of the MS sites for quite some time and due to Sheena's post in the MS forum...decided to come out of hiding.

Some of you knew me as LHJB on MSW. I left there a long time ago, never to return. I have been a member here for a long time but hadn't visited but twice in the last 10 months or so.

A chapter in my life has ended and so I have to look for new beginnings and here I am to do just that.

First...for Sheena. I don't want to post too many details but suffice it to say that I may very well have saved my own life by realizing some of the symptoms I had really had nothing to do with MS. My situation is probably NOT the same as yours but I approached my PCP about some issues with my legs such as... incredible pain...sores that won't heal and the fact that my bp had spiraled out of control again. He wasted no time in sending me to the hospital for a test. The results of that test sent me packing to a Vascular SURGEON!! I was scared to death. The surgeon sent me for another test... a CT scan of my arteries from my belly button to the tips of my toes.

The results have scared the begeebers out of me. I just turned 45 years old and I have a complete blockage(occlusion) of the major artery in my right leg. It is about 4 inches long so it can not be ballooned or stinted...I have to have by-pass surgery on it in a few weeks. I figured..."oh cool...that shouldn't be too difficult.". WRONG...it is major surgery. I have several other blockages of 70% in my left leg, 80% and 90% on two of the returning arteries by my belly button and a hernia to top it all off.

I thank God I talked to my pcp about my issues as most people who have what is called P.A.D. don't usually know they have it until they have suffered a stroke. The doctor also told me that I am a very lucky lady to still have my right leg...something about amputation.

I hope all is well with you and I will keep an eye out on your post in MS.

And to those I know from MSW...good to see you all here.