Hello everyone! I wanted to introduce myself, then have a look around. My name is Connie. I am a wife, mom, nurse, and a host of other things

I was diagnosed with MS last Thursday, after my 2nd episode in 8 years. I had an MRI that showed 4 lesions. I am having an LP done on the 21rst, then following up with a second opinion in May with an MS specialist (DH is military and I am seeing a military nuero, they don't really specialize much).

In 2000, I was struck with double vision, blurred vision, and blacking out. I was having slurred speech, trouble swallowing, loss of coordination and balance issues. I saw a doc who immediately hospitalized me. They thought I was having TIAs (mini-strokes). When the CT ruled that out, they wanted me to follow up with a neuro to rule out MS. I didn't follow up (a tad scared), and chalked it up to stress (I was VERY, VERY stressed at the time).

Fast forward to January of this year. Following a bout with the flu, I became very weak, almost paralyzed on the left side. Was having some speech problems but not as bad as before. DH made me go to the docs, who got me into the neurologist the next day (next day never happens in military health care). They thought I had Guillean Barret syndrome. Ruled that out pretty quick. Had gobs of blood work, an EMG, and an MRI. As I said, my LP is later this month.

So, here I am. I am trying to figure out what my course of action will be as this could not have come at a worse time. I don't have time for possible side effects from a DMD or anything - not that you ever really do... but, I had just started a second job 3 days before diagnosis. I am studying to get 4 degrees simultaneously, I am writing 2 books (one on the WLS - weight loss surgery - I had, and one on addiction). Plus I am taking 2 trips in the next 6 months, and am saving up to have plastic surgery done in about 9 months. PLUS, hubby deploys in less than a year. Yike, my plate really IS full. But, I digress...

Denial? I may be in it sometimes, I think I am at the just ignore it and it will go away stage. It may sink in when I hear a confirmation from my second opinion. Right now when I talk about it, I feel like I am talking about one of my patients. Sometimes I am in fight mode - This disease will NOT affect or effect my life (yeah right). Agh, I just need to soak in it for a little while. For now I am reading anything I can get my hands on, making up with people I need to have on my side, and getting rid of those who don't have time for others concerns. No matter what, I do know this disease will not defeat me.

Going to have a look around the new digs now!!