We've discussed most of the ups and downs of having MS, but I was just wondering what your best and your worst time during this time?

I'll go first.....

My Best time is when I first got my Minivan with Scooter and Lift. I had a new feeling of independence and could go anywhere and do most everything.

My Worst time was, you guessed it, when I could no longer drive and had to give up my license. I still cry and shake whenever I relive it.

There are other good times and bad times, but those were my best and worst. How about you?

This sounds crazy, but my best time was when I got diagnosed. It had been a year and a half, and I was physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. I knew something was terribly wrong with my body, I was scared it was something WORSE than MS, scared I'd never find out what it was, scared I was losing my mind, and scared that my family was starting to think I was imagining or exaggerating it all. So my diagnosis was a huge relief.

My worst time? It keeps changing. When I had to take disability retirement after just shy of 30 years; I thought I would collapse when I handed over the keys to the Post Office that last day and walked out the door. But every time the "next thing" happens, every time I realize there's something new I can't do any more, then it's a new "worst time". But I keep getting through them, thank God.

The best? hmmm...that would have to be the diagnosis. As scary and downright awful as that time was, it answered so many decades of questions, concerns, and dismissals by MDs who told me things like "its a migraine." or "you are just under too much stress" or "its proabably a brain tumor that hasnt grown large enough to be seen yet" and the ever lovely "you are drug seeking" when I didnt even ask for an asprin. So, getting an answer was so wonderful to know that I wasnt crazy, emotional, whiney or mental.

The worst...hmmm...I have been playing a game called Final Fantasy elevan since november of 2001. I have loved this game for a decade now, and just recently had to make the decision to quit playing. I am no longer able to see what is going on with the game, and I have become a liabilty to the other players. I play on line with kids from England, Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Germany and so on. I have made friends around the world and they are truly my family in that game. I shall miss them all so much, but without vision, a video game is useless, no?

Best time...definitely the day I got dxd. Finally got a definitive answer.
Worst time...when I received my first shipment of Copaxone...made it real.

I think the best time was the day I received my diagnosis. Strangely enough, it was a relief. I had done so much research on my own that I had all but convinced myself that my severe double vision was caused by a brain tumor. So, MS was the lesser of two evils in my mind.

The worst time was when I realized I could no longer work. It was scary and I had visions of myself living in some one room apartment with no money. I quickly shook that idea out of my head because I knew better than that. It was just something I never thought I'd have to deal with. But.....I've dealt with much worse circumstances thrown at me with no warning.

the best time - it was many years ago - i was diagnosed but i could work, drive, walk and take care of many things.

the worst time - i'm home watching my son, gave up driving, gave up so many things because i can't walk and drive - i lost myself, my life's style. Even if my husband drives me somewhere - he takes care of my events, it is not me and it means - i'm not myself anymore.

The best - I had been trying to figure out a way to stay home with my daughters during their high school years. I always felt that kids need their parents more than we realize during that time. I prayed for God to show me a way that I could do that. On DD19s 1st day of freshman year, my leg went numb and I eventually couldn't walk well - falling, wall walking, etc. I was never able to go back to work. It is not quite the idea I had in my mind when I prayed to God, but MS is the answer he gave me.

The worst - Flares. Hands down they have to be the worst, especially the ones that take longer to recover. 2nd worst would be the "vice grip" (a.k.a. MS hug).

It's been so long since dx, I can't even remember how many years (forget years a lot now,
must be the brain finally reneging). My happiest time was when my husband took me to a distant healing service in Alaska, because I was not steady enough to go alone, even though he did not think much of the evangelist; at that meeting he "re-upped" in his old faith. I was healed instantly of optic neuritis at the evangelist's brother's church, years later, and the ON was gone for good, although not the overall disease.

The worst time was when I realized that even though I'd fought with MS and Porphyria and did pretty darn well, I now had a new "couple" to deal with, the myeloproliferative
syndromes Polycythemia Vera and Monoclonal Gammopathy, which are making widowhood a challenge that will never go away, short of another miracle.

My worst was going through a terrible episode of brain fog and my eyes were constantly going passed what I was trying to focus on...kept overlooking things so to speak. I forgot what that is called. I work as a registrar at a hospital and it was very difficult to registger patients...constantly looking at their DL, ins card and a computer monitor. I thought I may have to quit. That all seemed to go away after being on Vit D for several weeks.

My best was finding a new neurologist. I told him that I had other issues going on and having other tests done and he told me he wanted the results of any other test I was having done because he was not just interested in the MS aspect of me, but was interested in me as a whole person. I felt like I found someone who really cares. He is the chief MS neurologist at the MIND Clinic in Mich.

My best and my worst are the same, the day I had to quit work. But it was the best because shortly after my youngest daughter graduated from high school and I found out I had a husband, a home, another life that I had hidden from myself because of my drive to be the best of the best in nursing. Nursing was #1, myself, family, husband, church all came in a distant 10,11. Nursing took up #s 1, 2, 3, etc. Our empty nest syndrome was wonderful. I found my kitchen. Both our Moms had small strokes and needed just a little extra attention. I could kick myself for how I treated my family and everyone else in my life while I was working. I sure do have a nice SSD check to show for it but I would like some of those moments back.

I think I can say alll this because I don't have severe disabilities like some of you do. I still have the one major lesion and my MRI basically has never changed in the 15 years I have been n this journey. As Dej said, I have made so many frineds from all over the world because of this computer. I do't know if I would have gotten one if I had still been working. I wouldn't have time to use it!

I have been able to plan and empliment my girls weddings, be at the childbirth of both my precious little grand daughters. I have been able to stay with my Mom almost the whole time after her cancer diagnosis and be at her bedside when she died. Would I have been able to do all this if I did not have MS and still be driven to be that best nurse, highest level on the career level. I don't think so. So yes, I do thank God for it. I just hope He lets me stay at the level I am now. But if not I know that through my example, one or both of my girls may be there to help me. I know my son in laws will.

I didn't mean to make this so long. It's the cortisone from the root canal!