[cassidy5]

I did a intro. but I think it was in the general forums section. Be patient with me! I'll get the hang of this soon.

I'm an older MSer. I was diagnosed at 60, that was three years ago. So far, it is considered mild. I'm on Rebif and stable for now.

My cognition was hit pretty hard right off the bat! From what I've been reading, neuro research is now acknowledging that cognitive damage can occur early on. That's my biggest challenge.

I had no clue what was wrong with me. I retired early from nursing because I found the hectic pace as a floor nurse was too much. I was exhausted constantly, and found it difficult to remember things.

I'm blessed that my sons (3) are raised with families of their own.

It doesn't matter what your age at diagnosis is: there are issues when you are younger with children, jobs etc. At my age, it is very difficult to know what is MS and what is just common aging.

Who would have thought that I would be diagnosed at this age? Certainly not me! Neuro. says I've had it for some time. I guess the point is that there is a big difference between age of onset and age of diagnosis.

Hope to get to know all of you

[cricket52]

Hi Cassidy and welcome!

I am a few years behind you in age with a dx of possible MS.

You made a good point - it's hard to know what is normal aging and what is part of the illness.

Cognitive issues are frustrating to say the least.

Glad to hear you are stable on Rebif.

[SallyC]

Hi Cassidy. Welcome to Neurotalk. Its always nice to meet someone who is almost as old as I am..

I'm way ahead of you on the MS thingy though, I was DX in 1976. I know, long time and actually I had symptoms for about 12 yrs prior to that.

I'm happy to hear that you have a relatively mild case. I do too, really, though I am SPMS now...but don't seem to be getting any worse. However progressing in age along with the MS is slowing me down a bit.

I am a, stay at home (lol), widow with 3 Kids and 8 Grandkids. I enjoy playing and working on my PC and my TV is always on.

Looking forward to getting to know you.

[wannabe]

Welcome!

What symptoms led to your diagnosis? Were you diagnosed by MRI? I wonder if age-related brain changes made it more difficult to diagnose the MS-related brain changes.

I hope the Rebif works for you, and welcome again!

[kami]

Hello, Cassidy,

I too was diagnosed at an "advanced" age; 51. I had intermittent sx for
quite a few years before, but like many, life had too many demands to seek
an answer for the unpleasant but odd things that seemed to occur so
randomly. I lived in a county with one Neurologist...shared with another
county. And we were too poor to be sick anyhow! (bad joke, but as the
main wage earner in the family, not too far from the mark)

The age level of diagnosis seems to be all over the map, and it appears
that it takes a major incident to get one, (broken neck for me), to make the
problems too drastic to ignore.

And yes, I got the old "Well, you're not a kid anymore" attitude too, after
40 everything starts to fall apart.

ttfn, kami

[cassidy5]

Originally Posted by wannabe

Welcome!

What symptoms led to your diagnosis? Were you diagnosed by MRI? I wonder if age-related brain changes made it more difficult to diagnose the MS-related brain changes.

I hope the Rebif works for you, and welcome again!

Hi Wannabee, I was diagnosed with an MRI and an MRS (spectroscopy), cognitive test results and neuro. exam. I went to an MS Specialist PHD after going to two gen. neuros. My spinal had some elevated levels but no 0 bands.

I had extreme fatigue, numbness in one leg, pins and needles, internal tremors, cognitive fog. I was tested for Lupus, Lymes, had a MRA to look for arterial disease in the brain, saw a Rheumatologist---who said, "why are you here?" My blood studies were all in the normal range.

This is the merry go round we all have to go through to rule out everything else.

I wasn't diagnosed until I went to the MS Specialist, after four years of limbo and doubting my own sanity.

As far as age related brain changes mine were evidently specific for MS lesions.

I found out later that MS was in the reports of both the other neuros. However, they never mentioned it to me! It was even mentioned in the neuropsych. testing conclusion==consistent with a diagnosis of MS.

So, that's my story.

[Snoopy]

Hello Cassidy and welcome to NeuroTalk

The average age for MS was between the ages of 20 & 40 but that is no longer the case. More children and older adults are now being diagnosed than years gone past. This disease shows up in any age.

I was diagnosed at the average age....25 but I can take symptoms back to childhood.

Again....Welcome!

[ewizabeth]

Welcome Cassidy!

I was diagnosed at age 44, but likely had MS for a very long time before that. My MRI's are pretty good though (knock on wood). I'm 49 now.

One good thing about getting the DX late in life is, you don't have to spend a lot of time worrying about it while it's milder when you're younger.

[Judy2]

Hi Cassidy and Welcome! This is an extremely supportive bunch with lots of good information. I can relate to the "age" thing. Was diagnosed at 47 but think it actually began in 1976 after the birth of my third child when I developed optic neuritis and again in the other eye two years later.

Due to numbness, tingling, footdrop, etc., my MRI showed the lesions in my brain and spine, so the diagnosis. Also have fibromyalgia and just recently developed lymph oedema in my feet/ankles/legs from immobility. I'm now 63 with three kids and six grandkids and live alone. The ms has progressed pretty rapidly in the past few years so am now in a wheelchair. Tried the injectables with horrible side effects. I've been on LDN for over two years.

Are you by any chance in PA? I too have been going to a general neuro and would really like to hear what an MS specialist has to say. There aren't any in the immediate area, so I'm looking around. If you want to PM me, feel free.

Take care and hope to get to know you better.

[ZiaSolis]

hi cassidy!

i was dxd later in life, too. i should say, i was correctly dxd. i remember my first sx when i was in ninth grade. and my first exacerbation occurred in my mid-twenties. i was misdiagnosed with something else, though. it wasn't until my second exacerbation 25 years later that i was given the MS dx.

i hear ya about never being sure what is ms and what is aging. frankly, i prefer to blame it on ms!

zia