I was diagnosed on April 4th for Relapsing-Remitting MS. Symptoms I've had since Feb are double/blurred vision, slowed/slurred speech, unable to concentrate as well as before, plus they also found a white lesion on my brain.

After doing research, I've found that for a long time I've had MS fatigue, my concentration in some areas were hard to deal with but no one had ever thought that it was MS. Some thought I was lazy, or I just didn't want to do it, but I was simply tired all the time, and still am no matter what kind of stuff I do which now I can't really do a lot.

With that all said, I'm worried about a lot of others have said. Thats about the numb, tingling part that happens to certain parts of your body. Am I still in the beginning stages of MS even though I've had symptoms for more than a decade although they are not the numb or tingling part that most have? Or does this happen later, or just in some MS patients?

Everyone experiences this disease and it symptoms differently. There is no way to know which symptoms you will or will not have.

I have had this disease a very long time and I have never had Optic Neuritis. This is a symptom I could possibly still get but I may go through my entire life never having ON --- there is simply no way to know.

My first exacerbation (relapse, attack, flare-up) at the age of 24 consisted of these symptoms:

- Numb from the waist down
- L'Hermittes
- Bi-lateral leg weakness
- Tremors
- extreme pain (whole body)
- severe mobility problem/barely able to walk
- pins & needles in legs
- vibrations/buzzing from waist down

By your definition I would have had early MS at that time and you can see your experience with MS is different than what mine was.

Unfortunately, there really is no answer to your question --- MS is a "wait & see" type of disease.

When you first find out you have MS, you are in shock as well as overwhelmed with fear.
It will take you at least of year to stop referring to yourself as "John Doe with MS" instead of just "John Doe".
Your mind will wander in and out of the clouds of "what ifs" and "what happens when".

And whatever you do>>>>avoid those people who want to tell you every horror story about MS. How their "Uncle had it and now he is just a head on a pillow!" or "how long before you will be in a wheelchair"?

Throw all that crap out the window. Your MS is YOUR MS and it will take a while for you to get a handle on what it is all about FOR YOU.
And keep in mind that other people don't really get MS until the actually GET MS. After all, did you?

Now with that being said....My symptoms started out sensory (numbness, tingling etc). I've had some pretty strong fatigue too. Some cognitive issues (but I hate to admit that). Bladder issues quite often too.
But my symptoms have remained mostly sensory since the beginning. My doc said that many people who start off sensory stay sensory. However; there are no guarantees.

Now let me tell you a story.......
I had a friend who spent his whole life in fear of Huntington's Chorea Disease. It ran in his family and is highly genetic. He was too frightened to get the genetic testing. He had a vasectomy so he would never pass it on. He spent his whole life taking drugs and drinking alcohol and living a very risky lifestyle. He was paranoid every time he got sick or had a twitch. Well after all the fear of the Huntington's (which he never came down with)....he got cancer.

Skywalker; allows yourself some time to come to grips with the diagnosis....
Take one day at a time.......
Pray and meditate.........
Talk to only supportive people...............

You've had a lot on your plate for a young person and getting all the stressors out of the way (financial, medical insurance etc) will really help.

I'm hoping soon your symptoms will start to abate and you can begin to heal. My first episode lasted so long that finally the docs put me on a 5 day steroid drip and that really helped. I was diagnosed in 02 and I go in and out of feeling like I have MS to forgetting that I have MS.
Hang in there......

I can relate to what karilann says about having days where you feel like you have MS and days where you forget you have MS.

I was given the prognosis, at 25 years of age. About the same age, as yourself. Mine was definitely ON, and had I had the insurance, and returned during my 2nd ON flare-up, no doubt, I'd have had the dx at the age of 25.

With that said. 13 years later, I can say, it hasn't been that terrible of a journey, with MS. Really, truly, it hasn't been that terrible. I do need to, at the advisement of my primary doctor, need to go for a regular eye, exam. Not so much because there's anything wrong, per se, with my vision, but because these check ups are a normal part of life. Much like going for an annual physical with a primary care doctor.

It's scary, at first. Every ache and pain, and itch and twitch, can seem suspect. It is true, once you get through the initial shock to your emotions, life can seem to carry on, as normal. As it, may have once been before.

It's normal, to start looking back, and wondering, was this leading up to MS, was this MS related, etc. That's the normal path of being diagnosed and coming to acceptance, that there are lesions on the brain.

Worrying, adds to stress, and stress is one of those things, that MSers, like you and I and everyone else in this group, are supposed to avoid.

I agree, try to stay closer to those with a positive message. It can play tricks on your mind, to worry, is this going to happen next or not? That is a stressor, above and beyond the normal daily stresses that are usually unavoidable, i.e., making sure bills are paid, love life, is the car in need of maintenance, and those types of daily stresses.

Noone, not even the neurologists, can accurately predict who is going to be disabled from this and who is not.

For me, 13 years into this illness, things are seeming a bit more optimistic. My grandmother knows a woman, who is now well into her 80's, that is thriving and active with her life. There are positive stories out there. There are those that go through most of their lives without much disability.

13 years into this, a few ON flare ups, I can't complain really, I cannot complain.

I'm new at this too, Sky. It took a falling episode due to some wicked head spinning and a lil bladder trouble and continous numbness, to get me to finally get on the road to answers.
It's been two years now I think and I too worry about every little ache and pain...memory seems short, but I think it's MS, but I am glad other people always say how theor memory sucks. At first I was like "it isn't so bad" then a few months ago during winter I could barely move....at times had to hold mom's arms like an old dude....that really sucked.
Righ tnow I feel good....I'm back riding my mountain bike, recently a few weeks ago participated in my forst MS walk. Of course, I rolled on my bike rather than walked.

It' going to suck at itimes, bro, but it's not the end of the world....manage it and live.

I think all newly dx MSers go thru what your going thru. The not knowing is the worst. I was dx at 21yrs old. All I did was panic, worry, etc. I went 19yrs with so mild flares I really almost forgot I had MS. I have learned, you can never compare yourself to other MSers as this disease affects everyone differently. Out of the 21yrs Ive had MS, Ive never had ON. I hope to continue that, but worrying about it wont do me any good. Live in the moment, and let the future take care of itself. Its good advice, but hard to do, I know. Worrying can cause flares. Stay strong, and always remember, your not alone in this fight. We are all here to be strong for each other when we find it difficult ourselves.

There is a lot of good advice here. I can only repeat what everyone else has said: everyone's MS is DIFFERENT. The trick is not to compare yourself to others. That's hard to do in the beginning because you are desperately looking for answers to all sorts of questions.

Some of those questions have no answers like: how bad will my MS be in 10 years? Or 20 years? Will I be in a wheelchair like many of the people in the waiting room? Will I lose my sight? Will I have to use a catheter to urinate? etc. etc. etc.

My diagnosis came in my late 30s and was a complete shock. It started with very mild optic neuritis and then a month later some mild dizziness. I was petrified in the beginning.

It's very easy to imagine symptoms you don't have -- meaning that fear can manifest itself physically in your body. For example, I was sure I was developing tingling in my hands and face but it turned out to be a symptom of anxiety attacks. I never did get tingling/sensory stuff again.

This disease sucks in that there is no cure and no definitive prognosis! All you can do is learn to live with the uncertainty. Prayer, meditation, mindfulness, exercise, socializing and more can help you. Eventually you will figure out what works best for you.