First of all.........welcome, Sam! How old are you?

Your MS is probably relapsing/remitting MS. That means your body has an attack and then kinda heals itself. The attacks can come often or far apart.
The drugs are thought to slow down the rate of attacks and therefore slow any progression.

I would seriously have a talk with your doc about the meds, because the early part of the disease is when they work!
I was diagnosed in 2002 and had off and on symptoms since 1989. None of my symptoms ever led me to believe I had MS! Your well meaning friends "know" MS in its worst light. Forget that stuff. MS can be mild or it can be really nasty. No one knows why it hits some people so hard and others not so much.
I am fine and so is my brother in law (a prominate Judge) and he was diagnosed 10 years before me! Before MRI, the docs wouldn't know what was wrong with people like me because we did not fit the obvious profile.

Thanks for sharing everyone

It's good to hear such varied stories actually.

TXBatman that's a really great way of looking at it and fair play for helping to spread awareness.

Blessings2You, wow, your Dad sounds like a hero! Thanks for sharing and a great snowflake analogy, I think I might borrow that one when I explain to people

Karilann thanks! I'm 31. I think I'm going to speak to my Neuro about the treatment options now makes sense to give myself as much as an advantage as possible I guess!

Thanks again all.

You got some very good advice on this thread, Sam...by the way welcome! Great place for info, support, whine parties and laughs too...

I was dxd in late 08 & put on Copaxone immediately, as well as monthly IVSM infusions. I wasn't satisfied with the care I was receiving from that neuro, so someone from this group recommended my current neuro. He immediately took me off the IVSM, since I wasn't in a flare & it is very unhealthy for the body. He felt that I was a "mild" case. My main symptoms are spasticity, pain, balance issues, heat sensitivity, bladder/bowel incontinence and cognitive impairment. I can't work due to the cog fog and am on SSDI (sadly).
He just took me off of Copaxone; it is the mildest of DMDs, but it breaks down the fat cells and I look like the moon in the areas where I inject. I asked if I could go off, and after looking at my recent spinal MRI, he felt it was fine to discontinue the DMD and just treat the symptoms. He said, "If I didn't know you, just looking at your MRI I'd say you don't have MS"...then why the heck have I been sticking myself for 4.5 years???

I take the attitude of ignoring the symptoms if I can. I am on several medications to deal with the spasticity and incontinence. I am tired of talking about what is wrong with me and have taken a silent oath to not utter a word about anything going on with me unless someone else notices. I'm tired of feeling like a victim and am no longer willing to let this disease control me (whether or not I have it).

Keep a symptom journal with dates of onset & dissipation-it'll help you during future appointments. And keep up on the research on all of the latest DMDs...there's so many more now...but they have side effects.

Keep us up to date...we're a nosy bunch who always like to be kept in the know

Thanks Debbie, great idea about the journal.

I have my last "private" appointment with my Neuro today. After that, I move over to state healthcare which means the same Neuro, but much less frequent visits and longer waits.

I'll be asking about all my treatment options and see where we go from there...

I never heard of MS and I was having symptoms for about three years before I finally thought something wa sreallyy wrong. It took a major vertigo and fall episode, to convince me to see a doctor. I was set on heart problems since my grandfather and cousin both had heart disease late in their 30,s. I didn't want to face it so I kept putting it off.

Even now I feel fairly good, but I am now really feeling some changes for the worse. I am def a lot more fatigued these days, I now feel more comfortable in walking with my stick and my gait is a lil slower. I almost wet my pants again last night due to some sudden urge.

So yes....right now I can honestly say I am no fraud or ashamed to say I have MS.