Welcome to the site Sheena, but before you freak out too much I want you to know that I was diagnosed in 1977.

That's 30 years and six months ago! I worked 4 days a week until 5 months ago in a busy hospital setting...that made it 30 years and one month since diagnosis! I still walk (occassionally with a cane), but only because I've been a bit unsteady on my feet lately.

I was 25 years old when I was diagnosed Sheena, I'm now 56! Don't give up hope, and do not expect the worst. MS is not a death sentence, nor is a life sentence in a wheel chair.

You may not be one of the lucky ones....only time can tell that., but not everybody becomes disabled Sheena. In fact approx one third never become disabled in any way, and I believe those figures are getting better all the time.

Keep thinking positively, and keep in contact with all of us on the site. We're here to support you in whatever way we can.

Sheena,
To listen to what you are going through sounds very similar to how I was feeling 2 months ago. I was also diagnosed out of the blue. Many lesions, but I don't think as many as you. But things, symptoms, just seemed to come one after the other. I thought is was all out of the blue, but now, given a few weeks to really think about it... I'm sure this has been around for many years. This last attack that sent me to find a doctor was just more severe. I thought it would never end and that I would progressively keep getting worse. I thought my life was over. Well now, symptoms have eased up and I can think a little more clearly. I understand it better now, since my body is telling me things don't have to always stay bad. I still don't know what to expect in the future, but that seems to be the nature of the beast. So I am just enjoying what I "do" have. I just no longer take anything for granted. I do still get depressed, but I'm a little more over the shell shock. Anyway, not sure if this is of help. But I do know how you are feeling. And you are in my prayers. It is a rough row to hoe, but as others have said, please know you are not alone. We are all here for ya!!!
Best Wishes!

~a friend

Welcome to Neurotalk. I'm glad you found this site - it's a mental lifesaver! You can also get some reassurance that you are not alone in this - all of us here have been at the point in the road you are now.

I've been dx since 2005 but I'm sure I had MS for years before that - just didn't know it. Looking back I can see times I thought I had a pinched nerve (causing numbness & tingling) or ear infection (causing dizziness).

MS is not a death sentence....far from it. There are disease modifying drugs (DMD's) that you can take that were not available several years ago.

Don't let anyone tell you that just because you were dx later in life that it HAS to be aggressive and progressive. That simply isn't true. I was dx at 45. I've had symptoms that have been severe and lasted months - like the flare I'm in now - it's been going on since October 2007 but it's getting better....however slowly it is getting better.

Just try to relax - the more anxious you get the worse things will seem. I know it's hard to do with the dx coming out of the blue. Having the rug ripped out from underneath you is not fun but this is manageable. Talk to your doctor, hear him or her out and make your own decisions based on what's best for you.

Hope to see you here on the board often - let us know how you're doing.

I know someone who was diagnosed several years ago that was told her brain looked like "a starry sky". If you saw her today, you would not say "She has MS", you would say "I wonder where she gets all that energy?"

Welcome. Sorry to hear about the DX, but glad you found us.

Getting this DX out of the blue is never fun. Despite having two family members with this, I was not expecting to have MS too. It floored me when they told me they suspected it.

As you heard, there is no definites with this disease. It hits each of us differently. My mom was Dx'd young and had an aggressive form. My grandmother (dad's mom) had a "mild" form. She had some nasty flares, but always managed to bounce back for the most part. They finally told her it was MS when she was in her early 50s. She retired in her early 60s from her pathology job.

Even mine is a little different. I don't have that many leisons, but they are positioned in not so great areas in my brain and spine. Who knew that only 12 visible leisons could cause such havoc.

Be kind to yourself as much as you can. Even though it sounds like a cliche, taking it one day at a time is something that we need to do. For me it's been a hard lesson - I'm a stubborn one, LOL.

Hi Sheena and welcome to NT!

You came to the right place. Everyone here understands what you're going through right now.

I was dxd. RRMS in 12/01 at age 33 and I remember my first year being the hardest on me mentally. I don't like surprises or the unpredictable and that describes MS. I hated that there was something in life I couldn't control. I had a lot of anger towards this disease and it took me a while to accept.

Allow yourself some time to get your head around this diagnosis and know that it's not really as bad as all those thoughts going through your mind right now. Above all, keep a positive attitude and a sense of humor and know that we're here for you!

Sheena,

Welcome to NT. You will find that we are a great caring group and are here to support you.

It is a frustrating disease as NO ONE can predict your course of the disease. That is really difficult because that is a question we have all asked at some point. The only predictable thing about MS is that it IS unpredictable.

The number of lesions, to my understanding, does not dictate how debilitating your MS will be. As you read in others posts, there are many who have lots of lesions and live perfectly normal lives. There are some with only a few lesions but those lesions effect their every day activities.

Give it some time and see how it goes. I know that is easier said than done. Someone gave me that advice once and it turned out to be the best advice. You will be OK and we are here to help you along the way.

Wishing you the best.

Welcome. Sorry you are now a member of our 'club' but then again happy to meet you and try to help out.

Firstly, think about it. You could (out of the blue) be dx'd with any number of awful diseases and some of them are hopeless. MS is not.

You've gotten through the first stage (finding out what's wrong) and now you can settle down and deal with it.

There are many courageous and helpful folks here in various stages of MS.

Do you know what your dx is ....RRMS, SPMS, etc....

I have quite a few lesions but they don't appear to be active. Some people have a lot of activity happening and some don't know.

I'm sorry if you are alone in this. That means you must rely on a good doctor and find out who you can turn to in your area (any of our MS buddies near you?).

I live in North Carolina; where are you ? (don't have to give out the town or anything).

Seems to me like our MS pals are always reaching out to help each other.

Good luck.....

Tootsie

Hi, I just want to thank all of you for your support and knowledge. I truly didn't know what to expect when I found you. All of you have been so very kind. Thank you again; I wish each of you all the best in your struggle against this thing that seems to be trying to control us. Sheena

Just wanted to welcome you to the board. I know there are hundreds of us here and many will be able to answer any questions you have or just be here to help you through struggles, acceptance....and the big thing, hope for the future. Sorry you are going thru this!