You've definitely come to the right place. It feels like I'm newly-diagnosed even though I was diagnosed six years ago. Feel free to message me if you need to vent to someone!

You are very fortunate to be diagnosed so quickly so you can start on meds and slow the progression of the disease.

I wholeheartedly agree that this is the place to come for information from those of us in the trenches. Knowledge truly is power. The more you learn, the less frightening things will seem.

Gentle hugs, Linda

They said I most likely have had it for a while. I was having frequent migraines and dizzy/fainting spells. I had a couple vision issues a while back but nothing was bad enough to warrant an MRI...

I like to welcome you here. I am sorry to hear that you have MS. This is a wonderful site. You will find people here who has experienced the same thing you are going through now. I have found this site very supportive and I learned more about MS here. It is a good place to come to and vent too. It is scary of the unknown but we are here if you need to talk to someone.

You neuro is correct! There is no correlation between the # of lesions and the severity of the disease.

I was DX'd in 1995 and I am still going luckily and have never messed with any of these "disease modifying drugs". I'm hanging in there and my doctor said I have a slow form of this disease.

I am 55 years old at present.

I am sad to learn of your diagnosis. When I was your age, things were still going along fairly good for me. However, by the time I was about 28 or so, the MS was beginning to hit me and no doctor believed I was ill. Anyway, I finally found out in 1995 and today I am here to be able to offer support and hope to you.

Take good care of yourself please.

Your friend,
hope4acure

Melanie,

I completely understand your situation. I was diagnosed at 21 and was completely terrified. Unlike you, they needed to perform a spinal tap to definitively diagnose me. Try not to focus on the number of lesions or anything like that, focus on how you feel and trying to feel better. It is a very scary but the best thing to do is to be as positive as possible and to not let MS define you. It is now 7 years later and I have only had 1 relapse due to the delivery of my daughter. You never know what MS is going to present you with so just take one day at a time! Please don't ever feel alone.

Jessica

I will share that I felt after a lot of stuff I have already gone through, I thought this new "thing" was unfair. I had a terrible childhood and was adopted at 12, I had two hernia surgeries before I was 10, I had a tumor on my thyroid that was cancerous when I was 17, went into kidney failure and was in the hospital for two weeks at 18 and had a high risk pregnancy. I had a very healthy baby but was very scared I was going to lose him. So the MS was just numbing... But I have really learned that you can't get upset over the things you have no control over. I know everybody has their own hardships and I wasn't trying to go for a pity trip because I am a very happy person. If I let everything get me down, it just affects my family and I don't want to do that. So I just choose to be happy and live my life as best I can around my struggles. Optimism is a great concept! :-)

Jessica, I had to have the spinal tap, a bunch of blood work and 4 MRI's. The spinal tap was not as bad as I originally thought it was going to be... I kind of responded to you in my other reply. Thank you! It really does help to see how others cope.

welcome to the group :) I am 26 years old and have 2 little boys. My spinal tap was horrible but thats because I got the headache afterwards that lasted 3 days, got to the point i was considering adult diapers so i wouldnt have to get up

Just wanted to say welcome to the board.

I also, wish to extend my welcome, Melanie.
I like that you seem to have a very positive attitude, in spite of lifes circumstances. Good job! I wish the very best for you, and I also hope that being a part of this group finds you many good new friends!

It sounds like you have a good neuro, who is taking care of you. That is important!

My husband has been my stronghold. He is more optimistic than I am. He told me that maybe the reason I'm going through all of this is because I can handle it and help others cope with their struggles.

I was diagnosed at 21 back in 2001. I lost my vision and thought I was dying. Three weeks after I lost my vision, my entire right leg went numb. I now have 20/20 vision but walk badly. It's a horrid illness with no predicable pattern but this is a great place to be. Welcome!

Welcome, my 19 yr old daughter has ms as so do I. We Welcome every aid available to make our lives possible. We are very optimist and faith keeps me going. Stress is very bad for us with ms, you seem to have a good attitude, keep it up! Alma