Welcome to DS! You will find answers and friends here. Good Luck with your MRI AND LUMBAR PUNCTURE! Let us know how it goes!

Hi shanney63,

This DS community has been very willing to share information. I think you will find support here. Receiving a diagnosis of MS can take time as MS minics a number of other issues. Welcome to the site and I hope your lumbar puncture and MRI go well next week.

I am sorry that you are going through this but I would like to Welcome you here. You will find great support here. We are not doctors but we will happily share our experiences with you. I know it is scary waiting for a diagnose. Try not to worry. I wish you the best!!

Thank you for all your replies...my biggest fear is' my age...isn't ms worse once u over 50.? I'm so scared and my husband is no support...these are very hard times for me....

It took 40 years to get my diagnosis when I was 59. I am still up, walking and doing OK. It's different for everyone so don't drive yourself crazy with worst case scenarios. I don't have understanding or support either. Sometimes we just have to provide our own. That's what's so great about this site. You can always come here for a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on if you need one.

Welcome aboard!

Gentle hugs, Linda

I was dx at 53. I'm now 60.

If you are anxious when having your tests make sure you let the technicians know how you feel as they should be able to help you through. I cannot tell you anything about the lp as I have always refused to have one, but I have had several mris and apart from the noise and having to lie still for 40 minutes or so, it really isn't so scary and there are no physical after effects that I know of.

There is a herbal relaxant called rescue remedy which you should be able to get over the counter. Excellent for calming those jitters. Just a couple of drops prior to the procedure.

This is an excellent site - it was one of the first I found and reading the myriad of stories helped me with so many things and helped me realise that while MS can be a bit of a roller coaster, there are plenty along for the ride!

All the best! Jill

I am pretty new to this too. I am sorry you are going through this with little support. I figured out that its nearly impossible for someone who doesn't have it to understand. I didn't understand or even care to until it happened to me.

This site and information on the internet has helped me a lot. Good luck to you in getting your diagnosis and getting treatment as early as possible. Hugs

Good morning,

Since MS treats us all a little differently, all we can tell you is our experience.

In my case, I was diagnosed very quickly at age 44. It took me a year to wrap my head around the thought of medication. Once I did, I started Avonex. This choice was due to my travel schedule, once a week was the best alternative.

The good news for me is that I just had my first MRI since diagnosis last week. There were no new lesions. I find that I tire out quicker than before, but that is about it.

I hope all goes well with your diagnosis and choices that you will make.

Good luck! Hope the lumbar puncture goes well - I was VERY nervous, but didn't even have much of a headache, perhaps because the doctor insisted I lie flat for 90 minutes afterwards. Leave your schedule open for the rest of the day afterwards so you can go home and take it easy.

I'm 52 and started down the "possible MS" trail two years ago. No concrete DX at this point despite brain and spinal lesions, but the symptoms haven't changed much either despite my age. So I'm not sure the post-50 thing is an issue you should worry that much about. I've actually heard the opposite, that it can be a younger DX that's worse. I'm actually in a place where I'd LIKE to get an MS DX because at least I wouldn't be in limbo anymore, not knowing is very frustrating. Bests

Never had a lumbar puncture, diagnosed with an MRI.
Everyone's MS is different, alot can be done to stay well.
Diet is very important, I am very serious about healthy eating.
Fresh prodce anti-inflammatory.

If you are going to get MS, better to do it in your fifties than your twenties. I am now on my third decade with this & still fighting.
This is a great site with lots of people who seem to care.

bye for now

All I can say is find a good neurologist........ If you have to drive 200 miles to see a good one... its worth it. Avoid anyone that people say he's a "well, lets wait and see" doctor