Hi Melissa!

Gracie put it in perfect words. I think the first year is the hardest year. At least for me it was. You go through such a wide range of emotions and questions as well as a fear of the unknown future. I do not know which injectable you are using, but from the sound of you 2 day side effects, I would sounds like Avonex. I say that because I had side effects that lastest 3 days for 1 full year until I was switched to Copaxone and then finally Tysabri. Feeling horrible while I was using Avonex compounded all of the other emotions/feelings I was having about my recent dx.

When I was switched to Copaxone I had no side effects and suddenly life seemed to be going so much more smoother than. I no longer feared the future, I was ready to accept whatever was to come my way. At my 1 year MRI with Copaxone showed an increase in leasions and I had begun to have difficulty walking. That is when I switched to Tysabri. At the time it was a scary decion, yet one my husband and I made together. Having him by my side during this entire process has been a tremondous encouragement. He has been my rock.

You will at one point arrive at acceptance (let me know when you get there, which will will make it much easier to cope with the day to day struggles you may have. It is not easy to get to acceptance, 5 years after dx. I am just getting there myself. It has taken until now to learn not to over do it on certain days when I feel exceptionally good. For the first time last week I asked another mom if my 7 year old daughter could walk with her and her daughter in our Halloween parade because I have MS and am not able to walk the 2 mile path. Be easy on yourself. You will get there too. If you ever need anyone to talk to, let me know. Chrissy

Oh my gosh...sorry for all the typos and blunders in my reply. That's what happens when 2 kids are hanging on you while you are typing.

BUMP...I THOUGHT THIS ONE WAS INSPIRING...

dealing is an ongoing challange...some days are just easier...

...and sometimes a little self-indulgent self pity is a GOOD thing, just don't stay there. We all have been thru this on some level....no matter how minor. Hang in there, you'll get through this period. After almost 2 years, I finally have gotten to the point where I stopped stressing "shot night". Don't forget the Ibuprofen! (...you'll be responding to other newbies in short order):o)

Take it from this long term ms survivor... There are ways to treat this condition besides using steroids with needles. I've had RRMS for more that twenty years, never taken steroids, but have devised a plan over this lengthy time which keeps me in remision. Diet is key, B12 injections & many nutrients. To control MS, I use low dose naltrexone.
Many other things have made symptoms disapear, for which I am gratefull.
Day to day helps.

I take Avonex and luckily, the only side effect I've experienced has been depression. Well, I don't really know if that makes me lucky as the depression was terrible to deal with! Just terrible. Crying for not reason, no desire to do anything etc etc..luckily, the depression has gone away for now and hopefully EVER!

I know what the stress does as well. I had a week from hell and it totally effected me. I have a high stress job and it was hard before being diagnosed dealing with it and it is 10 times harder now! I am going to need to come up with a plan on how to combate this!

GOod luck to you and you have come to the right place as we all know what you're going through. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.