When I was dx'd I continued working for 2 years until I had to go on permanent disability. During those 2 years I hardly ever really talked about my MS. I mean I didnt hide it but I didnt feel it necesary to tell every one I came in contact with that I had it. I learned as I hope you don't but prolly will that the MonSter will eventually make itself known to the world. I can't walk without a cane.

I kinda freaked when things first kicked off for me and was a bit too blase about it. Maybe on the lines of 'the best defence is a good offence'. Then I got used to how my body was reacting and I only told people if they were asking about me (and mainly only friends did). People who saw me with a stick tended not to be insensitive, which was nice. Enough people in my working environment and social life know now that I rarely need to explain.
My advice would be that it's all about your own attitude when you are telling someone, if you are in a situation where you need or want to explain.
If you look and sound depressed when you tell people, they will react accordingly. I know that's difficult to start with. If you're having no major symptoms at present, do you need to tell anyone?
I know there are time you will need to, so for me, I try to downplay the limitations, tell them that I've had to take a step back or slow down on some days or activities, but otherwise I'm still tackling life and work as I always did. When they see me with a cane they know it's a low day, and I get asked if I'd like a coffee more often (it's a bit of a walk to the kitchen at work!). And on the good days, I sometimes get positive comments like 'good to see you're having a good day'.
Perhaps that's not how everyone would want it, but I find my friends and colleagues to be very supportive. I've always been open with them, been independent as much as I possibly can, so that they know when I ask for help, I really need it. Mostly people are just interested/curious about why an active person has suddenly started walking with a cane and when they know that I'm still me and nothing has really changed other than I limp a bit, they are happy that I'm coping.
And on the days that I'm not coping (because I do still get those), I take some time to myself to vent the frustration and anger, then get right back in there and show myself that I CAN still do it.
Don't know if this helps, but I hope it did.
Good luck to you and keep trying. It does get easier.

Thanks for the replies, very helpful. 90% of the time I am ok but I have one specific person that I feel should know about my issue, he and I are pretty close so it has been really hard for me to talk about this for some reason.

I was dx almost 17 years ago. Unless I told people, nobody would know I had MS. I have no issue with anyone knowing I have MS. MS is just a disease, it will never define the person I am. If you were diabetic, or had asthma would you let that define you? Would you act like you were ashamed of the disease.

I've found often the way we handle the diagnosis, defines how others will handle it when they find out. You will control, to an extent, how others handle things.

I don't advertise the fact I have it, but would never, ever consider trying to hide the fact either. There's no reason for me to be ashamed of MS, and don't see the reason to hide it. It's just a damn disease! Don't give it more power than it already has!

Part of what can make it hard is the fear of how someone will react. And maybe too, sometimes, the question of why they didn't know sooner. Honesty is the best policy when it is important. I also think that we are afraid that people will treat us differently, that we will have one less "normal" relationship that MS hasn't changed. I tend to be reminded that I have MS as much by the way others treat me as by the MS.

I had a very hard time telling my son. He has always seen me as really strong...and I fix the toilet and put the air conditioner in and all the other stuff around the house. It was strange because I was dxd right after he graduated from college, and I think that while he was no longer dependent on me in the everyday things, it was hard to see me as getting weak. It scared him.

It was hard to tell my father because he couldn't do anything about it, and that is what your parents want to do, no matter how old you are, right? My child is sick and what can I do?

Telling the boyfriend was not really hard...he knew something was wrong, and was just happy when I said I wasn't dying. I think it is as much your attitude towards your MS as the words that matter.

Good Luck

I'm with lila on this one. I don't feel that it's my deep dark secret, but I also don't feel I need a sign to tell everyone about it. If for some reason I'm asked about it I don't mind in the slightest, I like to educate people about it.
When I feel I have to tell someone, like a potential partner, I try to be straight up about it. It's easier if it comes up in a convo like, what did you do today, "I had an appointment with my neuro" or "I had to take a shot for my ms". Then just go from there... you decide if you want to tread lightly or if you'd prefer to give more info about your specific MS.

My friends know, my family knows. At first, I would tell anyone. Alot of times, I would get the ol' "awww, poor kid" look. I don't like that, it makes me feel exposed. Not ashamed, just exposed. I tell people who need to know. Or people "in the know". Or those who I find out have it. There is something like an 8 times normal rate of MS in my town, sort of an anomaly. Seriously, there were studies of the town.

Some people are open, some people are more private. There is no right or wrong, it's personal and individual, like the disease itself.
It's funny how you soon notice how open or closed other people are about their non-ms ailments. For me personally there aren't many times when a situation mandates telling, unless I'm thinking LTR.

What I truly don't like is when others tell people for me, like I'm not there or something. Unless it's someone who knows someone recently dx'd and scared, then I'm happy to do all I can to help them through. I can't count how many people from my hometown called me to tell me they're sorry. It's like, I haven't talked to you in 5 years, now you want to know me? How's your bitter divorce going? Wanna talk about that?? lol.

You know that it is hard to tell people, and all of us had/has to do it. But most of your family/friends/coworkers are going to be so helpful and they are going to want to help you whenever you need it. What makes MS so bad is the fact that MS is not real well known, which is unfortunate considering how many of us have it. You try to keep strong and remember (we) are here for you and will help you in whatever way we can, help you get through the bumps in the road.

i have many of the symptoms of ms but no diagnosis yet

Well I don't realy tell people I have MS. When I findly told my hubby in 1999 he said I was lieing. When I told my children in 2000 they just looked at me,, In 2006 I meet my friend that I stay with and she was making comments about how I walked and how I fell often and was worried. When I findly told her she tried to baby me with every thing I did. Now she has the understanding that if I try to do things, don't stop me. I have never actualy told many people as the other two I told also tried to baby me. I never told my bosses when I was let go for being a work hazord as it would make them feel bad.Socal Services has been riding my case for about 6 years saying that I'm lazy and just found out that I have MS and they don't want me to work now but pushing for disablity.
As long as your friend will encourage you to do the best you can and will be there when you do need them, tell them or just let it ride and take life as it is.

@ Tinkerbell, that was my thinking just let it ride but this is just one person who does not know and I feel like I am keeping a big secret. He is my close friend but I can't seem to get it out of my mouth, I think in the back of my mind that he would possibly try to baby me which I don't want at all. I don't mention to anyone else.