Oh honey minus the son we in the same boat..dx'd at 20 I'm 27 now and I already filed for ssi..its sooo tough being young n have this shit..there's so much we could have done!! We miss our jobs..hangin out..just regular things us people in our 20s take for granted..I'm sorry to hear ur dx it sux but its not a death sentance..ull see the world and people in a whole new light..who's a true friend..family member or even doctor..how mentally or spiritually strong u are..and how u see the ending picture...I hate this..robbed me of my young years but from here its a new life..new chance to see things and life differently..idk that's how I see it..my 20s were out of control partied drank didn't care now I've slowed down don't party don't drink..weeded out bad friends found new hobbies..take the good wit the bad I guess..good luck

Absolutely there are words of encouragement!! First of all......... breathe!! Second of all, you don't know what is in store for you, so while you hear the diagnosis of MS, it ends up meaning very different things for every single person. Go ahead and cry..... you have every right in the world to. Get mad, throw something, or do whatever you need to get it out of you, but get it out because you need to, and don't think it's going to be a one time thing, this is a process.... At least here, you can vent and you have support, and all of us can relate. MS is life altering but it's not a death sentence. Hang in there and come here anytime for advice or input!

Being diagnosed with MS is scary. Terrifying. I was diagnosed at 22 and my neurologist told me that my disease is VERY aggressive. When I first presented with symptoms doctors immediately hospitalized me thinking I had an infection in my brain or that I had a tumor.

I was hospitalized immediately. I went from riding my bike one day to not being able to walk without assistance, losing my sight completely in both eyes, losing hearing in one ear, not being able to feel most of my body, among a host of other things within a month.

I started on medication immediately after diagnosis. I am now 24, I have a bachelor's degree in neuroscience and I am working on a second degree in computer science and French (getting MS completely changed what I wanted to do with my life).

I am healthier now than I can ever remember being. I work out several times a day, I am eating better than I ever have and I am now happier than I can remember being at least in the last 3 years.

What I'm trying to say is, MS can make things really really bad, but you can get better. This disease can really help you figure out what is important to you, and what doesn't matter.

I would recommend starting treatment for you disease as soon as possible. The sooner you start, the less likely your disease is to progress into other forms of the disease for which there is no treatment and the more likely you are to keep your level of disability to a minimum.

It's freaking scary, and you deserve to cry, and and eat junk food and curl up on the couch with your husband and your child, but don't let yourself dwell on it for too long. My mom gave me one day to lie in bed and feel sorry for myself, one day to refuse to get out of bed and refuse to brush my teeth, refuse to eat or drink, and then I had to get up and and work on getting myself better. The next day I still couldn't see or walk, but I could go sit out in the sun and have breakfast.

Your kid needs you and that will help you through this the most of all.

so sorry that you are feeling this way :( all you can really do is take one day at a time because you never know what to expect, and start treatment, you can always come her to vent or to ask for advice this is a great site!

I'm so sorry you have been diagnosed with MS. I hope and pray that you will not experience too bad of symptoms as some experience. I myself, don't know what I have, still in the dark, but I come here, because my symptoms mimic MS. Good luck, and hopefully you will find comfort here. I have heard that MS symptoms lessen when you're pregnant, so talk to your doctor about wanting more children, and how it will affect you with MS. I could be wrong about the lessening of symptoms while pregnant, so don't quote me on that one. You have every right to cry and get your feelings out. Even though I want some type of a diagnosis of what is wrong with me, it also frightens me about what I might be told, so it's very natural to feel scared.

Meg40185 Im sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Just know that you are not alone. Use the support systems that are available to you. My diagnosis was just confirmed this month and it is a scary feeling. Educate yourself and those around you that can provide the emotional support you will need. This forum is a good place to be heard and to hear what others are doing to cope. Smathie2 is an inspiration. Dont let MS stop you from pursing your dreams. You may not be able to take the original route you had planned but that doesnt mean that you will not be able to reach your goals. Hang in there.

I hate to hear you are feeling like this, I took it pretty hard as well and this sight helped me alot.
On a much lighter note. When I found out I was at my dr's offfice and I explained my symptoms and he said, It sounds like multiple sclerosis and I said that I had my spine checked for straightness every year as a kid. I thought he meant scholeosis. Hope it made you smile a little. Sorry you are going through this, remember one day at a time.

Meg,

I'm SO sorry you have to go through this. I'm young as well, in my third year of law school, and was diagnosed in June (though I think I've had it for much longer). I have lesions all over my spine.

Go ahead and cry!!! I bawled like a big baby when I got home from getting the diagnosis, and was practically inconsolable when my boyfriend and sister talked with me. it IS scary and it's ok to be terrified, especially when it's all so new to you. But you WILL start to feel better! You just have to get used to the idea of having MS first. Give it a while - no one should be expected to take the news well.

Be proactive about your treatment - it will hopefully not only help you, but it feels good to "do something" about this stupid disease. Start on a disease modifying drug if recommended (I'm on Copaxone) and read about about MS. I like the book "Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis" by George Jelinek; he gives a good overview of diet suggestions, and discusses medication as well.

Come on this site and vent, whether it be about your symptoms, fears, etc. This is a great site and very supportive, so stick around! And feel free PM me if you every have any questions or just want to talk.

My MS symptoms did take a back seat with my pregnancies. I wasnt dx'd at the time.... but each time (have 3 kids) while pregnant I felt more normal than I had ever felt. But once I had them....flare up from the stress came in gangbusters. As far as if there is a risk to have kids with MS... I dont know the stats on it. My youngest and my oldest seem to have some minimal symptoms, but nothing at this point makes me think MS. if anyone will be affected for some reason I believe it will be my youngest who is 10 yrs old now. Time will tell. But just wanted to let you know of my experience with pregnancy.

Good luck to you. Dont let this disease get the best of you. I know its different for everyone, but A healthy mental attitude about this and anything for that matter....Really does wonders. A saying I heard alot on another site was....
"I have MS, but MS doesnt have me!!" thats a good way to look at it. Im not going to say it is a good thing or anything, it sux for sure. But you can manage it and make it through. One day at a time. One battle at a time.
Hugs
Janel

dx'd at 25, and I am knocking on that 50's door. Yes MS is life altering, but it is not a death sentence. I am envious of the new people that are diagonsed today in that there are alot of treatment options today that were not around until just a few years back. Don't get me wrong, I am sad everytime a new member comes on board with a confirmed diagnosis. I still get depressed about not knowing the future.

So far, I have lead a very active life. I am probably more active than most people that do not have MS. Your life will be what you make it.

We all know the pains you are having - we have been there at some point. Hang in there. You will have alot of questions. This is a very good place to get answers. There are alot of knowledgable people on this site as well as alot of morale support. You can ask any question here and get first hand experience from someone who is in the same situation as you.

Best of Luck
Steve

Thank you all for your responses!! I really appreciate your insight and kind words. This is a lot to deal with at first. So many questions, so many things unanswered. This is a day by day thing...I will get there! I keep repeating to myself, "God brought you to this, and he'll get you through it." Makes me smile just a bit more.

Hi meg40185:
Sorry to learn of your DX.
The neuro that dx'd told me that there is NO CORRELATION between the severity of this disease and the number of lesions that are present. He told me about a woman that came in and had some minor tingling in one calf and that her MRI scan looked like it had been shot full of bullet holes as there were so man lesions. Hence, forget freaking about the number of lesions and they don't mean severity.
If I was you, I'd recommend that you get a 2nd opinion. I think everyone that it DX'd with this should get a 2nd opinion. That is what I did (the DX was confirmed by the 2nd neurologist that I went to).
As for neurologists, I have little use for them as I am not interested in the disease modifying drugs that they want you to inject.
Try to not become totally overwhelmed and seek advice that makes you feel comfortable, not worse than you already feel.

Hey Meg, sorry to hear of your dx, but as you and everyone has already stated it's not a death sentence!!

I was just recently dx a couple weeks back, i'm 27, problems started a year ago, but the doctor was in my opinion scared to give such a healthy young woman the dx, until he was COMPLETELY sure and r/o all else..( a wonderful doc by the way). Now with the difinitive dx- it sucks..You have to keep your spirit up!!

It's very scary cause it feels as though your never going to know what's to come, atleast for me!

I did read a good book MS for Dummies, which I found very informative.. I went into a slight depressed mode and was stuck in it and felt like I wasn't even in my own body and I couldn't control it (weird feeling) needless to say I wasn't myself and friends and family sensed this.

I've come to realize it is what it is, and that I love life way to much to sit back and let it control me.. I go to work everyday and just put one foot in front of the other and just thank god that i'm here!!!

Also I just started Copaxone which has been great so far, so if the doc is recommending to start treatment, get on it!!!!

Hope the best for you and this is a great support system to come to for anything, everyone is so informative and helpful!!

The problem I'm having at the moment, is the fact that I don't have medical insurance. :( No one will see me! I guess they are just going to let me fall apart. My doctor and I tried everything today to get me some help, since I am a single mother with a very low income. Apparently, it's still too much. Ahhh! I cried for a while and then I got MAD. I'm still ticked. I'm trying to find a way to feel better, and I get shot down everywhere. It's so difficult and not something I want to deal with days after a diagnosis. So life is on hold right now. Numbness and speech problems get worse every day. Hopefully I'll be able to find a way around this!

You are not alone...I am 24 and was just diagnosed...my daughter just turned 1 and I am expecting another. Your symptoms definitely improve (they don't all go away completely) with pregnancy...after my daughter I fell into a serious flare up which lead to my diagnosis, I've actually had the disease since I was 18...my flare up lasted until I got pregnant with this baby. I started a treatment and didn't respond well at all...it is a roller coaster and is scary. I cried and there are days where I still cry...some of the people in my life don't understand at all and it makes it difficult too. But coming here is reassuring because the disease varies so much between us all...and its just nice to know once in awhile that you are not the only one with MS.