A few years ago I was very worried about how I must look to other people. I used to wear a shirt that said "I'm not drunk I have MS." I'd have panic attacks at the grocery store. Now a few years later and I can't walk at all anymore. I'm in a wheelchair full time now. I wish I could walk like a few years ago, even if I looked drunk. MS is a mean and rotten disease and takes things away from you. Enjoy everything like it was the last time! If I've learned anything from having MS 16 years, it's that no matter how crappy today seems enjoy it because tomorrow could be worse! Stay Well! Happy holidays!

I never really considered what I must look like to others until I lost a lot of my walking ability & had to use a cane or at my worst a rollater. People at work would tell me how 'normal' I looked & couldn't believe that I had MS. It was the 'you look too good to have anything wrong with your health'. I was able to hide things like my shaky hands. But for 1full year of going to PT to walk normal again I became self-conscious of how I look to others, but I also took notice of lots of others who walked different. Now that my walking has to 95% improved I no longer care what others think. Life is too short ... ENJOY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ... YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE.

After the holidays & things start to settle I'm going to watch some of the videos.

i had a woman follow me when i walked 6 blocks to my parents house, i confronted her because your suppose to be aware of your environment (i told her I'm not drunk) and she told me she thought i had autism or something like that.,she has an adult brother with autism---

yesterday at the grocery store a man followed me from the parking lot and then waited by the door until i got my groceries and was going back to the parking lot---he said he just wanted to walk along side me because of the snow and ice he didn't want me to fall without someone there, he was pleasant and non threatening....i had dropped my wallet at the mall and someone had turned it in at mall management--- my wallet had my sisters phone number they called her she called me that my wallet had been found.....i had not even known i had lost it, i had just got back from the mall about 10 minutes ago----i was so flustered and it was relatively warm i just went in my pajama's to get my wallet(fleece sweat pant & a mens large t-shirt) after i got my wallet i stopped at grocery store to get some calming binge food (ice cream & dorito's) i explained to the guy at grocery store there is nothing wrong with me I'm just rattled that i had lost my wallet and someone had turned it in, i had been very lucky,. there are good people in the city i live in & there was nothing wrong with me i just went in my pajama's because i was flustered. he walked me to my car he said just to be certain i didn't fall-i use a cane & did park in disabled spot.......

i started using a cane about a year ago outside my apartment to increase speed and slight balance maybe leg weakness too...
i am debating with myself whether i will use a cane at my next neuro apt and see if she thinks i should use a cane? it's just my steps are more certain with cane.

my wallet had been returned with drivers license & credit card minus the cash, about $60 dollars, i got very lucky yesterday.

I have been using a cane since a year or so after diagnosis more than anything for balance and speed like nnyl1 (I feel more confident with than without, and it has prevented me from tripping up and falling many a time.) My first canes were the kinds you could fold up, but the last one isn't. I decided to stop kidding myself. I never fold them up when I arrive anywhere. I used to, but I found keeping it out while riding the bus meant people would hassle me less sitting in the handicapped seat.
And the handy thing about the non-fold up variety is, you can flip it upside down to hook under your foot to help pull it up steps (I have to do that every day bec I have 20 steps up to my apartment, my left foot won't lift up any more.) Next step (no joke intended), I have a script for an AFO.

I joined a self-help group 4 years ago, shortly after my dx. Mostly I wanted to see what I might expect in the future. There were four in wheelchairs, several with a rollator, some with cans, and some walking independently.
I am so glad that I went. They are now some of my closest friends. They get it and understand.