I haven't been around a whole lot for the last month or so. I've been reading, but not posting a whole lot. Life changes can do that.
I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis on June 12 (the month leading up to that was tests, tests, and more tests). I've been in an MS exacerbation or flare since about mid-May. I underwent a dose of IV cortisteriods last Friday through Monday, which threw my body all out of whack since that ended while my body processes the steriods out of my system. This is supposed to knock down the symptoms for up to 6-9 months by itself.
If you don't know, and I know many don't, MS is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks the myelin, or fatty "insulation" surrounding the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The result is that the messages get all messed up and the body does strange stuff - like vertigo, balance issues, muscle twitches or tingles or numbness or tightness (or all of the above), cognitive impairment (I've seen it referred to as "cog fog" because it feels like your head is in a fog), and all kinds of other nasty stuff in the more advanced cases.
MS is as individual as the people it affects. Because you're dealing with the brain, and different parts of the brain and spine being affected in every person, it's nearly impossible to give any kind of prognosis especially in the early stages. I have "RRMS" or Remit Relapse MS. In this type, a person can go years - DECADES - without a serious relaplse. Or a person could progress very rapidly. It's a roulette wheel where you can end up.
I just wanted to let everyone know what's going on with me.
I've been trying to wrap my head around the fact that this is part of me now. Life changing to a point - definitely made me appreciate things I have been taking for granted. Can't live life around MS, but you have to have the plans for the "just in case" happens.
I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis on June 12 (the month leading up to that was tests, tests, and more tests). I've been in an MS exacerbation or flare since about mid-May. I underwent a dose of IV cortisteriods last Friday through Monday, which threw my body all out of whack since that ended while my body processes the steriods out of my system. This is supposed to knock down the symptoms for up to 6-9 months by itself.
If you don't know, and I know many don't, MS is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks the myelin, or fatty "insulation" surrounding the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The result is that the messages get all messed up and the body does strange stuff - like vertigo, balance issues, muscle twitches or tingles or numbness or tightness (or all of the above), cognitive impairment (I've seen it referred to as "cog fog" because it feels like your head is in a fog), and all kinds of other nasty stuff in the more advanced cases.
MS is as individual as the people it affects. Because you're dealing with the brain, and different parts of the brain and spine being affected in every person, it's nearly impossible to give any kind of prognosis especially in the early stages. I have "RRMS" or Remit Relapse MS. In this type, a person can go years - DECADES - without a serious relaplse. Or a person could progress very rapidly. It's a roulette wheel where you can end up.
I just wanted to let everyone know what's going on with me.