After watching my dad cope with MS for over 40 years I was diagnosed with MS right before Christmas - 12/23/2010 to be exact.
I'm 44 and for the last 4 or 5 months have had this strange hyper-sensation in my right arm. Growing up as a kid I could remember my dad dealing with this all the time. I decided to go to a neurologist to have it checked, convinced he was going to tell me it was a pinched nerve or something.
After an MRI, where lesions were found on my brain and spine, and a spinal tap it was confirmed that I have MS.
I've spent the last few weeks looking back at all the times I had symptoms of pain and soreness in my legs and feel that I've probably been dealing with this for the last 3 or 4 years.
Even though I had the symptoms I just thought they were the result of a middle aged guy who runs 20 miles a week for exercise and is involved in other sports activities.
I kept telling myself that was the reason and If I cut back on the running I'd be fine. But as I cut down on the running I still had the symptoms.
I've been involved with coaching my son's baseball teams for 13 years. I noticed that I could no longer do certain things the last few years but again thought it was just my age catching up to me. I remember many times telling my wife I felt as if i had just played nine innings instead of my son.
My wife and I decided not to tell anyone until after the holidays and our trip to Disney 1/1 - 1/9. Now it's time to let people know.
My mother-in-law has been a nurse for 40 years and will be a great source of support. Along with my father-in-law who is one of the most compassionate men I know. It will not be hard to tell them but I know since they've known me for 30 years it will hard on them.
My kids, who are 18 and 19, are two of the greatest kids parents could ask for. I don't want to burden them in any way as they are in college and just starting the spread their wings and grow as adults. I know it will be hard on them also but I'm hoping that like all kids they'll be resilient.
My biggest fear is that one of them will development this crappy disease. There seems to be something about my family when it comes to MS. In addition to my father, my cousin (father's sister's son) and his daughter also have MS. This REALLY concerns me.
Since my parents spend the winter in Florida (my dad escapes the cold to cope with things better) and won't be back until April we've decided to wait until then to tell them. It will hit them the hardest by far. What parent wants their child to go though anything that can impact their lives in a negative way. I'm afraid the stress will impact them both but especially my dad.
We decided not to tell them yet because they'll come up with some excuse to come home. There's nothing they can do at this point so I don't want to spoil a time in their loves that they enjoy so much.
They have yet to diagnose exactly which form I have so treatment options aren't known yet. I will benefit from science in a way my dad was never able to so there's some comfort there. For example it took 2 years to diagnose my dad back when he was 30 and 2 weeks to diagnose me.
Who knows where I go from here.
One thing that I know is that after or 5 family trips to Disney (we're DVC members) with all of the above mentioned people there's no better place for someone with mobility issues than Disney. I paid special attention this time, as I had a secret the no one else knew, and can honestly say that no matter how bad things get we will always have a Disney trip to escape to. I can't thank Disney enough for what they've done for my dad. Even before I knew I had MS I was thankful to Disney for providing my dad so much joy.
I am not looking for pity. I will cope with what comes over time and use the examples of the greatest man I know to deal with things.
Thanks for listening.
I'm 44 and for the last 4 or 5 months have had this strange hyper-sensation in my right arm. Growing up as a kid I could remember my dad dealing with this all the time. I decided to go to a neurologist to have it checked, convinced he was going to tell me it was a pinched nerve or something.
After an MRI, where lesions were found on my brain and spine, and a spinal tap it was confirmed that I have MS.
I've spent the last few weeks looking back at all the times I had symptoms of pain and soreness in my legs and feel that I've probably been dealing with this for the last 3 or 4 years.
Even though I had the symptoms I just thought they were the result of a middle aged guy who runs 20 miles a week for exercise and is involved in other sports activities.
I kept telling myself that was the reason and If I cut back on the running I'd be fine. But as I cut down on the running I still had the symptoms.
I've been involved with coaching my son's baseball teams for 13 years. I noticed that I could no longer do certain things the last few years but again thought it was just my age catching up to me. I remember many times telling my wife I felt as if i had just played nine innings instead of my son.
My wife and I decided not to tell anyone until after the holidays and our trip to Disney 1/1 - 1/9. Now it's time to let people know.
My mother-in-law has been a nurse for 40 years and will be a great source of support. Along with my father-in-law who is one of the most compassionate men I know. It will not be hard to tell them but I know since they've known me for 30 years it will hard on them.
My kids, who are 18 and 19, are two of the greatest kids parents could ask for. I don't want to burden them in any way as they are in college and just starting the spread their wings and grow as adults. I know it will be hard on them also but I'm hoping that like all kids they'll be resilient.
My biggest fear is that one of them will development this crappy disease. There seems to be something about my family when it comes to MS. In addition to my father, my cousin (father's sister's son) and his daughter also have MS. This REALLY concerns me.
Since my parents spend the winter in Florida (my dad escapes the cold to cope with things better) and won't be back until April we've decided to wait until then to tell them. It will hit them the hardest by far. What parent wants their child to go though anything that can impact their lives in a negative way. I'm afraid the stress will impact them both but especially my dad.
We decided not to tell them yet because they'll come up with some excuse to come home. There's nothing they can do at this point so I don't want to spoil a time in their loves that they enjoy so much.
They have yet to diagnose exactly which form I have so treatment options aren't known yet. I will benefit from science in a way my dad was never able to so there's some comfort there. For example it took 2 years to diagnose my dad back when he was 30 and 2 weeks to diagnose me.
Who knows where I go from here.
One thing that I know is that after or 5 family trips to Disney (we're DVC members) with all of the above mentioned people there's no better place for someone with mobility issues than Disney. I paid special attention this time, as I had a secret the no one else knew, and can honestly say that no matter how bad things get we will always have a Disney trip to escape to. I can't thank Disney enough for what they've done for my dad. Even before I knew I had MS I was thankful to Disney for providing my dad so much joy.
I am not looking for pity. I will cope with what comes over time and use the examples of the greatest man I know to deal with things.
Thanks for listening.
Hang in there.
, why did I not mention that or this?
), and have been seeing the chiropractor regularly. I was never a huge believer in chiropractic stuff, but it does help the tightness and so I keep going. I'm amazed with the strides that have been made in MS treatment in just the last few years. I think we're much better off than those diagnosed even 10 years ago. And, while I do worry about my children, I can only hope it doesn't affect them. If it does, maybe research will have come a long way by then.
