I am 55, mother to two grown sons and am retired in 2008 due to my MS. My oldest lives nearby but the youngest is currently serving in Iraq. No stress in my life, not good for MS you know:)

My first episode that can positively attributed to MS was in 1980 when I fell walking to the mail box, when I got up I fell again. Our family doctor had every test he could ordered to find the cause, at the time he believed it was Multiple Sclerosis or Myasthenia Gravis. The quality of the tests available at that time did not find my MS. The specialists ruled that positivity I did not have MS. This misdiagnosis caused me undo problems until the fall of 2007 when another episode of not being able to get up after falling determined I did in fact have MS.

During the years in between 1980 and 2007 I had what we now know were mutiple episodes of MS. When treated by my family doctor with steroids I would recover with some minor issues remaining but when I wound up seeing a specialist, (gastroenterlogist, rhumetologist, ect.), I would get worse. I finally elected to take only what treatment my family doctor wanted me to do as I faired much better under his care for many years. I avoided "specialists" like they were the plague.

My family doctor's retirement due to failing health preceded a decline in my overall ability over the two years prior to 2007.

Over the years I had issues with falling, leg weakness, migraine's, coordination problems, constant pain, fatigue. If there is an issue MS can throw, I have enjoyed it's visit or status as a roommate in this body of mine. I would love to evict my MS, any one know if Ghost Busters does MS yet?

Enough of this for today, I have an urge to go pick some fruit for Thanksgiving dinner. Have a good day!

**Yesterday after I wrote this I went and picked fruit for as long as I could stand the cold. Now I have to prepare it! The photo is what I built for my summer project. The bookcases and window seat took less time then the painting. Fortunately my mother does my painting for me!

Update 2009

Well it is February now and this places me at almost 18 months since my diagnosis. My life has settled a bit into my forced retirement. My house is gradually being recovered from all the years when I spent my time on the water enjoying my boat and the freedom it provided me. Heat keeps me from being able to stay out in the warm weather so I may be forced to sell the boat soon. So far I haven't been able to get myself to that point. There are many sacrifices we may with MS. All are hard and require a great deal of processing and getting ourselves ready to make them. All come at a higher price then just the thing we give up. Walking, running, exercising, outdoor activities of all types, far too many to begin to list.

All that being said there is much we gain. We learn who our real friends are, who loves us and who was only around as long as we did or gave to them. We find ourselves learning new things to replace the old, new interests and new relationships. MS may be a monster but it is also just what we have to deal with in this life.

I would far rather have MS then ALS or cancer so I try to remember there are worse things then this disease. All too often we forget that when we are suffering so much pain, uncertainty and loss. We need to also remember that no matter what stage of this disease we are in, we have a place in the world and we have important things to share and teach others. Each of us has special skills that others need, we just have to find the patience to wait until that person or event comes into our orbit.

I am always waiting even though I have already made a difference in many ways for many others. I now wait for my next time to be the one giving instead of needing.