PatientsLikeMe ™

I've had MS a long time, but kept it a secret. I didn't want the 'disabled, incurable, progressive, untreatable, etc. label'. I was born with a severe club foot and had been able to shed that "disabled" label after years of surgeries, castings, therapies, corrective and assistive devices. My first dx came after attempted surgery for a ruptured disc, which I didn't have, only the symptoms of. After the dx of MS, I took the steroid treatments, switched docs often, and often denied that I had been dx. When I had relapses and/or new sx, I blamed them on "the foot" or other vague things. About 12+ years ago the disabilities started having more impact on my quality of life, but habit and life circumstances had me making more and more excuses. I was a mom, wife, friend and family member who felt I had to put everyone else first - the ususal. The trigeminal neuralgia forced me into getting dx and under treatment, and to start admitting I did indeed have ms. I was surprised to discover the treatments now available for disease modification as well as huge improvements in sx treating meds. I hate taking the meds, yet know they've helped with relapses and management of my sx. I think I will always struggle with the label, have a hard time accepting that there are activities, events, and functions I can no longer do or be a part of, but remain thankful that my initial ms prognosis was wrong and that I've been able to do as much as I have for as long as I have. I look forward to discoveries that may improve the quality of life of those of us with this disease.