I was diagnosed with MS in May of 2004. Although it came as somewhat of a shock, it answered many questions about symptoms I'd been experiencing for months ... even years. I had been blaming the overwhelming fatigue, the pain in my ear, the pain in my joints, the blurriness of my vision -- on the stress in my life. I have now embraced MS as part of my life. I feel that it has made me a more compassionate person and more understanding of others; I have more love for others; I have a greater interest in the world around me; and maybe most important, I like (maybe even love) myself more.