hey my fellow MS'ers! im newly diagnosed as of 10/20/08 and it was finally confirmed 3/12/08. im just tryng to figure this thing out and understand how to feel, cause i dont know, im lost. i went from stubbling and falling in july to a wheelchair in november. i will start my meds in apr, why so long you ask? my little boy brought home a stomach virus that i contracted and paralyzed me for 2 days, dr. put me on solu-medrol and prednisone for a few weeks before i get started. i walk a little odd but much better than i have. hopefully i will regain atleast 30% of who i was right now im at 15%

i have mulling over this in my mind day after painful,confusing day.i know i cant possibly be the only one who feels this way. i feel that this illness has taken so much from me. i used to work in a popular busy clothing store here in daytona bch where i was promoted from sales assoc. to asst manager.i climbed up and down ladders, changing outfits on big body manequins, assisting customers with outfits, shoes, and accessories. i drove, and hung out with my 3 kids everyday. then one day in july my feet went numb and i just thought it was something else because my mom has rhuematoid arthritis. i took care of her since i was 13, she had been bed ridden, so i knew what had to be done as far as this disease goes i thought. then it started getting worse i began falling and stumbling. i still had not seen a doctor yet because of my work schedule, it was crazy. so it just got so bad that i couldnt feel the foot pedals of the car beneath my feet and could not turn the steering wheel. in sept my manager at the store suggesested i take a week off to go to the doctors and figure out whats going on. i said ok and was alright with it. in the mean time i had been collecting different pamphets on RA so i could ask questions and learn about the new meds out on the market. on sept 11,2008 my manager called me with some bad news. she tried calling the home office to get me medical leave which back fired, i was short 1000 hrs and i had to be fired because i am a work hazard. so i had to apply for unemployment.  meanwhile, i applied for social security and went my pcp, she refered me to a neurologist. i got no where with unemployment because when i was fire i wasnt fired for anything illegal, they want me to comeback if i can when i can. i had 35 mri's and 48 vials of blood for various tests. i went back for my results 10/20/08, i was so excited because i felt my foot that morning and was happy to relay this new info to my doctor. i had no idea when i walked into his office, this would turn out to be what i though to be the worst day of my life. he said im sorry but it looks like MS. he gave me a few minutes to cry. the first image that saw was my kids and my parents, at the time i knew nothing and assumed it was a death sentence. i told about 3 people when i was first diagnosed and still have a hard time. my doctor scheduled me for a lumbar puncture(lp) on 11/21/08,i could'nt get it done for whatever reason

. i even gave my self a life saying "when life gives you lemons, go buy a cheese cake" it means dont settle for anything less than what you want.i dont want lemons!! no  lemonaide, lemon tea, lemon wedges, lemon cookies,biscuits, candy or lemons on my glass. fight it and have that $25 slice of heavenly cheese cake. we need to stand up to MS and fight for our health. lets not let it take any more away from us.   (" message was brought to you by the letters M and S")courtesy of seame street  they say that laughter is the best medicine.