PeopleWithMS

I AM BETTE. I WAS DIAGNOSED @ 38 AND AM NOW 46. I HAD WHAT I BELIEVE MY FIRST ATTACK @36 BUT THEY BASICALLY THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A VERY BAD MIGRAINE AT THE MASS GENERAL IN BOSTON. I WAS EXTREMELY TIRED AND FAINTED. WHILE THERE I HAD THE FIRST OF MANY MRI'S . THAT FIRST ONE SAID ?MS NOTHING WAS SAID TO ME ABOUT ?MS I MOVED ON AND JUST KEPT WORKING MY 60-70 HOURS WEEKS. I WAS A SINGLE MOM OF 2 SMALL GIRLS SO I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO WORK THAT MANY HOURS. IRONICALLY I WAS A RN WHO WORKED WITH MS PATIENTS. I THOUGHT I KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT MS THERE WAS TO KNOW!!!! ARROGANT HUH? I MOVED BACK TO MAINE TO MARRY THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. I STARTED TO HAVE SOME MORE SHAKING AND TREMORS IN MY LEGS. FORGETFULNESS AND BY JUMPING'S NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED I COULDN'T START AN IV OR DRAW BLOODS ON A SOUL EVEN IF THEY HAD RIVERS FOR VEINS!!! MY HANDS SHOOK WAY TO MUCH. THUS I WENT TO DOC TO TELL HIM THIS. HE ORDERED ANOTHER MRI AND WHEN IT CAME BACK IN HE TOLD ME THE "BAD" NEWS .HE SENT ME TO BANGOR AND THEY WERE NOT 100% SURE SO THEY SENT ME TO BOSTON. HE TOLD ME 100% SURE YOU HAVE MS . I WAS DEVASTATED CUZ I LOVED BEING AN RN AND I WAS SHOCKED CUZ I THOUGHT THEY WERE ALL FULL OF BULL LOL BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING AFTER WORKING W/ THE MS PATIENTS THAT IS ALL I COULD SEE FOR ME AND I WAS GETTING MARRIED TO BILL IN 2 WEEKS AND I DIDNT WANT TO BE A BURDEN TO ANYONE . OVER THE NEXT 5-6 YEARS I SPENT MORE TIME IN BANGOR THAN I DID IN CALAIS I WAS SICK ALL THE TIME. WE TRIED BACLOFEN PUMPS AND ALL SORTS OF MEDICATIONS. I DID AVONEX FOR 8 YEARS AND WENT THRU HELL AND BACK. I KNOW HAVE LEVELED OFF AT A GREAT PLACE FOR ME TO BE. BUT I PAID A GREA PRICE TO PAY. THE DAY MY MOM DIED I HAD MY LAST MAJOR EXACERBATION. I SWEAR SHE WENT TO HEAVEN AND TOLD GOD TO PLEASE LEAVE ME BE CUZ I WAS GOING TO BE NEEDED FOR MY SISTERS. I AM NEEDED BY THEM AND IN A GREAT FASHION. I HAVE SPMS AND BLESSED WITH A WONDERFUL HUSBAND...YES I DID MARRY BILL....LOL.....AND THOSE LITTLE GIRLS ARE NOW 17 AND 18. I AM FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO WALK AND DRIVE AND MAINTAIN MY INDEPENDENCE . I AM MARRIED TO MY BEST FRIEND AND HE IS MY ROCK CUZ SOME DAYS 1 DON'T FEEL WELL AND HE PULLS ME THRU THOSE AWFUL DAYS. I LOVE THIS ROOM AND HAVE MET SOME WONDERFUL, CARING, SELFLESS AND JUST PLAIN OLD GREAT MEN AND WOMEN

Bill & Bette

Bill & Bette

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