Hello to all my MS friends!!!!!! My name is Vanessa from SW Missouri. I am 31 years old, single mother of 2 wonderful daughters... Ages 9 & 7. I am currently a welder... where I have been for 9 years.. & I would like to share a little about me & how I was first diagnosed with the stuff, they call MS.
It all started in June of 06.. I was sound asleep in the middle of the night, when the phone rang. I jumped up suddenly to go answer it.. noticing a complete numbness on my right side. First thought, that came to my mind, was I just slept on that side to long. Well, needless to say, I kept geting attacks from there on out. I would have like 15-20 attacks/ day , where my hand and foot would draw up and the whole right side completely numb. I continued to work for the following week, until it was just to painful & I just knew it was time to seek some medical attention. I went to my family doctor and he ordered an MRI of my brain, where they did find lesions and so he referred me to a neurologist. During all this time, I started going to a chiropractor also and the pain finally stopped before they even started me on the injection I now use, which is Betaseron. I finally got in to see a neurologist.. and he ordered an MRI of the spine as well as a few other testings... to be sure that MS was the answer & indeed, August 11th 2006, I got my final answer.
I had things a little rough in the beginning of it all. I had the MS hit my left eye (optic neuritis) & the neuro ordered me to have a 3 day treatment of steroids intravenously. Well, that helped that problem and since then... It has hit my eye a few more times...but, doing pretty good at this time.
I will have to say, I had a very hard time coping with everything at first. I waited a year and things were getting even more depressing for me. Now, I have a better outlook on my life. I got help from my neurologist and he put me on depression pills, bc before..... I was looking at all the negative things that could happen and not focusing on myself for today. Guess the main thing is... is to stay positive, no matter how hard things become. There is many, many great people on this site. I enjoy listening to others and sharing my story with everyone out there, so they can know more about me. I am continuing to stay positive... and hoping & praying for the day , they DO find the cure for the MS. Keep your heads up, stay strong, & God Bless everyone!
