My name is Cristina, I’m 27 years old, and I’m very close to being officially diagnosed with MS.
Recently, I had what I believe was my first relapse. I woke up one morning unable to speak properly—I knew what I wanted to say, but I couldn’t articulate the words, almost as if I were very drunk. My MRI also showed two older inactive lesions that I never knew I had.
I’m currently waiting for my neurology appointment to receive the official diagnosis, although a relative of mine who is a neurologist has already reviewed my MRI and confirmed that it’s MS.
To be honest, I’m scared. My husband and I have a one-year-old baby, and all I can think about is being healthy for my family. Right now I feel completely normal, so I don’t really know what to expect. I’m worried about relapses, fatigue, how often they happen, and how MS might affect raising my child, work, and everyday life.
I’d really love to hear from those of you who have been through this. Do any of you have young children? How has MS affected your daily life? Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Welcome aboard. It is a worrying time with a level of uncertainty. I’m 47 and, mine are brain lesions. It’s not an easy thing to adjust to but, you will x
Try to hold on to feeling normal for as long as you can - it works for me
My daughter is 20 now. I have 4 young nieces that are always great. Being a mum to a young one will take some thought now but, you can still enjoy it. Being an uncle is like being a dad without all of the responsibilities. I get to mess about and make them laugh. I don’t have to tell them to do their homework. They all love my cooking. This is the best job ever
This forum and the members are brilliant. Stay around and talk whenever you need to
Hello @Cris very happy to share my experience and answer any questions you have. I was diagnosed some 19 years ago after losing pretty much all vision in my right eye. I was started on one of the then 3 or 4 available treatments - Avonex. My vision returned to something like 85-90% and basically I didn’t experience any further symptoms for about 8 years when I began to notice difficulty walking for much more than an hour .
Now, 19 years after diagnosis I can still walk around the house but use a stick outside in the garden and a small mobility scooter for longer walks. I have some bladder urgency issues, can get tired but not too much except in the heat. I’ve lost some balance and some muscle strength (although some of that could be a result of being 72 years old)
The disease modifying treatments available now are a lot more effective than the few that were available when I was diagnosed .
There is a massive amount of information and guidance on keeping healthy and active when you have MS. I am going to stick my neck out and say that with one of the more effective treatments now available and if you take care of your health then you should have many active and enjoyable years ahead of you.
In terms of keeping healthy etc I’ve made use of the Website and publications: Overcoming MS ( basically through MS disease modifying treatments, diet, exercise and mindfulness/meditation. The latter as a means of reducing stress which is definitely bad for MS).
just to add that I carried on working for 5-6 years after diagnosis and could easily carried on for longer but chose a good early retirement package. I also got married, travelled around Europe and generally have an enjoyable if sometimes difficult life ( these days everything takes a bit longe but hey ho)
Hi Cristina. I’m so sorry you’re going through this, especially with such a young baby. The waiting for a diagnosis can often be one of the hardest parts because your mind runs away with all the “what ifs.”
From what I’ve seen, many people with MS continue to lead full lives, raise children, and work for many years, especially now that there are far more treatment options available than there used to be. Everyone’s experience is different, so try not to assume the worst based on things you read online.
I hope your neurology appointment gives you some answers and a clear treatment plan. Wishing you and your family all the best.
