Ask anything you like, its fine.
I was diagnosed 2013, it started off with weakness in my left leg, I was on a night shift when all of a sudden my left leg just collapsed, over the next few days I started getting odd sensations on parts of my skin, cold things like a spoon run under a cold tap felt very hot, but only on certain areas of my skin.
I went to the GP’s because my leg was getting a bit worse, I was told it was a trapped nerve, but as it got worse over a week or so, I returned to the GP, saw a different GP, and mentioned that my sister an first cousin both had MS, I could see straight away that the GP was concerned, in fact she rang the MS clinic there and then whilst I was sitting there, she explained my symptoms and family history, I was offered an appointment the next morning.
When I saw the consultant next morning he looked back at an old MRI scan of my brain that I had done many years ago before MS was suspected because I had been getting strange sensations in my hands,like I was wearing gloves when I wasn’t, anyway the consultant at that time said the brain scan was clear and said it was probably carpel tunnel with my hands, so move forward some years later and this new consultant agreed that the brain from years ago did look clear, but the scan had just about picked up a lesion on the very top of my spine, which the original consultant missed.
I then had more updated MRI’s and a lumbar punch, both confirmed MS in my spine.
My consultant now thinks my MS most likely started many many years ago when I was experiencing the odd sensations in my hands, maybe up to 20 years ago ?
so I was initially diagnosed as RRMS, but over the years that has been changed to SPMS.
I’ve not actually had any obvious relapses since being diagnosed in 2013, just a slow “transition” in SPMS.
I do still work, which for me is something I will keep dong until I just cant, I’ve reduced my hours and changed roles.
When the MS struck I was working shifts on furnaces, melting alloys, I’m now working for the same company but in the lab testing the product, no shifts and a reduced hours.
I have to say, my company have been fantastic.
Personally I feel that having that push to go into work has helped me physically & mentally to cope with my MS, however there are days hen I should of perhaps stayed at home, but again that’s the stubborn side of me coming through.
Even around the house I will still try to do things like DIY that I’ve always done.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m far far slower and theres certain jobs I just cant do, and I get very frustrated if I have to give in and have someone else do things that I would find a breeze to do a few years ago, but I’ll still push myself first.
I mentioned earlier that my sister and cousin have MS, my sister is RRMS and is far worse than me and my cousin, she had a bad relapse about 2 years which was totally life changing, but even before that she almost gave up the fight as soon as MS was confirmed, which I find sad.
My cousin is also RRMS but like me she still tries to be her old self as best she can, and like me she’s still fighting the MS.
I really do think that trying to be stubborn with MS helps mind and body, if that makes sense ?