Treatments? Quality of life? Do meds really make a difference? Advice?
Thanks Heidi 
Va, US
Hello Heidi. Welcome to the forum.
You say you’re just diagnosed, but you don’t say what the diagnosis was. This will affect the treatments available. I notice that you’re in the US, which could also affect the treatments available. Do meds make a difference? Yes, they do. All drugs have side effects, but not everybody gets them. Over all the benefits outweigh the downsides - most of the time. You have to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision for yourself.
As for quality of life, that depend on the type of MS, whether it’s treated and the progression of the disease. At one end of the scale there’s benign MS where the symptoms don’t change or worsen and you may not need treatment. Your quality of life may not be affected. At the other end of the scale there’s Primary Progressive where the disease worsens over time. Quality of life will be affected by how rapidly the disease progresses. At the moment treatments for this are limited. In between you have Relapsing Remitting MS, the progress of which is variable but there’s a variety of treatments. It’s what most people are diagnosed with and quality of life can be good.
Hi heidi. Names lisa. I’ce just joined. But canseem to say hello to everyone. I was diagnised in 1992. I have had 2 relapses. I am mobile self caring etc. And i work ad a nurse! However…i had fatigue.(gone) numbness. Neuropathic pain. Comes and goes. I am not on any medication. Like you i’s scary. I have had symptoms now for nearly 4 months. This group seems great for us!x