Hello, I have recently started having problems with my left hand and arm, where it is numb and tingly. The whole left side of my body went the same way, blow my shoulder, which has thankfully receded back to my left arm and hand. Unfortunately, I’m left handed, so it is an issue because I can’t write at the moment. When the whole left side went numb I went to the ER and they did an MRI. They asked me to stay overnight, then discharged me with Anxiety. I was anxious, I had an emergency C-section there a few years prior, I don’t like hospitals, and most importantly, I wasn’t at home putting my kids to bed and wasn’t with them. I have had anxiety my whole life, and what I was there for wasn’t anxiety. I scheduled an appointment with my PCP and he referred me to a neurologist. I finally was able to get into contact with one and had an appointment a week after that. When I went, they asked if the hospital had talked to me about the lesions in my brain, which they had not. My neurologist believes I have ms, and has sent me for blood work and more MRIs, which I’m finally getting done tomorrow. I have to wait until the 16th to hear about that and finally, hopefully, get some answers. I have a lesion on my brain, because my nosey self read my MRI report. Not sure if that was the smartest move. So, I’m not sure why I am writing this all out, in all honesty, but I have 3 absolutely amazing kids. A 22 year old, a 5 year old, and a 2 year old. I don’t know what to tell them if this comes back that I do have ms. I’m not sure if I even should. I also don’t know if I need to start watching them for signs of it, or if it will even affect them. Im terrified I won’t be able to take care of them. There is so much that I just don’t know right now, this has been one of the most unnerving experiences in my life. I know that it could be worse, I know other people have a lot of things like this and are in worse situations. I’m just scared and I don’t know what to do, start, or begin. I fully feel like this is limbo and I’m stuck here until further notice.
I hope you don’t have to wait too long to get your confirmation. I am waiting on diagnosis and had symptoms for a couple of decades. Me and hubby have three children and they have grown up with my health issues and all I can say is that what worked for us was to be honest, let them help if they want to but we never put pressure on them to do so. They enjoyed their growing up days and now they have gone through uni and working. Our youngest suffers quite alot with similar symptoms so we are waiting to hear what is getting done for him as he lives in Scotland and their care is alot better and quicker than I have dealt with in England. My hubby is very chill about it all and just gets on so I am lucky. When symptoms started I had a seven year old and symptoms were aggravated by my next two pregnancies. My two older children have been my carer once each when my husband had his own health issues. It will sometimes get the better of you, you wouldn’t be human if it didn’t, it’s frustrating when we don’t get any answers along with the waiting. I wish you all the best in getting your diagnosis. If you get an offer of help, you take it, be it family or friends.
Hi Waggoner . I remember the period 18-19 years ago when I was first diagnosed and my mind and emotions were spinning all over the place. It was a difficult time, something that took the ground from under me and left me feeling that nothing made sense anymore. That period of waiting for the formal diagnosis was just the worst.
I hope the following from an ‘old timer’ is of some help. Everyone’s experiences of MS are different, depending on where the lesions are and how big etc. You mentioned that you have one lesion ? When I was diagnosed I was told I have ‘quite a few lesions’. I didn’t ask how many or in which parts of my brain but for a few years after diagnosis I didn’t really have any symptoms and was able to happily carry on with life as normal. 18 years later I struggle with walking for more than 10mins or so , have some problems with bladder control (but wet myself only once), struggle in hot weather , get ‘fatigued ‘ from time to time and sometimes have to watch my balance but e.g last week I was up and down ladders clearing gutters on our bungalow.
As I say, every case is different but I hope my experience gives some optimism when you are wondering about caring for your children. I don’t have my own children so I’m not at all well placed to make suggestions about telling your children in the event that you do get a diagnosis of MS. For what it’s worth, if I had a 22 year old I would tell him/ her but wait a while before my head and emotions had settled before working out when to tell the youngsters