LaTish aka FishOP/fishead
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My name is LaTish.  The “La” rhymes with ahhh and the “Tish” rhymes with fish (it’s pronounced just like it looks, no secret to it, I promise).

Yes, I have MS.  Wow, I said it…..guess that is a sign of acceptance of this disease.  I think that this year (2008) is going to be “my” year to come to complete grips with having this distasteful disease.

I was diagnosed November 11, 2005 with RRMS after a MRI of my brain showed typical MS lesions associated with this disease.  I remember my initial reaction was relief because I was thinking the MRI might have shown a tumor or aneurysm.  The symptoms leading up to the MRI were balance problems.  I had come home from a fly fishing expedition over the weekend and couldn’t walk with out hanging on to furniture or the walls.  My partner wanted me to go to the E.R., but I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, so I promised to call my doctor the next morning.  That doctor, as nutty as she was, did the right thing and ordered a MRI. 

It was Dr. “Nutty” that left me a monotone voice mail in the middle a busy work day telling me to go see a neurologist because it looked like I had MS.  Needless to say I never went back to that doc.  I did go see a neurologist at Barnes Jewish Hospital (affiliated with Washington University) here in St. Louis who confirmed the diagnosis and spoke with me about treatment options.  I chose Copaxone, put the diagnosis in the back of my head and took a high powered position with a Specialty Pharmacy where I worked very long hours, very long weeks and traveled very much. 

About a year later, I had my first full-blown, bigger-than-life relapse.  Ended up in the hospital twice and switched to Rebif.  My first goal was to get back to work.  It took about 7 months, but I did get back to work.  This time not as high powered of a position and not as much travel, but after 2 months of fast-paced training (which included some travel), I was back in relapse-land.  Ended up back in the hospital and had to sell my beloved “story book” home because I didn’t have an income.  Ended up moving back in with my parents (ugh - at 43 years old, but they are great parents).  This is where I remain today.  I am now on disability and hoping to someday work again, but understand that I need to learn to accept this disease before I can move forward. 

I have been fortunate that my significant other has been an invaluable help to me in my battle with MS.  They have educated themselves and me on MS and why I need to take a step back and do the right things to deal with it.  Although we aren’t living together right now, due to the house having to be sold, we are working on re-establishing “us” and getting back into each others lives.  I will be moving back in with her soon and life will be somewhat back to normal (well as normal as it can be for someone with MS).

For now, I want to get enough strength back so I can go fly-fishing, play my guitar congo drums submit some of the 13+ songs I have written for copyright, and write a book about my MS “adventure”.  As a career (cardiac ICU RN), I have a deep-seated need to help others and that is why I am here at MS World.  I know it is so much easier to fight this battle with others facing the same enemy.   I have 3 cats, a dog, bearded dragon lizard and simply love animals and nature.



Feel free to send me an e-mail me at fishop@msworld.org