What positive thing(s) have happened to you since your diagnosis?

[Ant1981]

Positives I got

I do feel that whatever MS dx took away it gave me back so much more:

36 y/o male upon dx last sept. Was in a rough flare from a bad flu. Always active, sports, gym, construction work. Now after a very good recovery and some PT. The only thing that changed is the fact I can’t go on scaffold at work, just doesn’t feel right anymore. This sparked wholesale changes in my career. I grew to hate my job but now taking the chance to get back into school and get a more less physicallly demanding job. I’m excersizing more 3-4 days/week still doing my weight training, hiking for 20-30 Kms, biking, learning to meditate more, and so much more. I’m even more active than pre-dx me. I’m feeling great! and excited about my life finally feels like I’m living. Almost 1 year since dx and my MS is very quiet and hopefully it stays like this for decades. 🙂

[502E79]

Well... first off thanks for a question that begs for an honest self appraisal.

Kinda brings out what we are made of since everyone here is being "put to the test" with at least one affliction, the responses show, to me anyhow, appreciation!

I'm alone and in decline like all of us really, sometimes seems faster than I would like. My world has gotten smaller and more limited, yet every word more precious, every relationship deeper, even with those who mean well but haven't a clue.

I forgive more. And I forget too (not cog fog... yet ; )

Values & virtue are now a lot closer to the position they should hold in any life. Although physically limited I'm free. Not just because of lack of wife, kids etc. free in the sense of worry. Yeah... hard to grasp with all the shadows MS can cast, but somehow I'm currently not concerned with me. That kind of free.

Lastly, pride is making an exit. Good riddance, had too much for too long. Put on some humility for a change.
A bit more compassion too.... I'm a work in progress!

"I'm not a has been, I'm a will be!" -Lauren Bacall

Jer

[pennstater]

Great thread. So many moving responses. Some for me:

Permission to slow down, stop, and smell the roses (that is if I could actually smell -lol). I focus on the important people and things in life.

Met my husband two years after my diagnosis. Married a kind, compassionate, nice man who shows me every day how much he loves me. At my worst, he fed me when I couldn't pick my arms up. He wouldn't let me give into my depression. He stood by me when we decided time to stop working. He makes me laugh everyday.

In the the first two years of disability, I lost both my Mom and Dad. Being home gave me more time with them. Truly Blessed.

Likewise, I was able to keep our dog company each day fo 4 years until he passed away at 14.

I truly have more patience with myself and everyone else in my life. I have learned to really enjoy the small things in life and my days. Nature amazes me.

I have met some real interesting and relatable people at my infusion center. People share so much of their experiences, both MS and non-MS.

I am more grateful for all in life.

[Carolinemf]

Hi,
Sorry just wanted to add something.
When i was originally diagnosed i was absolutely terrified that i wouldn't see 45 ( family history of ms) .
I had 5 kids to look after by then (DX)and a sick Dad.

I had a very idealistic and unreal attitude to life prior to this period.
This attitude had served me well as a child.
I had a very disturbing and mostly unpleasant childhood.
And the inner belief that (as long as i was a good person) life was like a set of scales that eventually balanced out or even tipped back the other way helped me remain positive and capable of envisaging a happy future for myself.
This bubble lasted approx 2 years before i was brought back down to earth with a thump.
Coping with a busy husband, ms, kids, sick parents and work I suddenly had to grow up and realise it was up to me to look after all these people that i cared about because no fairy god mother was going to do it for me no matter how nice i was.
I actually discovered that sometimes you have to be 'not nice'.More than sometimes actually!
It felt like living with a deadline 24/7.

This is what i was hoping to portray when i posted earlier but when i re read my post it sounded more like a list of self promotions! So sorry.
Looking Back it still astounds me that the fear of not being around to help raise my kids etc provoked me to achieve as much as i did and remembering I'm not sure HOW i did.

I certainly couldn't have done anything without my wonderful husband. We have had ups and downs like everyone but he is still my most favourite person in the world and the most decent human being i have ever met. He may not always get there but he simply doesn't understand to not try.

The Funny thing is that once i made it past 45 and was still kicking i got to kinda relax.
Anyway thanks for listening
Caroline

[kittysmith]

You Guys Are Awesome!

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I keep thinking of more blessings to add to this thread.

I was blessed to be working at a large, teaching hospital when I had my 2nd flare. I was diagnosed within a few months. When I went to the eye clinic with a blurry eye, I was seen, in succession, by an opthomologist, retinal specialist, and finally, an neuro opthomologist. Once I had an MRI and lumbar puncture, I had my diagnosis, I was seen by and MS specialist. I have been with the MS clinic ever since.

Getting a diagnosis so quickly and getting on a DMD (was on Avonex, now on Copaxone) helped so much. I am blessed to have wonderful doctors who take good care of me.

Also, for those who are new to MS or struggling with acceptance, I would recommend starting a gratitude journal. Every night, before bed, no matter how bad my day is, I always write down 3 things I am thankful for. It really puts things in perspecitve.

Thank you all for your responses. This is great!

[Spacecake]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences....

Also, for those who are new to MS or struggling with acceptance, I would recommend starting a gratitude journal. Every night, before bed, no matter how bad my day is, I always write down 3 things I am thankful for. It really puts things in perspecitve.

I love all of these posts and this suggestion is great - as a newly diagnosed person finding this thread has made me smile so big. Thank you. I love the format too...please keep posting a know it makes a huge difference to the newbies lurking around!

[Jules A]

I love all of these posts and this suggestion is great - as a newly diagnosed person finding this thread has made me smile so big. Thank you. I love the format too...please keep posting a know it makes a huge difference to the newbies lurking around!

Hi Spacecake, welcome!

My goal for 2019, check this out Jer , is to follow Warren Buffet's advice and practice humility and restraint neither of which seem to come naturally to me. Life is about growing and I'm clearly still a work in progress.

[marti]

When I finally got diagnosed I went straight to my PCP and hugged her. She was the only doctor who took the symptoms seriously enough to order a MRI. That's all she wrote. I had an immediate diagnosis by a Neurologist. It's always good to know what's causing your problems instead of being labeled "stressed".

[kittysmith]

Great to read some more stories!

Thank you all for your contributions to this post. I am happy to read about so many long marriages and partnerships. Sure, it gets frustrating, but life happens. I really appreciate you all sharing your experiencing.

[ladybug162]

Eh I’m still alive, so I guess that’s a good thing. Although, there are some days that really test me and make me wish I weren’t.

[IntoDust]

I learned to never, ever doubt my gut instincts. My instincts led me to open what I started referring to as “Pandora’s Box”. The day I went to my neurologist to ask her if I could just put this whole thing to rest as I was no closer to having any answers was the day I was diagnosed.
It reaffirmed how important it is to remember that we know when something is wrong and we need to be comfortable advocating for ourselves. There’s a sense of comfort in that, even if it is so difficult to go through.

[Mamabug]

I've been married for almost 34 years. Although my MS has caused some stress on our marriage, at times, being able to get through that has probably brought us closer together on the long run.

I have two adult children and two awesome grandchildren. No employment has offered a flexible schedule to make more frequent visits possible.

I had the opportunity to find a new me. Having to lose the old me was difficult
But being on disability for 10 years has given me opportunities to volunteer in so many places that I would not have been able to experience if i had been employed.

- Volunteered for preschool for kids from low income families for four years. Was able to get back to working with young children, instead of working with the adults (parents and caregivers) who worked with them. Could not have afforded to reduce income if I'd not had SSDI.

- volunteered at CASA for 3 years. Was an advocate in the court system for children in foster care.

- played piano for chapel and "dinner music" at a nursing home for five years.

- volunteered in intentional friendships with people in poverty who set goals to improve the quality of the their lives for 6 years at Circle of Hope.

Have volunteered in school classrooms (often first grade) for 8 years.

- a few other places too. But those were the longest and closest to my 💓 heart 💓.

Have met all of you and been a moderator for 6 years.

Have started writing a book about my experiences with MS, coping, etc.

Have learned to understand chronic illness and can empathize with others who experience chronic illness more effectively.

[riverlady5783]

What a wonderful chance to focus on wonderful life events! After diagnosis (1983), I married the love of my life. We went on to have 2 children. Both have grown into wonderful adults. MS may have complicated my life, but it is still a wonderful life

Lisa

[Carolinemf]

MS may have complicated my life, but it is still a wonderful life

What a wonderful quote lisa.

[Carolinemf]

Mamabug- wedding date?

Mine 25/May/85. Coming up on 34 too.