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    Out of Lurking....

    Hi folks, I've been lurking for a couple of weeks, and sure do appreciate the information here on this site. I finally decided to introduce myself.

    I'm Golightlygirl, I'm nearly 47, diagnosed around 9 weeks ago. by MRI and LP. I've had SX for many years, though I had learned to ignore them, as I had suffered from migraines since childhood, and a case of Viral Meningitis in my twenties was the blame for what they decided was Fibromyalgia. Honestly, the biggest problem I had for more than fifteen years was traumatic migrains headaches that lasted more than three or four weeks and a recent (within the last five year) diagnosis of Inflamatory Bowel Disease.

    I was learing to live with those problems just fine, until this spring my hands quit working correctly, I developed a funky tremor I couldn't explain, and I started blanking out and losing time. The scariest incident happened in the car. I was sent by my therapist to a neurophyciatrist and given a number of tests. Due to my cognitive impairment, I flunked. Shortly after, I was sent to a Neuro who ordered a MRI w and w/o contrast along with the angio. My brain showed a plethora of old lesions in the MRI without contrast and a very large new lesion in the MRI w/ contrast. I had the LP two days later and it was confirmed that indeed I do have MS. It all happened very quickly.

    I am on Copaxone now, no problems there. Shared solutions is fantastic. At my last appointment last Friday, the doctor noticed my legs are much weaker and I'm less coordinated than I was thirty days ago. He asked if I minded an aggressive approach? I said lets go! So, Ampyra is what he wanted for me, however, I am very small in weight. Okay. I am underweight. So I am doing the 4-AP from the compounding pharmacy and working my way up. I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, but I think I feel a touch stronger in my legs and I feel less terrified on the stairs. I'm looking forward to increasing my dose.

    I feel blessed. I can't let this keep me from living my life so I'll just live my life around it in a different way. Looking forward to getting to know you better. Thanks for your time.
    golightlygirl... Diagnosed 05/10 with RRMS. Currently taking Copaxone.

    #2
    Hello Golightlygirl

    Welcome to the MS World Forums - nice to meet you! It's great you came out of lurking and joined us

    Gosh, it makes me wonder how long you have really had MS, with symptoms long ago and old lesions too. Up until your hand issues and blanking out recently, there were other valid explanations for your symptoms. And as you said, you learned to live with those problems.

    In any case, sounds like you have a decent neuro. It's good that you are tolerating Copaxone well. Hopefully 4-AP will work well for you too.

    You have probably explored the other Forums (as a lurker) Have you checked out the Medications Forum? Lot's of interesting stuff on Copaxone and Ampyra (some on 4-AP) But if you have any questions, feel free to ask. We'll be happy to help you if we can.

    Hope to be seeing you around

    Take care,
    KoKo
    PPMS for 26 years (dx 1998)
    ~ Worrying will not take away tomorrow's troubles ~ But it will take away today's peace. ~

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      #3
      Thank you KoKo

      I sure do appreciate the warm welcome!

      I have no idea how long I've had this, but when my neuro showed me the MRI, he said "see all these old lesions? These show you have had this for a long time." Looking at the computer screen in his office, and all of those white spots scattered around making my brain look like swiss cheese or snow patches, I was too stunned and curiously looking at the picture on the screen to think to ask, "how long?" lol. I suppose it doesn't matter... I know now.

      I believe my doctor is very good, I'm keeping the faith. He is an MS specialist with a MS Specialty clinic in my area.

      I feel sure that I will have many questions, all of this is so new to me. I've been blaming everything on age, IBS, etc. for so many years and generally plugging along that when my body said stop and I had to... the mind over matter thing just quit working and I realized I needed to reach out to a group who have much more expertise than I could ever hope to have!

      So, thank you again.
      Golightly
      golightlygirl... Diagnosed 05/10 with RRMS. Currently taking Copaxone.

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