The First Signs

The First Signs...

My first sign of MS was a numbness in my left hand. I was a web developer, so I thought it could be Carpal Tunnel syndrome because of all the typing. That sounded like a reasonable explanation. I talked to my doctor, but he didn't give me any reason for my symptoms. I may have talked about the constant keyboarding, so I'm sure he came to the same conclusion.

OK, This Is Serious!

The next and much more alarming sign was double vision. I saw two of everything! I talked to my eye doctor and got some help this time. He told me it could be MS, and I was sent for tests. Meanwhile, I wore a patch over one eye and joked about my crazy eyesight. I don't think I realized what I was in for. Don't worry, it's not that serious, I told myself.

The Bad News

After various tests, including an MRI, I got a phone call during the work day. My doctor's office told me that I had MS. I wasn't extremely shocked as that had been suggested previously. When I got a second call asking if I had health insurance (I didn't) was when I lost it and started crying in the middle of the workday. Luckily, I had an understanding boss who let me go home for the day.

Final Thoughts

That was my introduction to living with MS. There have been many ups and downs while learning to deal with the disease. I'll tell you all about it, so keep reading!