The symptoms that led up to my diagnosis in October ’94 were short-lived as they lasted only a several weeks and subsided before winter in December. That first glimpse of MS was minor in comparison with the diversified MS related issues I experienced later and will address in future posts.
In ’94, stress was not something that I controlled successfully, but the following several months were uneventful and then ’96 was a fantastic year because late August, I met my husband. During early dating, he shared some news about a childhood friend who was diagnosed with MS and as I had not yet shared my own diagnosis, I determined God presented the opportunity and I utilized it. I related my situation and his reaction could not have been more ambiguous, which I mentally assumed indicated I would not hear from him again, which was fine as I liked him, but there were no deep feelings involved and I was content with my job at the bank.
God had other plans because we continued dating and then within only weeks of my “MS news,” he became more serious. I still was not convinced that he was settled with my news and I declined his proposal six weeks into our courtship. (My Mom’s cousins who are sisters both have MS and I did not know the older sister well, but the family was aware of her husband’s reputation prior to her MS complications related passing), so in my mind, I was protecting myself from future hurt. I explained this to soon-to-be-husband and also that because of MS, I was afraid to have children so I would not be in his way to have a family. He was a tad upset when he explained that he fell in love with me because of my strength, my faith and my sense of humor. He also explained that he didn’t want to marry MS, but he wanted to, “Marry a beautiful woman, who happened to have MS.” [Everyone sigh, “Awww!”] And proposal attempt number two was accepted.
He planned the wedding and reception. No, he did not suggest anything like beer-pong or peanuts on the reception tables, but before he planned anything he asked if I would rather have a house or a big wedding. Duh! A house! So we chose to do a small wedding with only family in attendance and bought a house six months later. I was relieved of wedding planning stress, but buying our first house brought on MS flare-up number two during July 1997. I saw my neurologist shortly after moving and he prescribed my first interferon drug for injection.
Stress-induced symptoms had returned with numbness replaying the role of Symptom Leader, prior to and during our move with moving day being the worst. Moving in 80 degree heat was challenging enough, but what I discovered further into summer is that heat is fine, but it was the humidity component on moving day that had changed everything. I can function well in 80 degree heat and single digit humidity. Less than 40% humidity presented hiccups in my strength and coordination, but exceed 75% and I am rendered useless so praise God for air-conditioning!
Not everyone with MS has the same experience so there is a massive learning curve for all of us MS patients. In trying various treatments, I discovered MS is entirely individual because what worked for others was not successful for me. I mentioned earlier that just like varying symptoms, there are several treatment options, which will also be addressed in future posts.
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