# It Looks As If I Have MS **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 2, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680 "2011-11-02T20:32:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/1 "2011-11-02T20:32:56Z")
Just got back from the neurologist. Weeks of tests, but now I know. It’s actually a relief. I see an MS specialist on the 21st. Could be worse… Could be raining. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/2 "2011-11-02T20:49:16Z")
Well it is a bright, sunny, warm day here in Cleveland so you’re right. I was just thinking about this the other day, wondering what happened. Glad you are relieved to know, and now can start down a path of treatment. Here’s to winning the war, **BMalion**! ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/3 "2011-11-02T21:06:56Z")
MS runs in my family. My dad and one of his sisters has it. I have a fear that one day I’m going to discover I have it. I’m almost 33, but my dad wasn’t diagnosed with it until he was in his late 40s, IIRC(he’s 60 now.) Good luck, **BMalion**. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/4 "2011-11-02T21:22:45Z")
Thank you. And it is a lovely day! ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/5 "2011-11-02T21:30:55Z")
That’s lousy news, but hey it could be worse, you could live in Detroit. Good luck with the treatment! ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/6 "2011-11-03T00:01:12Z")
Hate to hijack, but my (adoptive) sister got diagnosed with this earlier in the year. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/7 "2011-11-03T00:04:58Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Hate to hijack, but my (adoptive) sister got diagnosed with this earlier in the year. ☹ Not a hijack, we’re all in this together. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/8 "2011-11-03T00:11:52Z")
It’s also a good excuse to take up smoking weed. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/9 "2011-11-03T00:17:58Z")
I was diagnosed with “clinically isolated demyelinating syndrome” five years ago, and upgraded to MS this summer when I had another flare. I still don’t have any real debilitating symptoms, but I’m available to talk about it if you want. ---
**Author:** ![Cap\_n\_Obvious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@Cap\_n\_Obvious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cap_n_Obvious)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/10 "2011-11-03T00:24:58Z")
NM, google got my answer for me. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/11 "2011-11-03T00:49:28Z")
What symptoms do you have, if you don’t mind me asking? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/12 "2011-11-03T00:56:54Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > What symptoms do you have, if you don’t mind me asking? No problem. No balance, weakness everywhere, I walk with a cane now, numbness occaissionally, tired all the time and less and less bladder control. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/13 "2011-11-03T01:06:59Z")
Ugh. I went through a round of tests a few years ago and it come back with something like, 'MRI not TOTALLY normal, but not abnormal - medical mystery". ☹ I really feel for you. I hope you have the support you need. \<3 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/14 "2011-11-03T01:15:46Z")
Mixed blessing there. Finding out is half the battle. Let me know if I can help sometime. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/15 "2011-11-03T01:37:58Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Mixed blessing there. Finding out is half the battle. Let me know if I can help sometime. I think a Herb burger and a Dortmunder would help 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/16 "2011-11-03T12:48:16Z")
I’m sorry to hear this news, but you seem to be taking it with grace and good humor. Good for you! ---
**Author:** ![Elysium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@Elysium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysium)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/17 "2011-11-03T12:52:29Z")
I’m sorry to hear that. My mother has MS, she was diagnosed when she was 21 and she is almost 60 now. There are a lot of options for treatment and some new drugs on the market. I hope you find something that slows down the loss of myelin for you. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/18 "2011-11-03T12:55:53Z")
Your attitude is an inspiration. Good luck with your treatment and lean on us whenever you need to. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/19 "2011-11-03T15:09:56Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Your attitude is an inspiration. Good luck with your treatment and lean on us whenever you need to. Agreed. How long had you been experiencing symptoms, and how long did it take to get the diagnosis? I know waiting and fretting over what’s wrong is a huge strain (especially when you _know_ something is most certainly wrong). At least you have the Dope if you really (really) want to vent. But it is inspiring to see you take the news in stride. Good luck, **BMalion.** ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680/20 "2011-11-03T15:49:52Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Agreed. > > How long had you been experiencing symptoms, and how long did it take to get the diagnosis? > > … The symptoms? Just over 2 years. I thought at first it was a holdover from a long ago motorcycle accident, I was wrong. Once I saw the doctors and had the tests, less than a month for the diagnosis. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-looks-as-if-i-have-ms/601680.md?page=2)