More MS Notes

Note: I was going to post all about what happened in the past two weeks, but I realized that I really hadn't talked much about how all this other stuff is going for me. I'll make my next post about how that all works.

In the description I said that I was going to talk about my Multiple Sclerosis, and then I posted jokes. Now that might not sound like I'm coming through with what I said, but unless you've dealt with the whole issue, you might not understand. So let me try to explain. It's really easy to get very overwhelmed when you start this journey, that's at least what I've been told. (As well as what I've found) It took me a while, in fact, I'm not sure I completely have gotten over the concept that I have a life altering diagnosis. I was diagnosed in October by my General Practitioner, a personal friend, and then it was a referral to a specialist, and then an entire battery of tests. The first set were with a special Physical Therapist (that specialises in MS treatments, and diagnosis). After a series of tests that left me fairly upset since I had lots of red coded results, and a very supportive staff, I knew things were not right. The PT looked at me and asked "Do you know why you're here?" I explained that I was referred to get an evaluation for MS, he smiled and said "It's not my place to say, but there is no doubt in my mind we'll be seeing more of each other."

I then got to have some tests on my brain and how signals from my eyes, ears, hands and feet made it to my brain. And again the tech asked what they were testing. Once again my response and then once again a reaction of "Well yeah, things are not what would be seen as 'normal' results." Finally in January, a repeat MRI, this time lots of time on my neck and head, and no reaction at all from these techs, but they were much more careful getting me off their machine that they were when I showed up. And then later that month Dr. Mary Amir (my neurologist) had me in her office to tell me that she knew exactly what the problem was and where it was located. We got to work getting me up to speed on how to deal with MS.

It seems that I have an area in my spinal chord near as it's in my neck, about the diameter of a toothpick and about 1/3 of an inch long that just doesn't work. I'm just missing parts of my spinal chord. Sort of a strange feeling when you think about it. How something that little could mess with your left foot, parts of your left leg, and the signals from your inner-ear.