Newly Diagnosed And Feeling Overwhelmed Posted: 07-19-05 00:50am
My name is laura, and I was diagnosed
4/04/05 and i'm twenty, it's been really
hard for me particularly cause I don't
know anyone under 40 with ms [i realize
there is a forum with the question if
there were any young people with ms and
was going to post to that...But realized I
might get more responses by posting my own
little topic...And that's what i'm looking
for...More responses...] and no one in my
family has anything like it...It was very
depressing when I was diagnosed...Even
though I was relieved it wasn't a brain
tumor or cancer....But it still seemed
just as bad even though ms isn't a lethal
disease.
I have a lot of different symptoms ranging
from numbness in my legs to constant
widespread pain...I have many secondary
problems such as hypertension from all the
pain and frustration and a lot of
emotional instability from being so
depressed about the diagnosis...I go
through my ups and downs...Some days are
good...Others aren't as good. I think
what's hardest is the cognitive
difficulties...I'm taking medical classes
and it's all about memorizing very long
and complex words and formulas and
procedures...And I never used to have that
many problems with math...But lately it's
been very hot, and I have had a lot more
flare ups...Or maybe it's just one big
one...And it's progressing...I don't know.
So I have been having problems
remembering simple equations that my 8
year old sister knows...It's very
embarrassing...And I get very
frustrated...I feel stupid and my self
esteem gets even lower...Anyway I could go
on forever...But it would be nice if there
were anyone could just relate to this
feeling...I've been so depressed, thanks
|
evolution
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 4 Location: Atlanta, GA
Posted: 07-25-05 20:32pm
Laura,
hang in there. I don't know anyone over
40 that has ms. I found out at the age
of 36, on 1/3/05. Great new years
surprise eh? Looking back now there were
a lot of indications of the ms before I
had any idea, I wouldn't be surprised if
i've had it active for close to ten years.
I understand your frustration because I
have been out of work for almost seven
months, looks like i'm going back now but
it's been tough. My own family has been
very supportive, but they simply don't
understand and will ask questions and make
suggestion that simply are not helpful.
Like you, I have good days and bad days.
In fact, I believe some of my problems
might be associated with the medicine i'm
on, but that's a different topic. It can
be very depressing because often others do
not understand that you simply do not feel
your best. I've learned if I don't feel
like doing something, I just tell them I
don't want to do it.
I guess I would also say that time seems
to heal a lot of the symptoms. Also, as
time goes on you start to realize what
makes symptoms worse and you can make an
adjustment as neccessary.
Lastly i'll say that i've heard a lot of
others say they became very depressed
initially, over time though, they learned
to deal with the symptoms. I know I am a
lot less patient. (but that's actually
ok because I was just plain too nice
before. :roll: )
hope this helps, ask anything more you
want, i'll do my best to answer with my
own limited experience.
