My Sister Diagnosed with MS at 28
wanted to share some difficult news about my sister, Kendall. Today, she received a diagnosis of MS at the age of 28. Kendall is an amazing person; she graduated from the University of Chicago and is currently attending PA school. Our family is deeply saddened by this news, especially as we lost our grandmother to MS. It seems this challenging condition has chosen Kendall.
I'm reaching out to ask if anyone has advice or information about dealing with this disease. At such a young age, with so much ahead of her, Kendall's life has taken an unexpected turn. We're curious about the lifespan prognosis, what treatments are available, and what steps she can take to manage and potentially overcome this condition. Any information or insights you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Please keep her in your thoughts if you can.
I'm sorry to hear about your sister's diagnosis. I'm sure that this is unsettling for her and the family given the experience that your grandmother had. We unfortunately can't give medical advice here, however, as someone living with MS myself I can certainly say that there are so many more treatment options now than there were even just 10 years ago. I was diagnosed at 36 years old (seven years ago) and within that short amount of time new medications are now available and there's also more research showing how much diet and lifestyle can support an improved quality of life and better management of symptoms.
The most important thing right now is to connect with a neurologist or MS specialist to create her treatment plan. The doctor will be the best person to guide her. They often factor - the number of lesions, placement of lesions and current severity of symptoms when developing a treatment plan, so her doctor will be able to best evaluate all of that.
You did the next best thing which is connect to a community of support. We're so glad that you're here! You're already an incredible support and champion for your sister. She's lucky to have you.
We love lots of resources on this site here and an amazing community of people to share their wealth of knowledge as well.
We'd love to hear her progress and you develops her treatment plan. Please update us as you feel comfortable. There's never any pressure to do so, we just like you to know that we're always thinking of and cheering on all of our community members here.
- Alene, moderatorHi Alene,
I deeply appreciate your prompt response during this challenging period. While we are still in the process of seeking out a neurologist or MS specialist, we have been reaching out to professionals across the United States. Kendall's initial symptom was severe eye pain, prompting her visit to the doctor. Without hesitation, the doctor identified her optic nerve filled with liquid and swollen, leading to an emergency MRI to investigate the possibility of MS or a brain tumor. With just one scan, they discovered MS and lesions on her brain.
In addition to the eye pain, Kendall experienced difficulty holding a pen a few weeks ago, resulting in a distinct change in her handwriting. Initially attributing it to fatigue and hand cramping from extensive note-taking, she noticed the intermittent nature of the issue. Sometimes, it's the seemingly minor details that signal more significant underlying concerns that demand attention. Prioritizing your health and addressing any worries promptly is crucial, as understanding your body is paramount.
To anyone reading this, don't delay getting a thorough health check; while it can be intimidating, catching potential issues early offers hope and better outcomes.
Currently, Kendall is hospitalized for five days, undergoing an intensive steroid treatment to alleviate the swelling in her optic nerve. Following this, we will consult with a neurologist to establish a comprehensive treatment plan. Although the current medical team, not specialized in neurology or MS, suspects RRMS, we await confirmation from a professional. I will consistently provide updates on Kendall's progress, and your continued support means the world to us.we're certainly glad to hear that she's getting the care that she needs now. And it sounds like she has a family of cheerleaders behind her!
And thank you for the reminder to our community to get tested and treated early. It certainly is important.
We wish Kendall well and yes look forward to updates as you feel comfortable providing. Please let her know that we're thinking of her and that she has an invisible army walking alongside her in this journey. She certainly is not alone in this.
Best
Alene, moderator
Hi,
.
I am so sorry for Kendall's diagnosis. I know it must be overwhelming and frightening, especially since your family has witnessed how challenging living with MS can be.
That said, treatments are constantly improving and your sister has a better chance of managing her MS symptoms than your grandmother probably did.
We have a few contributors that were diagnosed at a young age. One of them is Calie Wyatt, who was diagnosed at age 14. Her biography is a little out-of-date now, as she is older than 24 and gave birth to triplets (!) a few years back. Here's a link to her bio, which also has a link to her articles at the bottom -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/community/experts/calie-wyatt. Sarah Quezada was diagnosed at 29 -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/community/experts/sarah-quezada. Nicole Lemelle was also diagnosed in her 20's -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/community/experts/nicole-lemelle. It's not unusual for some young people to be diagnosed in what we might call 'the prime of life' or during extremely busy/stressful times of life. We could probably delve into why that is, but I want to stay focused on your sister's experience. Kendall sounds like a strong, determined woman and it sounds like she has a good support system in her family and frankly, that's pretty awesome. Not to say that any part of this is awesome, but having support and determination can help make this new challenge at least a little more manageable.
We're here for you and your sister, so please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. We're happy to help in any way we can.
Best, Erin, MultipleSclerosis.net Team Member.
