Just Diagnosed

Hi I was just diagnosed with MS about a month ago and it was very stressful getting diagnosed for it. It took me 5 months to get diagnosed. At first I did not know what was going on, I just left my job after working as a CNA for 10 years. I was getting bullied by my DON and a night nurse for over a year and I was not getting as much sleep as I should have been getting. I had to go see a counselor at the end of it all and decided my health was not worth working for them anymore.

I took a few weeks to get back to myself and then I started looking for another place of employment. It didn't take to long to find a new job as a CNA because of my experience. I started working at a hospital which I love, everyone there has been so wonderful and nice. After working at the hospital for a month I noticed that my feet were numb/tingling feeling then after I took a shower I noticed that my hips all the way down to my toes were numb. Than I noticed that I started walking around like I was drunk and unsteady.

I decided to go to the ER and I was given a X-ray they gave me on my back and the ER doctor could not find anything wrong and told me to go see my primary doctor for a MRI. I went to see my doc and she just ordered me some Motrin, thinking it was inflammation of my back. After a week of not getting any better I decided to go see a chiropractor and saw him for 3 weeks and I was not getting any better. Then I saw an orthopedic doc which did a EMG Test and referred me to a neurologist it took me a month and a half to see this doc and she ordered a MRI on my brain and my lower back. To get my MRI results I went on my Patient Portal and read the report that said my back was fine and they did find a lesion in my brain. From then on I figured it was MS.

The neurologist could not get me in for another month and a half. I was so frustrated. The doc did order some blood work that turned out fine. I got sick of waiting for this doctor so I talked to my sister in law that is a doctor and she told me about this clinic that deals with neurological disorders and she gave me the number. I called to make an appointment and they could see me the next day. I couldn't go for another week though, but it felt good they could get me in so fast. I had to drive 2-3 hours away but it was worth it. I saw the doc and she ordered a MRI of my spine and they found a lesion in my spine. Then she ordered a spinal tap and a week and a half later I finally found out I had early stage MS. I started taking my medicine a few weeks ago and I have wonderful support from my husband and family. It has been hard because I have been so forgetful and tired a lot, but I am not going to have that pull me down. I am a very optimistic person and I am very lucky to have the support I get. I hope everyone gets the very best support they need because it helps a lot.