When I Was Diagnosed With MS

So, I have MS. Specifically, primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Which means I always have it. It never leaves me. Walking, even standing can be a struggle. But if you look at me, it appears that everything is normal.

When it all began

I started feeling something was wrong in 2019. I first felt something was wrong when I was in Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival. I saw theatre in the morning and afternoons and comedy at night. It was one of my favorite times of the year. I was there because of my job. I founded a professional theatre company in Philadelphia, Inis Nua Theatre Company, 20 years ago. As the company continued to grow, travel to Edinburgh was paid for by Inis Nua. In my mind, I’ve made it. I’m respected there and I hung out with artists from Ireland and the U.K. I don’t get googly-eyed when I meet celebrity actors. I get googly-eyed when I meet comedians. So, I became a groupie and got to meet people like Dara O’Brian, Nish Kumar, David O’Doherty, Nick Helm, Phil Jupitus, Aisling Bea, Katherine Ryan, Alice Lowe, and Cariad Lloyd. If you don’t know those Irish and UK comedians, go on YouTube and look them up. I’ll wait.
And I’ve met them all in Edinburgh. Yeah, I’m kind of a big deal.

Coming back to the States and seeing my doctor

After I got back to Philadelphia, I saw my primary care doctor who thought it was plantar fasciitis. At the end of the appointment, she referred me to a neurologist. Hats off to my doctor who recognized that something was up with me that was more than plantar fasciitis. I got an MRI and countless physical exams. I now, at this point, was walking with a cane. One thing that proves you have MS is a lumbar puncture or a spinal tap. I had heard that a spinal tap was painful from my grandmother, who had one years ago. In reality, medicine has advanced since my grandmother had one in the 90’s! It is more uncomfortable than painful. The issue is you aren’t facing the doctor or the needle. Once the needle is in, you cannot move. I think these stress positions are being used by the CIA. Heck, when I was in that position, I would have given up the secret spy base. Perhaps I have said too much. Errr… after I got a lumbar puncture, it was sent off to a lab and when the results came back, I met with a bunch of doctors and they said “You have MS!” It was like I won the lotto or something.