Denise Coleman

Health Interests

Multiple Sclerosis,  Chronic Pain Syndrome,  Spinal Surgery and Chronic Pain,  Lymphedema

Drugs I am Taking

Denise Coleman has not shared any drug information.

About Me

I am a 56 year old woman who has had spinal problems since I was about 12 years old. I have had four major spine surgeries, the last being an anterior/posterior spinal fusion in 1994. I was diagnosed with MS in 1997, however I have probably had it since at least 1980, when during a surgery the doctor noticed that there was no myelin around the nerves and wrapped them with fatty tissue in an effort to protect them, but as the next surgery showed it did not last. The symptoms I started having in the 80s were considered to be a result of the nerve damage in my spine, and it wasn't until 1997 that I had an MRI of my brain, which showed lesions. I am alot more than my health issues though. I am a mother of a wonderful 35 year old daughter that I raised alone since she was 2. We had a wonderful life together and I am so proud of her as a woman, an attorney working on behalf of abused and neglected children, and who is now in a good marriage and just had her first child, a son, on August 7, 2008. I had a successful career in Higher Education and Non Profit Administration, my last position was Vice President at a prestigious NYC College. I have been on disability since 1998. The most difficult thing I have done in a long time was leave my career, and these ten years have been all about change and transitions. I can no longer drive so I moved from Long Island to Manhattan and use public transportation and to remain independent, I have met new people, became involved in my church and other organizations where I do some volunteer work, I sit on a non-profit Board of Directors and I do some freelance writing. My MS continues to progress, pain is still an issue in my life, but I refuse to let my health control me or to identify myself by my health. The most important thing to me is to maintain my independence and a positive relationship with my daughter and her family. I realize this is more than you ever wanted to know about me, but here I am. I look forward to getting to know you all. Denise