Hello! My name is Brandy and I have been living with MS since I was 22. It started out as optic neuritis that took 2 months to heal. My neuro at the time wanted desperately to perform a lumbar puncture, but I refused. Those tests are archaic and should be outlawed, im my opinion.  I went on over the next 4 years with no real relapses, but I kept getting bi-yearly MRIs. Finally, when I was 26, my second neuro gave me an official diagnosis by just what he noted on the MRIs and through field tests. I can't walk a straight line to save my life!

As of the time I write this, I am 32 and have had few issues with the MS. I have numb toes and fingers, I sometimes have cognitive issues, recurring UTIs, fatigue and other minor annoyances, but I keep trucking. I'm about to graduate from a one year course as a licensed massage therapist and have maintained distinguished honors throughout. That was a huge worry for me going back to school, to not be able to remember what I learned, but I'm doing fine. A lot of people seem shocked when I tell them I have MS because I really compesate for the numbness in my feet/legs when I walk and I don't "look" sick. It's mostly a mind over matter trick with a splash of skepticism and denial... but don't tell my neuro that. He says I have MS and that's final.  For my treatment, I use Copaxone and take a weekly vitamin D tablet. I also try to get 15-20 minutes of sun a day and would eventually like to eat an all natural diet to see if it helps.