Nadja is a teacher, a refashionista of clothing, and a passionate blogger. But more so she is a compassionate and caring friend. She also has only recently been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  Nadja is one of the many young women who will be told that they have this mean disease.  I found Nadja through the blog world this past spring when she was trying to find support following her diagnosis.  I dare say that she gives more than she receives and if anyone in our MS on-line world is having a rough time, Nadja is right there to lend an ear and provide comfort.  I am very fortunate to know her. 

Thank you Nadja for granting me the honor of this interview.

Name: Nadja Yse Tizer

General:  31 year old married female living in Denver Colorado.  I teach high school ESL (English as a Second Language) in a poor, urban school.  I also teach a daily yoga class at my school.  I own a small business called Denver Yoga for Kids.  I am an aspiring designer of refashioned, recycled clothing but my latest designs are currently on hiatus as I try to balance work and my recent diagnoses of MS.

Type of MS: Original Diagnoses "Benign Monophasic." I have not had my diagnoses updated since April but since then I have had an exacerbation so this diagnoses is no longer entirely accurate although I hope my disease will take a mild course.  My next MRI is fast approaching.

Blog Title and Link:  Living! With MS

The interview questions:

When were you given your official Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis?

I received my official diagnoses on April 23, 2008 after over two weeks of debilitating vertigo and vomiting.

What tests did they do to get to the diagnosis?

The first test I received was a CT scan at the ER.  On April 12^th I woke up feeling strange and nauseated.  I got up anyway because I had many things to do that day but was soon driven back to bed by a bout of vomiting.  That day I had planned a party for my husband's birthday but we had to cancel it as the day wore on and I continued to vomit.  By night my husband wanted to take me to the ER because I had vomited at least twenty times.  I was so dizzy I couldn't move off my side and so I sent him to find an anti-nausea agent.  I took it and insisted on waiting until morning.

I got the CT scan shortly after being admitted to the ER.  At that point I couldn't even stand alone.  They gave me some medicine and discharged me a few hours later saying I would be alright.  The physician noted that my CT was abnormal and told me to get an MRI.  I was unconcerned but I ordered the test anyway.

Nothing seemed to stop the vertigo.  Several things masked my symptoms and allowed me to function but after the 12^th I did not drive again for over a month.  I continued to be dizzy and to see the world sideways.  I often saw double or my vision was blurred.  I still went to work for the better part of two weeks, hanging onto walls when I needed to go places.  I guess it must have been the 21^st when I succumbed completely to the vertigo and weeks of vomiting caught up to me.  I started vomiting blood at work and was later readmitted to the ER.  I had a Mallory Weiss tear in my esophagus.