Vicki is one of those women that you gain strength from simply knowing her.  She writes about her disability in a way which is genuine but never self-pitying.  Vicki is an extraordinary writer and provides a wealth of information about MS on her personal blog.  It is my personal opinion that she has one of the best MS blogs out there. 

I now present to you...Ms Vicki Bridges

Name:  Vicki Bridges, Down the MS Path    
Type of MS:  Secondary Progressive MS, also severe osteoporosis
Bio:  I was a single mother from the time my two boys were 1 and 3. I was in Marketing with the travel and hospitality industry. I am now 59, on disability, lucky enough to be living with my life partner, sweetheart, and loving caregiver.

When were you given your official Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis?
I was diagnosed late in 1989.

Did your diagnosis take a long time?
The first hint I had MS (as I remember) is detailed in a post called My Introduction to MS   in 1982 when my knee was mysteriously numb. At that time I had no reason to think it was MS. From the time of this incident to diagnosis was seven years. During that seven years I experienced unidentifiable temporary problems with my knee, hand, and vision. I later learned diagnosis normally took between six and eight years. Mine was an average time period.

What tests did they do to get to the diagnosis?
I was finally directed to the head of MS research at Southwest Texas Medical Center (STMC). There, over a couple of weeks, I ran through a ton of tests -- they were researchers, after all. I do not remember all of the tests. They eliminated Lupus, Lyme's disease, Parkinson's, and a couple of other similar MS look-a-likes. Then there were tests for balance, touch sensitivity, prick or dull, vision, spinal tap, urine time/volume, and maybe more I don't recall. Finally, I had an MRI.

Did you know in your gut that you had MS before you got the official diagnosis?
By the time I went for tests at STMC, I had a feeling it might be MS. The tests confirmed it.

What was your reaction to hearing that you have this disease?
Initially, perhaps I felt relief because all of my temporary symptoms finally had a name; facing the unknown is more frightening than facing MS. I knew I had a lot to learn. I was grateful my boys were in high school and not toddlers.

I went through grief stages. My denial was that I did not think it would change my life as much as it did. I was more frustrated than angry. I bargained with myself; "I'll rest more tomorrow if I get through today." I was sad for things that will never be, but my acceptance brought an inner peace, helping me make new pathways. All of these feelings revisit now and again.

What sorts of symptoms do you or have you experienced?
Over the last 19 years, I have had the following symptoms, some have come and gone, others are always with me:
Balance issues, Bladder problems, Blurry vision, Bowel problems, Depression, Emotional lability, Excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence), Fatigue, Foot drop, Heat and cold exacerbate symptoms, Heavy sensation in legs, Lack of muscular coordination (ataxia), Night-time leg spasms, Numbness, tingling, pins & needles (paresthesia), Optic neuritis (inflammation of optic nerve), Pain, Stiffness/spasticity, Swelling in hands and feet, Tremors, Trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux), Uhthoff's phenomenon, Walking difficulty without aid, paralysis, lost function in one arm..