The Scary Stuff of MS
Please enjoy this look back at this old My Odd Sock from 2011…..
Thinking back to the day of your MS diagnosis, you may recall the fanatically-frightened thought pattern of your brain.
A whirlwind of what-ifs, how’s thats and it-can’t-be’s.
Heart pounding mental images of canes, walkers and wheelchairs, oh my!
It was the fear of the future…and what the future holds.
We know because each of us have experienced our own “movie of the week” moment. I believe I may have dampened my Dockers upon hearing the news!
Today, nearly 15 years after my diagnosis, I look down to find my cane hooked over my thigh..there is an AFO strapped to my leg..a rollator in the garage..and a wheel chair in the trunk of my hand-controlled car!
All of my previous fears. All of my terrifying dreams….have come true.
And as I lift my hand to scratch my ever-expanding forehead I realize one thing……….that it isn’t as bad as I had feared!
I also realized I don’t fear the future like before. In fact, I rarely think of it (like changing my toothbrush)! Because now I know it is all about today. Today is all we have for sure!
Let me ask you, did you fear the future with your diagnosis? Can you look back now and remember all of your needless worry? I would love to hear your side!
Yeah, the scary stuff of MS just isn’t that frightful anymore. Maybe it is the peace that resides within that makes us calmer. An appreciation for what we have—rather than what we have lost.
This post has been rated “weak” by the My Odd Sock Advisory Board
I will punish myself by watching back-to-back episodes of Dr.Phil.
8 Replies to “The Scary Stuff of MS”
Well, I can honestly say, getting my MS diagnosis was not scary. I had been living with the symptoms for years before the dx, but I didn’t know what was wrong. That was scary. When the doctor said “You have MS”, I was relieved. It wasn’t a brain tumour, and I wasn’t crazy after all.
Cheers
My dx was also a relief, after a long, trying time of doctors’ visits and tests. Was the future scary? Yes! Is it less so now? Not really. I try to stay in the present, but I still worry. I know things will undoubtedly get much much worse!
Peace,
Muff
Like Karen the best part of finally getting a diagnosis was that I wasn’t crazy. Probably the biggest unknown in my future was the fact that I had proposed to my wife only a month before. Lucky for me she didn’t run.
Bob, Karen & Muff,
How could I forget the large group of individuals who suffer MS symptoms for months, even years till they get a diagnosis!
Very sorry. Didn’t mean to exclude you!
Truly appreciate your input. Keep fighting!
I was diagnosed in 1985, the first mention of MS was by a Dr. checking me for a pinched nerve in my back after falling while running to firstbase during a softball game.
I had no idea what MS was at the time, this dumb frenchman didn’t even know how to spell it when he looked it up in the dictionary.
I have always had a positive outlook on this illness, my mindset is to live for today, set goals and accomplish them. I might not be able to do them as fast as i wish, but dam it, they will get done!!!
Looking forward i have less than two years and i will of had MS for half of my life. Still walking, exercising daily and doing things my wife thinks i shouldn’t, too early to stop now!!!
Keep moving forward!!!
My first real strong reaction was “Oh hell NO! I am not going to be disabled, I don’t have time to be disabled and I am NOT going to be disabled!! My doctor informed me that I wasn’t being realistic and I needed to accept that the fact that in the future I would be disabled. I still get around pretty good (occasional cane) but I find myself having more cognative trouble than I ever expected. Sure, I can get around but do I always know what I am doing or saying? Not all of the time but I laugh and walk away! 🙂
I had that relief feeling of having a name for why these crazy things were happening to my body! Then it was what in the world is MS? Couldnt be MD? I dont want to be one of Jerry’s kids. I dont want to be in a wheelchair. You are exactly right, not been as scary as i thought. i have had a wonderful life despite the MS….
Kim,
Same, same & same. Your thoughts are not unlike all others who get the scary dx.
I too have had a wonderful life despite MS. Keep moving.