This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hi, my name is Christina and I am seventeen. I was recently diagnosed with MS in May 2010. I have only had two attacks since November 2009-present (before I began on copaxone) but I still do not know much about MS. I've been told why I have attacks, what MS is, and what is happening to my body when I have attacks but I'm still pretty unsure about long term effects of this disease...or whatever you might refer to it as. I know I should be asking my doctor these questions and that every case might be different, but whenever I see a doctor, it is with my mom and she is having a harder time dealing with it than I am (which might not say much since I feel completely fine and have no problem with it). I haven't had alone time with my doctor and I don't want to have to ask all these questions in front of my mom because she has just recently began to cope with it better.

My question is, what might having MS mean for me 10, 20, maybe 30 years from now? I have no trouble hearing the hard truth but if MS is such a varied case among people than I will try my best to ask my doctor these questions the next time I see her.

As far as I know, there may not be any change to how you feel now, and the MS may not worsen. On the other hand, who knows. That is why members here take it day by day and hope for the best.

I was diagnosed in Nov 2007 and been on a clinical trial for an oral drug. I am quite a bit older than you but MS is not affecting me, except for tired bouts. Had one episode and that was all. No relapses and no worse.

Hope you have the same experience because it is not problematic at all, for me.

Hi Christina

Back in 1996 I was tentatively diagnosed with MS, they were not positive but were sure I had it, it was just dormant.

This year they confirmed I do have MS only because they were trying to sort out another problem ..... typical lol.

Anyway, I still have no symptoms that I can see and I think you will see from many on here, that we are all at different stages with our symptoms and our experiences with MS so far.

This is definitely the place to ask questions if you don't feel comfortable asking in front of your mum. Maybe you should make an appointment for just you and your doctor that way you wont feel awkward. It's always more difficult I think for the person closest to you that doesn't have MS than you yourself. I only tell my husband a few things as he worries too much and I am better just getting up and getting on with things and if I need to talk, this is the place I come too.

Good luck and take each day for what it is, live it to the fullest.

_________________
Mirry
"Just another bump in the road"

Hi Christina!

Having an appointment alone with your doctor definitely sounds like a good idea. Unfortunately, your doc probably won't be able to give you tons of specific answers about how things will go--that's one of the toughest aspects about MS in my opinion--not being able to get definitive answers about things.

You may not have any significant problems from it--like Mirry and DM. You just have to take it one day at a time. Try to stay positive and strong like you're doing. Maybe there's someone else--another family member or friend you could bring to an appointment with your doctor, just to have another "pair of ears" there? If not, it sounds like you'll do just fine on your own.

Take care, and good luck!

I really really appreciate everyone's answers, thank you for replying :] It actually did help a lot and really gave me the answers I was looking for. It is a little difficult to make an appointment alone with my doctor since she is over an hour away and my parents don't trust me to drive that far alone yet, but I will definitely try to pull her aside though during my next appointment.

Thanks again!

Another option would be to ask your doctor questions via email. Even if your doctor doesn't normally answer emails, you could explain the situation, that you would like to ask some questions that you don't feel comfortable asking in the appointments. Though not as good as a face-to-face appointment, it is quick, and would keep your mom form getting uneasy.

You are 17 so you probably have a cell phone? If so get your doctors number and give him a call sometime when your mom is not around. If he is unavailable, which he(or she) will likely be, explain you have some questions for him(or her) and ask your doctor to call you back but do not forget to give them your phone number! Good luck!