Hello there! Mel from Sydney, Australia
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:58 pm
Hello everybody! My name is Melanie, and I'm from Sydney. I'm 39 years old, and a mother of 2 beautiful girls, aged 6 and 7.
I was given my MS diagnosis a week ago, after getting Optic Neuritis back in June last year. The MRI that I had at the time showed an active lesion on my Optic nerve. So far that has been my only symptom. The neuro had me do a VEP, which was normal in my left eye and abnormal in my right eye. That was no surprise because the ON was in my right eye. Then I had a spinal tap, and he found Oligoclonal Banding.
I was actually surprised that he went for a "definitely MS" diagnosis, rather than a "probably MS" diagnosis, since I don't meet the MacDonald criteria - but my neurologist and I don't get along, so I wonder if the chance to shove me off to a clinic was just a little too tempting hahaha
I guess I'm lucky in that my diagnosis was made from one relatively harmless symptom and some tests, because I know that some people go through years of mysterious symptoms before somebody finally connects the dots for them. To actually be told that I have MS was like being slapped in the face, but just like a slap in the face, the sting didn't really last that long - 9 months ago, when the connection between ON and MS was first explained to me, was when I really went through the grief and the "woe is me" of coming to terms of the possibility of having MS. Since then, I have done so much reading and research that I feel like I am as prepared as I can be for whatever lays ahead.
My biggest concern is my 2 girls. They are so little, and I just hope and pray that I can stay strong and mobile for their sake for as long as possible.
The next step for me is waiting to hear from the MS clinic that the neuro is sending me to. From there, I guess there may be more tests, and no doubt drugs. Until then, just waiting, and enjoying life - because that's what life is about, right?
I was given my MS diagnosis a week ago, after getting Optic Neuritis back in June last year. The MRI that I had at the time showed an active lesion on my Optic nerve. So far that has been my only symptom. The neuro had me do a VEP, which was normal in my left eye and abnormal in my right eye. That was no surprise because the ON was in my right eye. Then I had a spinal tap, and he found Oligoclonal Banding.
I was actually surprised that he went for a "definitely MS" diagnosis, rather than a "probably MS" diagnosis, since I don't meet the MacDonald criteria - but my neurologist and I don't get along, so I wonder if the chance to shove me off to a clinic was just a little too tempting hahaha
I guess I'm lucky in that my diagnosis was made from one relatively harmless symptom and some tests, because I know that some people go through years of mysterious symptoms before somebody finally connects the dots for them. To actually be told that I have MS was like being slapped in the face, but just like a slap in the face, the sting didn't really last that long - 9 months ago, when the connection between ON and MS was first explained to me, was when I really went through the grief and the "woe is me" of coming to terms of the possibility of having MS. Since then, I have done so much reading and research that I feel like I am as prepared as I can be for whatever lays ahead.
My biggest concern is my 2 girls. They are so little, and I just hope and pray that I can stay strong and mobile for their sake for as long as possible.
The next step for me is waiting to hear from the MS clinic that the neuro is sending me to. From there, I guess there may be more tests, and no doubt drugs. Until then, just waiting, and enjoying life - because that's what life is about, right?