This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

hello everyone, my name is Christopher Barra. I am a 24 year old male (25 in two weeks ) I am brand new to this website and just wanted to introduce myself.
So 5 years ago (20 years old) I had a run in with optic neuritis in my left eye. They could never figure out what it was from. But all my tests for ms indicators came back normal like the spinal tap, and all the other things they checked. I also did not have multiple lesions, I only had the one.
To be honest I didn't even truly know what ms was up until this point in my life........
So on through life I went with eventually not even thinking about ms on a daily basis. I got two years of college in but always loved restaurants and that atmosphere. Long story short I have been managing a restaurant for the past two years and love it in every which way.
3 months ago I started having that similar sharp headache but in the right side of my head. After a few days I noticed my right eye vision getting blurry, dim and the whole nine yards. At first I thought this was the diagnosis of ms because it was two symptoms but double optic neuritis apparently is possible without ms. I kept it to myself until I broke down and told my mom.
We went to the hospital started a steroid treatment and after a few days it got better and eventually back to normal.
While in the hospital I was ordered for a cat scan which came back fine and also an mri. I knew the mri was going to answer the question but based on my slight claustrophobia and not being prepared mentally for the answer I jumped out of the machine and could not do it ( even with a lot of liquid valium lol)
I had never had a single other issue and was comfortable saying I was fine and didn't have any other issues.
Then crap got real, real fast. I noticed that when I sat on a certain angle the left side of my back would get a real interesting fuzzy or so feeling, the right at times did it as well. I also get the same type of feeling in either or both sides of my lower head. All these feelings seem to come about for no reason from me doing anything.
My left ear also rings very often for no reason. It is much better now but for a while at least 3 to 4 times a day my ear would do it.
Then, what seemed to be a random pain struck my left leg. It left me in pain for about week, annoying pain not too bad. But after and still to today, my leg has been only what I can describe as slightly limp and not fully responsive. It has improved 10 fold but I still can’t lift the front of my foot up high to the sky like when putting socks on.
I also have an insatiable itch through my left lower leg. This started as only what I can describe as an overly sensitive ankle but then got to extreme itchiness. I have scratched so much that I have cut and scabbed a lot of my leg. I also had an over sensitive spot through my upper shin then eventual got to a real itchy spot also.
I also have gone through slight fatigue at times but not anything enough to keep me from working 12 hours a day on my feet. Now none of these issues seemed to overlay with one another it was only one thing at a time, which looking back was a blessing. Short term memory has become a slight issue but it keeps me laughing at how stupid I can seem at times. I find when I do habitual things I tend to take a wrong step somewhere along the line but again leaves me laughing.
So I denied each issue and had an excuse for each one and said that I was fine. It wasn’t until my right eye decided to get blurry and bad for another time that made me take the first step I needed to take for the rest of my life. I went through a severe depression for about two months trying to get to the point that I would at least be willing to accept the outcome of all this. I finally made it through it and was willing to accept my fate and I cannot lie, I have never been happier in my life. I absolutely appreciate life and happiness more so than I ever have.
I got the mri over the weekend, saw my doctor today and I do have multiple lesions on my brain. Apparently they are still active also but I feel great. I am seeing an ms specialist next week and will figure out where to go from here. I am not afraid of this disease and I am never going to let it take me out. I don’t care what my limitations are I am pushing myself past them no matter what the limits are. Now, I have none so I am going to stay on my feet 12 hours a day, eat healthy, take medication, exercise, and go to the gym habitually like I have been doing for the last 5 years.
The most important thing I have against this disease is a positive attitude, which is something I have never had in my life until I accepted this fate. This has already changed me for the good, and I don’t care what it does to me I will make it all turn into a good outcome.
I was afraid this disease was going to leave me not knowing why I was put on this earth, but now I know the reason I am here is to not let this disease beat me. My attitude, diet, exercising/lifting, and whatever medication we decide will be my cure. As far as I am concerned not letting this disease affects you negatively and slow you down in life is as good as a cure for it.
I don’t really know how this turned into a two page paper but yeah hellllloo everyone lol.

hello and welcome!

Welcome to ThisIsMS, Christopher.
We are glad you have found us. As you have discovered, laughter and a positive attitude will go a long way to help us deal with any situation.

Jimmylegs, How old are you and how long have you been diagnosed? I plan to take that same approach but also at the same time be on medication. I want to attack it back as much as possible.



Laughter and my positive attitude very much is going to help me along the way. I am not kidding that I have been happier than I have ever been in my life once I came to terms with this.

I feel robbed of the first 24 years of my life because I did not truly enjoy it and take advantage of it. Its a shame it took something like this to get me into the correct mindset to live a happy life.

What is the general idea with sweets and having ms? I very much so plan to be on a proper diet, already am basically. I also already am well into proper exercising and working out. My only concern is with my sweet tooth lol. Don't get me wrong, it will be well within moderation but is it something I need to truly avoid through life?

Youarethecure, welcome

I applaud your positive, action-oriented attitude! Great screen name too.

THX1138

So it seems that I am going through different symptoms basically one at a time. The only thing that has persisted is the itching leg and my occasional ringing in my left ear. All day today I have felt like I was high, and I have slight balance issues. But as a long with a few other of the symptoms I've gone through it just leaves me laughing, I feel like a goof.

hi YATC, 42 and dxd since 36. at first I thought I would do meds, but ended up changing my mind!
GREAT that you can see the silver lining and view this situation as a wake-up call to action. perfect attitude!

Thanks, I need to keep this attitude no matter what happens. I have to do iv steroids again for the next three days. That has been the worst thing out of everything so far that I have dealt with.

hey yhtc you mentioned a good diet started recently but a lingering sweet tooth. can you give a general idea of what your diet was like before you decided to make the change? and what your diet is like now?

My diet before was not bad at all by any means. I am 5 9 and about 170, with a very good muscle mass. I run an Italian restaurant so a lot of my food was pasta, cheese, etc.
I have completely cut out cheese, butter, and anything fried.
Now my day starts with two pieces of fruit and a protein shake. Then a salad with either organic chicken or shrimp for lunch ( its more like a lot of chicken or shrimp with a small salad . For dinner its been organic chicken with vegetables and or rice. The only sauce I make for anything is garlic and oil. My dressing for salads is olive oil and lemon juice, salt and pepper.
That's basically what I will do from here on out with a little cheating maybe every week or so.
It hasn't been hard at all it feels good to eat right and become more healthy. Now as for the sweet tooth, it leads me to eating something sweet every other day or so. I am still new to this and need my comfort foods lol.

all right. cancel my repeat question on your other thread
you're really starting to sound like a very likely case of nutrient depletion.
would you say wheat made up a significant portion of your diet, then?
your new routine sounds like a step in the right direction.
any chance of some bloodwork? if you are looking at a chronic depletion situation, might be good to know where you stand in relation to healthy folks..

I would say that yes wheat is a fairly big portion of my old diet.

ok! blood work would be fantastic then. so that you know how far you have to go, and if it's feasible to do it on diet alone

I def have that on my to do list. I am starting another steroid treatment in 10 minutes!

Hopefully this time, since I am not nervous or in extreme fear because I got my answer already, it will not be as bad being on them and then coming off them. I am in a way better mental place this time. But who knows......lol