Hi from Gold Coast, Australia
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 4:15 am
Hi guys I am a 39yr old male diagnosed 4/5/2014
A bit of background
I have been an air conditioning tradesmen for the past 20 years since leaving school until feb 2013 when I had a work accident and injured my back. I was put on assortment of painkillers and physio treatment etc which was going great until they suggested a couple of chiropractic adjustments. Well since the adjustments I have had chronic back pain which a specialist said the adjustments had triggered an underlying condition called osteo chondrosis. I lost my job due to the amount and types of painkillers I needed to take to get through the day which included 2x 200mg srTramadol per day, upto 8 panedeine forte and upto 8 valium per day. Due to this I struggled to find suitable employment that wasn't so labour intensive that my back could handle and decided to get some skills to move into an office environment so I took on a Diploma of Business and a Diploma of Management. I was also experiencing extreme financial difficulty and diagnosed with depression and put on medication and started seeing a phsychologist about it. About 3 weeks into my study I was invited to go fishing offshore on a friends boat, That's when it all came about. I woke up at about 2am to meet my friends at the boat ramp. Once I got to the ramp I found my speech slow, slurring and stuttering. My friends and I first thought maybe I had a stroke during my sleep! I probably should have gone straight to A and E but still went out fishing then went to see my GP first chance I could get in which was 2 days later.He sent me to get a CT scan and the next day after he got the results called me to get me to go straight to hospital for some MRI's. I had the MRI's and while in hospital found my vision extremely blurry. A heap of blood tests and then a lumbar puncture later the neuro gave me the good news "I'm sorry but you have MS!" I was not sure what to feel at that point as I didn't even know what MS was but I knew it wasn't good. I was in the hospital about a week and it was explained to me very simply about the myelin sheath and cns etc but they didn't elaborate too much I think not to shock me. When I got home I got straight on the computer and researched as much as I could to know what I was in for. Overall I think I have accepted it quite well but not sure it has really kicked in properly yet. I've watched a lot of peoples story's on you tube etc and found that a close to normal life can still be had and although I know it could go pear shaped rather quickly I have developed strategies to deal with it as best I can. I was put on 5 days IV steroids and then about 5 days oral steroids which helped with my speech problems but I am still yet to have an improvement with my vision. I have an appointment with an Opthalmologist next week but from what I have read I think he is going to say Optic Neuritis but we will see next week. The only other symptoms I have things that have come on a few months prior to my diagnosis but hadn't been looked into by my GP such as bladder problems( increased frequency and not able to get flow going etc) And also what is called the MShug! I first had the ms hug about 8 months prior to diagnosis when I woke up one night thinking I was having a heart attack. Extreme chest pain. I went straight to mu GP the next morning and he did a cardiograph to make sure all was well there and he put it down to my back pain radiating through to my sternum and a said take an anti-inflammatory and should be ok. I have since had this happen quite regularly and my neuro said to try lyrica to see if that helps which I am going to try this week. I have also realised I am experiencing cognitive problems and know all about brain fog and physical and mental fatigue already. Next week I should start my DMD which looks like will be Tecfedera. So that is my story so far which I'm sure will be just the start but after reading posts from this forum I am sure I will have a good Knowledge base and support network so look forward to learning from you all and perhaps when I gain more experience with MS I can share with others also. I am a bit had it after writing this I can't be bothered proof reading it so I apologies if doesn't make sense but I think I got there in the end
A bit of background
I have been an air conditioning tradesmen for the past 20 years since leaving school until feb 2013 when I had a work accident and injured my back. I was put on assortment of painkillers and physio treatment etc which was going great until they suggested a couple of chiropractic adjustments. Well since the adjustments I have had chronic back pain which a specialist said the adjustments had triggered an underlying condition called osteo chondrosis. I lost my job due to the amount and types of painkillers I needed to take to get through the day which included 2x 200mg srTramadol per day, upto 8 panedeine forte and upto 8 valium per day. Due to this I struggled to find suitable employment that wasn't so labour intensive that my back could handle and decided to get some skills to move into an office environment so I took on a Diploma of Business and a Diploma of Management. I was also experiencing extreme financial difficulty and diagnosed with depression and put on medication and started seeing a phsychologist about it. About 3 weeks into my study I was invited to go fishing offshore on a friends boat, That's when it all came about. I woke up at about 2am to meet my friends at the boat ramp. Once I got to the ramp I found my speech slow, slurring and stuttering. My friends and I first thought maybe I had a stroke during my sleep! I probably should have gone straight to A and E but still went out fishing then went to see my GP first chance I could get in which was 2 days later.He sent me to get a CT scan and the next day after he got the results called me to get me to go straight to hospital for some MRI's. I had the MRI's and while in hospital found my vision extremely blurry. A heap of blood tests and then a lumbar puncture later the neuro gave me the good news "I'm sorry but you have MS!" I was not sure what to feel at that point as I didn't even know what MS was but I knew it wasn't good. I was in the hospital about a week and it was explained to me very simply about the myelin sheath and cns etc but they didn't elaborate too much I think not to shock me. When I got home I got straight on the computer and researched as much as I could to know what I was in for. Overall I think I have accepted it quite well but not sure it has really kicked in properly yet. I've watched a lot of peoples story's on you tube etc and found that a close to normal life can still be had and although I know it could go pear shaped rather quickly I have developed strategies to deal with it as best I can. I was put on 5 days IV steroids and then about 5 days oral steroids which helped with my speech problems but I am still yet to have an improvement with my vision. I have an appointment with an Opthalmologist next week but from what I have read I think he is going to say Optic Neuritis but we will see next week. The only other symptoms I have things that have come on a few months prior to my diagnosis but hadn't been looked into by my GP such as bladder problems( increased frequency and not able to get flow going etc) And also what is called the MShug! I first had the ms hug about 8 months prior to diagnosis when I woke up one night thinking I was having a heart attack. Extreme chest pain. I went straight to mu GP the next morning and he did a cardiograph to make sure all was well there and he put it down to my back pain radiating through to my sternum and a said take an anti-inflammatory and should be ok. I have since had this happen quite regularly and my neuro said to try lyrica to see if that helps which I am going to try this week. I have also realised I am experiencing cognitive problems and know all about brain fog and physical and mental fatigue already. Next week I should start my DMD which looks like will be Tecfedera. So that is my story so far which I'm sure will be just the start but after reading posts from this forum I am sure I will have a good Knowledge base and support network so look forward to learning from you all and perhaps when I gain more experience with MS I can share with others also. I am a bit had it after writing this I can't be bothered proof reading it so I apologies if doesn't make sense but I think I got there in the end