New to this forum and new to MS.

[hmimcclellan]

Hello all, my name's Heather and I'm twenty-three years old. I was diagnosed with MS on May of '14. The last few months have been something of an adaption period for me. I was utterly devastated when I got the diagnosis and it didn't work out all that gracefully due to some poor healthcare experiences, etc. In fact I still couldn't really explain to you what MS is other than an autoimmune disorder in which my body attacks itself..

I guess I'm at the point in my adapting that I'm ready to connect with others and ready to learn more.

I'm on the 44 Rebif shots. They seem to be helping other than some side effect issues.

[Youarethecure]

Hello and welcome. I am in just about the same boat as you. I am 25 and diagnosed early this year. I am male though.

There are many steps you can take against MS along with the medication you are taking. Why did you decide to take that medication over all the other drugs out there if you don't mind me asking?

Medication, diet, exercise, nutrition and lifestyle also play big roles in fighting MS. The more you learn about it, the more comfortable you will be. It is something we can handle, and besides we have no other choice. We HAVE to handle this life. Some times are harder and some times are not. For me personally this has made me enjoy the "good" times much more in life. Even when it is bad I just buckle down and endure it because I know better times will come about.

I hope the best for you,

Chris

[jackD]

Hello all, my name's Heather and I'm twenty-three years old. I was diagnosed with MS on May of '14. The last few months have been something of an adaption period for me. I was utterly devastated when I got the diagnosis and it didn't work out all that gracefully due to some poor healthcare experiences, etc. In fact I still couldn't really explain to you what MS is other than an autoimmune disorder in which my body attacks itself..

I guess I'm at the point in my adapting that I'm ready to connect with others and ready to learn more.

I'm on the 44 Rebif shots. They seem to be helping other than some side effect issues.

I recommend that you read my posting on how to maximize the interferon meds. There is a LOT of info that may help you as well as inform you how you can slow MS progression.

http://www.thisisms.com/forum/avonex-f5/topic4186.html

[hmimcclellan]

Jack D, I will read up on that now. (:

And Chris, I really didn't have much of a choice on what medication to take. Like I said, I've had some really bad care providers. I was diagnosed in the ER who told me little and referred me to a specialist. My neurologist did a quick ten minute exam and then told me about the medications available and asked me to pick one with no real time to do any research. The pills he offered seemed too dangerous. But again I was given little to no information to make an educated decision. Ruling the pills out I had the choice of a three times a week shot or the one time a week muscular shot, which seemed a little too invasive for my comfort so I picked Rebif. I might also add he strongly recommended that one on top of it.

Are there very many people our age who have MS?
I was diagnosed right after my 23rd birthday butt the neurologist told me based on my MRI results I have probably had this for many years. I can remember having symptoms back when I was 18-19 years old. It is frightening to me that I could have something like this so young..

[lyndacarol]

I was diagnosed in the ER who told me little and referred me to a specialist. My neurologist did a quick ten minute exam and then told me about the medications available and asked me to pick one with no real time to do any research. The pills he offered seemed too dangerous. But again I was given little to no information to make an educated decision. Ruling the pills out I had the choice of a three times a week shot or the one time a week muscular shot, which seemed a little too invasive for my comfort so I picked Rebif. I might also add he strongly recommended that one on top of it.

...the neurologist told me based on my MRI results I have probably had this for many years. I can remember having symptoms back when I was 18-19 years old. It is frightening to me that I could have something like this so young..

Hi, Heather, and welcome to ThisIsMS. I have not tried Rebif, so I cannot offer comments on that. And although you have not asked for general comments, I hope you are open to any and all thoughts.

In this post to the Introduction forum you state that you were "diagnosed in the ER and referred to a specialist," and that the neurologist did a 10-minute exam.

Elsewhere in the Rebif forum post you share the information that you are "taking a B-12 supplement along with daily vitamins…" I am curious about the reason you are taking a B12 supplement. I hope either the ER doctor or the neurologist screened you for a possible B12 deficiency before you took the B supplement because taking it before testing will skew the results (and probably mask a deficiency).

Your symptoms (vision disturbances, clumsiness, cognitive issues, forgetfulness, numbness, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headaches – all the ones you list) are consistent with a B12 deficiency (as well as other conditions). Any person at any age (even 18-19) can develop a B12 deficiency.

I urge you to read the book, Could It Be B12? An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses by Sally M. Pacholok, RN, BSN, and Dr. Jeffrey J. Stuart, D.O. (This may be available at your library.). These authors suggest that the B12 level should be at 1000 pg/mL or more if a patient presents with neurologic symptoms (as yours are): http://b12awareness.org/could-it-be-b12 ... diagnoses/

[hmimcclellan]

Hi Lyndacarol!

I know I had a lot of bloodwork done during the times of my initial diagnosis, I cannot tell you for sure whether they tested for a deficiency of B-12 or not. I was actually taking the B-12 before my diagnosis of MS. My grandmother had a B-12 deficiency and was worried about my symptoms at the time and got me taking them. It is just something I have maintained during and after the diagnosis along with my daily vitamins.

I am certainly open to other comments and it is appreciated. (: Next time I am out I will see if the library carries that book!

[lyndacarol]

I know I had a lot of bloodwork done during the times of my initial diagnosis, I cannot tell you for sure whether they tested for a deficiency of B-12 or not. I was actually taking the B-12 before my diagnosis of MS. My grandmother had a B-12 deficiency and was worried about my symptoms at the time and got me taking them. It is just something I have maintained during and after the diagnosis along with my daily vitamins.

I am certainly open to other comments and it is appreciated. (: Next time I am out I will see if the library carries that book!

I think you have a very smart grandmother, Heather. B12 deficiency runs in families – if she had a confirmed deficiency, you are at increased risk of having a deficiency.

If you are still taking a B12 supplement, please be aware that the methylcobalamin (a.k.a. methyl B12) form is better absorbed by the body than cyanocobalamin, which is often found in supplements. Also, a B12 absorbed under the tongue (sublingually) goes directly into the bloodstream.

By the way, I think it is a good idea for a person to request copies of any test results. At least for me, I must have my own file at home because my memory often fails me, because labs do not keep a person's results forever, and because it is better to have the actual numbers for comparison.

[NHE]

I'm on the 44 Rebif shots. They seem to be helping other than some side effect issues.

I took Avonex for 10 years. It's one of the other interferon-beta1a's. To help combat the side effects, I recommend taking some ibuprofen at the time of your shot and then again about 4 hours later. Start with 200 mg and see if that helps. If not, try 400 mg.

[Youarethecure]

There are a handful of us that are young when diagnosed. A lot of the times people get diagnosed later but "have had it for years".

I too was told that I have had it for a long time based on MRI's. I even have some black hole lesions in my brain. I had my first single isolated symptom at age 19 then it came back at 24 with many other symptoms.

Being diagnosed so young tends to be a good thing a lot of the time. It seems to lean towards a more "mild" run of the disease or at least at first. Also most importantly it gives us the early opportunity to do things that can slow down the progression. Medication, diet, exercise, nutrition, and life style changes can all greatly impact MS. Being so young is also good because its only a matter of time before this is "cured" or drastically able to be improved with medicine.

Seeing that you have had it a long time can also be taken as a good thing. You are here living, and seem to be doing well. It is not like this disease has just started for you, you HAVE been living it already.

I greatly advise you to read read read and read about MS. The more you learn about it the more you will realize it is not the end of the world for us. Also the more that you learn the more you will know what you can do to impact this disease.