Newly Diagnosed with MS - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

Heidi1977 · 04-05-2006, 02:02 PM

Hello everyone. I was recently dx'd with MS. I am severely depressed and fatigued. My neuro has me on three days of steroids and now prednisone and I feel like a lunatic. I was engaged one week before I was diagnosed and am terrified of the life that I have ahead of me. My symptoms were tingling on the top of my foot and numbness on my face. Now two of my fingers are numb and I feel like a lunatic. They have taken me out of work due to my mental capacity. Before all of this happened I was completing my paralegal degree and in hopes of living a happy life, now I don't knowwhat to expect. My neuro has recommended Rebif for me, anyone had any experience or tips they can give me? Any vitamins or food that I should be eating? Fatigue? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

JulieDe · 04-05-2006, 02:41 PM

welcome Heidi. I was dx in Sept 2004, been on Avonex ever since. I'd like to invite you to visit with us on [url]http://www.jewelscorner.co.uk/[/url]. We all have MS or are caregivers.
I would get all the information that you can to get comfortable with your dx (if we ever can get comfy).
Remember you are not alone. There are people out here to talk to and who understand what you are going through.
Take care.
Julie

sunshine149 · 04-05-2006, 03:49 PM

I know if can feel like your life is ending, it's not. It will get better. These symptoms will abate and you will begin to get a grip on it.

Ask lots of questions.

Steroids make everyone feel like a lunatic.

marytee70 · 04-05-2006, 06:04 PM

Hi---Please try to be calm and not afraid. I have a story that is right on point for you. I was just hospitalized for 4 weeks - the first 6 ddays were for steroids and more MRI's and the balance of time was intensive rehab and physical therapy because I hadn't walked unassisted by two people in 6 months. While I was in rehab one day, a guy came in to visit the therapists. They brought him over to share his story with me. He had been in the same hospital a year earlier in much the same condition as I was. A year ago he left still in a wheelchair, with some walker use. After several months of more outpatient physical therapy and injections of Rebif, he became completely functional again. He appeared 100% "normal" and I would never have been able to tell from his appearance that he had MS. The therapists assured me that it was quite a difference from a year earlier. So, there is definitely hope and I am intending to ask my new neurologist about Rebif - I've been on Avonex for a couple of months and am not sure about the difference. At any rate, hang in there--I left the hospital able to walk 150 feet with a walker and dont intend to stop at that. If I can get that far, believe me, anything is possible - good luck to you and PRAY and have others pray for you too.

StephanieAnne · 04-05-2006, 07:24 PM

Hi

This is not the end of the world, this is just the beginning

The steroids made me crazy too, I slept abouit 3 hrs a night, I was up cleaning my Refrigerator at 2am one night while taking Solmedrol, I did all my christmas shopping online and qvc. I was in a bad relapse it took time but I did get over it, but the fatigue and depression just about did me in. So I got a antidepressant Zoloft, and started listening to my body, if I was tired, then I was tired, and I rested, and you won't be like that forever, you will get stronger, it just takes a little while. It took me a lloonngg time to realize that I could not do all the things that I could before, and things that I did before just were not that important, it' like that saying pick your battles, you do that with MS, what are the important things to to and what aren't

Then I learned about food, and the food to stay away from like, processed foods, fast foods, MSG, artificial sweetners that was a huge one for me and diet sodas!! I learned to eat healthy, whole foods that I prepared my self, salads, fruit, veggies, plus I learned about vitamins and what I should be taking and I drink alot of water. I went to a Holistic Nutritionist, and she taught me not about the food pyramid, but how to eat healthy for the rest of my life.

You may feel like you are standing at the bottom of a big hill and you can't see the top, we have all been there, and you'll get better, and you'll get married and have babies [if you want them, MS symptoms do lessen during pregnency] and you will live with MS. You will be able to complete your schooling, and take your shots and other meds to help keep you on an even keel. We all have numbness, and tingling, and balance problems, and stuff like that, but it becomes a part of your life, and you almost forget it is there.

I didn't find this site until months after my diagnosis, and I wish I had found it sooner, lots of support from people who are going thru or have gone thru or are living with MS. Ask as many questions as you like, vent all that you want, you found a home here in this MS board.

Hang in there sweetie, you will feel better it just takes time