Anyone over 30 who was diagnosed with ms when in your 20's??? - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

shaywood · 11-15-2007, 04:09 PM

Hi I would like to hear from anyone who is over 30 but was diagnosed in their 20's. How are you now and how you have dealt with ms all these years and what exercises u do or meds u r on for the ms??? I am 26 and was diagnosed when I was 24. I just dont know anyone my age with ms and was wondering how everyone elses path with ms has beeen for them. I know this probably sounds stupide but it is just something that my brain is telling that I need to know about.

tuckersmom · 11-15-2007, 05:31 PM

Hello. I am 44 now. Wasn't officially diagnosed until 4.5 years ago. They believe it started in my early 20's. Back then they just kept saying it was mono then it was "chronic fatigue" then "ebstein barr". I was sick all the time with anything within 50 miles

. I continued to work full time, get married and live like anyone else. The big "break through" was when I woke up with my new constant companions of tingling, pins and needles, fatigue and major spasticity. Had mri's ...confirmed ms diagnosis and then fibromyalgia, the only true change is I don't work full time outside the home. I have a full time job here at home taking care of things here and I can rest when I need to. There are days when driving is not an option but there is always things to do here.

I love pilates. I use a pilates machine not the kind you just do on a mat. I have a treadmill and walk alot on days I can or as much as I can. I do not use the injectable medication. I take a multiple vitamin and vit. d supplement and get as much sun as possible in this state!

I live a very full life. Many, many people with MS and other autoimmune diseases do. The thing with these types of conditions is that they are all so "individual" and affect everyone differently. There are common symptoms but to what degree seems to be the biggest difference.

Hope this answers some questions.

Lisa

p.s. no such thing as stupid question! ask away!

MSJayhawk · 11-15-2007, 05:35 PM

I was diagnosed when I was 19. I am now 44. I never used meds. I watch my diet and get rest when I need it. I now have PPMS.

MSNik · 11-15-2007, 06:42 PM

Hey Shaywood. Im sorry you are having issues dealing right now. We all go thru that. Im actually 40, and was dx just over a year ago, so I cant tell you what from my own standpoint....but I want you to know that my very good friend is now 32 and was dx at 25. She has been on Betaseron for 7 years. She does REALLY well on it. She, like me, has her good days and bad days as far as fatigue and pain go, but she works fulltime, has 3 children and a husband, and still manages to live a perfectly normal life. No one would ever know she has MS...
If wondering how your disease is going to progress is what has you freaked, that would be a normal thing to be concerned about. I worry about it myself; however tell us, are you on any MS Therapy drugs? Do you think you have progressed in the past 2 years? And, are you getting regular MRIs and seeing your Neuro regularly? If you THINK you are doing well, then keep doing what you are doing! Alot of this really is in the mind....you can control a certain aspect of it....however, doing everything you can still doesnt Guarantee anything, alot of it is out of our control.
Read all the posts here, look at all the amazing people who are coping with MS. Theres nothing that says your life is going to change in your 30s, 40s or beyond...heck, by then, they might have a cure! (we can hope, right?)

Big hugs to you.
Nikki

Snoopy61 · 11-16-2007, 04:48 AM

Hello Shaywood.

I am 46, dx'd at 25 but can take symptoms back to when I was a kid. I had already been married when I was dx'd we are now at year 26. We have 2 children (15 & 17). I have never used the DMDs. I do exercise, I use hand weights, Pilates Body bands, treadmill, and stretching. I also use a fair amount of supplements and I take a multi-vitamin.

The neuro that dx'd me told me to live my life as normal as possible and if I do nothing else, walk. I have tried to do both to the best of my ability.

At this time in my life I walk unassisted. I have a cane but it tends to collect dust in the trunk of my car. For the most part I "look too good" to have MS

I am betting there are many in your age group who have MS (unfortunately). Your in the "average" age of diagnosis. Maybe your just not looking in the right places