Melissa’s Diagnosis Story

  • by Melissa L.
  •   June 27, 2016

Melissa L. is a paid Advocate for Teva Neuroscience, Inc. 

Imagine you’re lost in the desert…you do not have a map or resources, there’s not a gas station for miles, you’re running low on fuel, and you have no one to talk to. You’re lost, scared and a little desperate. That’s how I felt in August of 2002 when I was diagnosed with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS).   

Two weeks prior to my diagnosis, I woke up like any other day. At the time, my son was 1 ½ years old, and I had been married for three years. I began my normal morning routine which consisted of breakfast and the morning news. However, this day was not normal. As I began to watch TV, I noticed I was having trouble with my vision. All 3 hosts sat on the couch engaging in conversation, but today I couldn't see two of them. I knew something was wrong, very wrong.

Living in Baltimore, I am very fortunate to have an MS Center in my backyard. I went to the Center, had an MRI and was diagnosed with RMS all within one week. Life as I knew it had changed, everything I thought I knew was now an UNKNOWN. I had many questions that I did not have the answers to. Was my vision going to return? Was my husband going to leave me? Was I going to be able to have any more children? Was I going to be able to dance with my son at his wedding?

What I wanted more than anything was comfort and normalcy. So I put together a plan. I did research, went to support meetings and was persistent in finding and securing the best neurologist for me, which is not an easy feat. I formed a plan and the plan gave me hope and the hope gives me comfort. Going to support groups and meeting people with whom I can relate gives me a feeling of normalcy. I know there are no promises in life, but I also know that if I follow my management plan I come one step closer.  

Over the past 13 years my journey with RMS has had its ups and downs. There have been times when I feel OK and other times when I don’t. I found that by having a plan and sticking to that plan I am better able to handle whatever MS has in store for me. I believe that getting on a therapy, and staying on a therapy is very important. I know that whatever MS has in store for me, I will be resilient.

 

Melissa L.

RRMS Patient

 

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4 Comment(s)
  • Missy Lovelace | June 29, 2016
    Thank you for the insightful post. I was just Dx and I am looking for resources. Thank you. -M
    • Teva's Lift MS Team | June 30, 2016
      Thanks for your kind words, Missy! Comments like yours fuel our efforts to build a helpful community.
  • Alisa | July 16, 2016
    Hi Melissa, This is my first reply ever to any blog 😊, I really liked your insight. But I was wondering if you could tell me wher and what information helped the most. I was officially diagnosed this last November, so am very new to all of this. I do try to find out as much as I can. Thanks so much! Alisa M
    • Teva's Lift MS Team | July 25, 2016
      We are so happy that you’ve decided to join the conversation, Alisa. Teva’s Lift MS Blog is here to help you throughout your experiences with MS. We think that you might benefit from reading our other blog posts and learning more about MS on the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s (NMSS) website. The NMSS has tons of great information, resources, and ways to get involved in the community. We also recommend visiting the Lift MS Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/LiftMS/ where you can connect with others living with MS. We hope that you find this helpful, and we wish you the best.
  • Nicole | January 10, 2017
    Thanks for sharing. I also live in the Baltimore area and was DX with MS on Nov 11 2011
  • sarah | March 05, 2018
    I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in October 2011, at the age of 44. I woke up one morning with numbness in my lower back and legs, I couldn't feel my feet touching the floor. I saw my doctor and had an MRI to see if I had a disc problem, it was negative and she told me she feared MS. I was sent to a neurologist, had two more MRIs, and was told that night that I have four lesions on my
    • Teva's Lift MS Team | March 06, 2018
      Thank you for opening up to the community, sarah. We wish you the best.