Multiple Sclerosis

Okay so here we're going to start with a bit of a long story. Feel free to read if you would like to know about this part of my life.

It all started when I was 17 years old. Yes, I know so young but sadly many women and men are being affected by this chronic illness. Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic illness that messes with your whole nervous system. MS was also something that I had not even heard about. One day I woke up to get ready for school like every other day, but something felt strange. I noticed that I wasn't able to see out of my left eye it felt like there was a cloud covering it as well as a sharp pain every time I looked around. I went to go tell my mom about it which she ended up making an appointment with a opto-neurologist. While the days passed as I waited for my appointment there were other symptoms appearing slowly. Some of those symptoms were loss of balance, numbness on my tongue and also right side of body, I also started getting more and more fatigued while doing my every day activities. Well I went to my appointment which the doctor ended up asking for an MRI. I had never gotten an MRI before so I was low key freaking out, but kept it cool so my mom wouldn't be worrying more than what she already was. Let me tell you this , I say I'm not claustrophobic well that's what I thought and told the nurse. That all seemed like a big fat lie once I was in that machine. Let me tell you I felt like there wasn't enough air for me to breathe but I put my big girl pants on and closed my eyes then just relaxed myself because I didn't want it lasting longer than it should. The MRI lasted a whole 1 or 2 hours but hey I got to nap once I stopped freaking out xD . We left the hospital after getting the MRI done. Result day came which I was hoping was nothing bad and could just be fix with some meds. We got to the opto-neurologist he had the MRI images on his laptop which I really didn't understand them at first all I saw was a brain with white looking clouds in random spots on the brain. I just remember turning around to look at my mom and she was crying which had me questioning a lot. I was told to look for a neurologist next which wasn't so easy to do since I was 17 so I was under age which many neurologist only took in 18+. My mom took me to what seemed every city in Florida. We ended up finding a pediatric neurologist which couldn't believe my mom was telling her that I was recently diagnosed with MS. She basically told my mom at first that she didn't know what she was talking about because I was too young. After she checked the MRI DVD she apologized and helped us find a hospital where I could get IV steroids at. Between her and her brother they both found a neurologist that would take me in even if I was under age at the time. After being hospitalized I did some research of my own so I could have some understanding of my illness. I passed most of my teen years in and out of hospitals. No medications were working for me which had brought me down many times to the point of giving up or just thinking of myself as a problem to carry for my parents. Trust me I knew that wasn't the case but Multiple Sclerosis can really mess with you. Since I was diagnosed with MS I haven't really been able to keep a job. My 1st job was at Michael's Art Store which I only lasted a year or 2 because I had a relapse which had me hospitalized for a week with IV steroids. I waited a year to get another job which ended up being at Rise Pies which is a pizzeria in the mall. I barely lasted 6 months or so after I got another relapse which also made me have to quit once again. This relapse was a bit more different and a bit scarier for me to be honest with you. The whole right side of my body went numb, I was having trouble holding objects or even swallowing.

Over the years I have learned to just live life and not sweat the small things in life. For example when I can't walk straight I just say I'm walking cursive today okay aha

As the years have gone by I have gotten to learn how to cope with it. I know many Multiple Sclerosis warriors have it way worse and also some of us have lost our battles to this horrible monster. Just know that MS or any disability doesn't define who you are. Remember that no matter what disability you have you can still do whatever you set your mind to.

Here's a better definition for ya'll if I made no sense hehe:

"a chronic, typically progressive disease involving damage to the sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, whose symptoms may include numbness, impairment of speech and of muscular coordination, blurred vision, and severe fatigue."