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From: Adrienne.Barhydt@f778.n115.z1.fidonet.org (Adrienne Barhydt)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Hello
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Date: 9 Aug 90 19:54:43 GMT
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Index Number: 9684

I was diagnosed 7 years ago.  It looks like my experience was the 
opposite of yours.  I was diagnosed almost before I knew anything 
was wrong.  I was experiencing some strange things that for the 
most part weren't too upsetting - strange sensations, ankle clonus 
that I just thought was a weird reaction to stress.  Then one day I 
woke up with double vision.  That got me to the doctor where I got 
the "it's just stress" line.  My boss, of all people, told me that 
was not an acceptable diagnosis.  His wife has a rare disease and 
went through the "it's all in your head" nonesense, so he advised 
me not to accept that kind of garbage. 
 
My more leisurly examination with a different doctor resulted in 
her telling me to see a neurologist.  The neurologist at my first 
visit said it was either a tumor on my spine or MS and if it was a 
tumor we would know real quick.  It wasn't a tumor.  At the time I 
was happy about that.  Little did I know what was coming.  Anyhow, 
I soon showed up at the neurologist's office with optic neuritis 
and trouble walking along with the strange sensations and ankle 
clonus.  The double vision only lasted a few hours and hasn't come 
back so it is not an "official" MS symptom but I had enough for my 
diagnosis.
 
How is it for you not having a diagnosis?  I've heard a lot of 
people say that it's pretty hard for them.  Do you get hit with the 
"it's all in your head" line a lot?  
 
I have a bunch of different symptoms but it's the fatigue that 
really gets to me and limits me in so many ways.  I get wiped out 
doing so little now, that it's too easy to imagine getting wiped 
out doing absolutely nothing.  
 
I have shoes that work well for me but I still can't walk much.  I 
get very, very fatigued on just a few steps.  I have an ankle brace 
(light weight plastic thingy) for foot drop and I need my shoe to 
hold it on so I can't go barefoot, but thanks for your suggestions.  
It is important to figure out what works for you.
 
 

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