My Multiple Sclerosis
4-18-2007
I’m often asked how my MS is. I appreciate your asking. This write-up is not to be construed that I’m
tired of the question! But in case
you’re wondering and I’m not around to ask, here’s the current state of my MS:
When I was diagnosed in September of 2003, my main
symptoms were
1)
I had some problems enunciating some words. They would get a little caught
sometimes. Not that I couldn’t think of
a word, just that it would come out a little distorted or I would have a hard
time getting it out.
2)
When I would pan my eyes to the left (not the right), I could only move
them a little more than halfway, then they would start to shake.
That’s mainly all I noticed. Not bad, considering the list of symptoms
most MS patients experience.
Today, I still have those symptoms, but they are
not quite as bad. I have some new ones, however:
1)
The coordination in my right hand (but not my left) is getting pretty
bad – maybe 50% as bad as it used to be (if it’s even quantifiable at
all). My handwriting, particularly
cursive, is getting a little hard to read – maybe like a typical man now!
2)
My balance is not great. I do a
lot of little “mini-staggers”, almost as if I’ve had too much to drink (which
is ironic, since I don’t drink alcohol at all)!
I have to be a little careful when I hike next to a drop-off or cross a
stream on a log or rocks.
3)
My right leg and right arm are getting a little uncoordinated,
especially when I run. When I ran the
L.A. Marathon last month, what bothered me more than anything was that my right
arm got very tired! So I would tuck it into my side periodically. If I try to wave my right arm when running,
it flops around very uncoordinatedly.
4)
I get dizzy when I turn my head certain ways or turn it when I’m bent over.
5)
My ears ring almost constantly, although it’s gotten a little better
lately. I’ve also been told by an
audiologist that I have mild to moderate hearing loss in the upper frequencies,
which I don’t know whether or not it’s related.
6)
I get pretty fatigued so I take a 30-minute nap at
7)
My MRI shows that one of my lesions has gotten a little worse, which
kinda makes sense based on the way I feel.
But I still have to say, that all these problems
are very mild. I consider myself very fortunate, considering the horrible things that MS can do to
people. And I know very well that my MS
can (and probably will) get progressively worse (at least a little). But for now, it’s just a minor inconvenience
(knock on wood!).