Being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis during a global pandemic...

Along with it being Women’s History Month, it is also MS Awareness Month. I believe it is time I share my story and hopefully tell those with chronic illnesses that you are not alone. It’s so funny that I want to apologize for bringing down the mood, it’s very telling of how I feel about my diagnosis. It was a month into quarantine life and I was working from home. I started feeling numbness in my arms and sometimes my legs. I thought maybe I was just low on iron. I didn’t go to the ER until I started having symptoms like one side of my whole body going numb, including one side of my face. My speech was slurred. I honestly thought I was having a stroke. I went to the ER and told them my symptoms and the first question the provider asked me was “Doe anyone in your family have MS?”. I said “Yes.” and from there I was put into a room where I was waiting on getting wheeled into doing my first MRI. Oh and let me tell you, it’s not like the movies AT ALL. It is very big but small once go inside of it and if you’re claustrophobic ask for the drugs LOL. You also have to lay still the entire time. As an Aries sun and Gemini moon that is extremely difficult to do.

As I was sitting in the MRI I wanted to cry because for one we were at the beginning of a GLOBAL PANDEMIC, and two I just didn’t know what the outcome would be.

I was then rolled back into my room and I waited with my boyfriend for the results of the MRI. The neurologist stepped back into the room and they sighed and said “I’m so sorry but it does it look like you have multiple sclerosis. It actually looks like it’s been going on for quite some time maybe 4 or 5 years.” To be honest I felt a sense of relief. I had WebMD’d myself so much since developing the symptoms that even though I didn’t want MS, I knew I could probably handle whatever it threw my way. The crazy thing is my older sister (older by 17 years) also has MS and has been kicking its ass for quite some time. Now you probably have heard of MS (multiple sclerosis) before but you aren’t quite sure what is. MS is a disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves. Basically, my immune system is quite literally trying to kill me. LMFAOOO ok ok maybe not that dramatic but it is an autoimmune disease. It started to really affect almost all of my body functions like walking and my eyesight.

Fortunately, I have health insurance and I was able to get a neurologist to help me find out the next best course of action. She prescribed Ocrevus. Ocrevus is an immunosuppressive drug that I only have to take twice a year. I go to an infusion center and I’m pretty much there all day getting medicine pumped into me. It’s pretty boring so I bring a book or binge vlogs and tarot readings on YouTube. Then I don’t have to go back until another 6 months! I believe that prayer and Ocrevus have helped me keep my mobility and I am so thankful for that. I do have issues with random bits of vertigo and my eyesight (thanks to optic neuritis) but for the most part, I feel pretty damn good. The goal is to keep me here for the rest of my life and not let the MS progress any more than it has. There is obviously so much more I could say but I’m going to leave it here. I’m an MS warrior and I plan on fighting like hell for the rest of my life. I hope my story encourages yall to stay up to date on your doctor’s appointments. I love you. For real.