- Multiple Sclerosis
- Interviews
Denise's interview
How did all start?
pins and needles in my feet that would come and go, then seizures
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
yes, it took well over a year to get the spinal tap that showed lyme then a year of treatment for that and problems still existed and continued to decline and then the dx of RRMS, I was put on copaxone and within the year I was dx'd with SPMS.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
Neurology-had done nothing that stopped or slowed the disease they aren't interested in thinking outside the box.
Interventional Radiology-dx'd me with CCSVI treated it with stents and angioplasty and that made a huge difference in my physical abilities and quality of life. Although now 7 1/2 years later some of the numbness, weakness, pins and needles, pain and fatigue have been creeping back. Changing my diet to gluten free, sugar free, processed free and dairy free has made a huge difference in how I feel.
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
Interventional Radiology-dx'd me with CCSVI treated it with stents and angioplasty and that made a huge difference in my physical abilities and quality of life. Although now 7 1/2 years later some of the numbness, weakness, pins and needles, pain and fatigue have been creeping back. Changing my diet to gluten free, sugar free, processed free and dairy free has made a huge difference in how I feel.
What have been your biggest difficulties?
pain, fatigue, being overwhelmed
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
My family has disowned me, parents, sisters, brothers, most of my aunts and uncles and cousins saying that I'm faking MS no disease comes and goes like that. No one cared to really understand what this illness is all about.
What things have you stopped doing?
working, horseback riding, hiking, long days
What do you think about the future?
I have hope in the Lord Jesus and I don't need to worry.
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
I would've liked to go back to school and studied health care.
If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?
From tragedy to victory!
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Have hope in God and find the 7 positives in every negative! Good always outweighs evil.
