A Multiple Systems Atrophy story

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My sister, Julie was the patient.  She had multiple symptoms before being officially diagnosed with MSA.  First symptom was bladder incontinence followed by fainting upon standing.  Her symptoms first appeared when she was around 60.  After much frustration, she was officially diagnosed at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.  She then went to Vanderbilt University Hospital and met with Dr. Robertson.  At that time, there were no real meds to keep the BP up upon standing.  She was prescribed diet pills - I believe she took several per day...may 15-20.  Later as more meds became available, she was taken off the diet pills and began taking prescription meds.  She was walking with a walker, then progressed to a wheelchair.  She was initially able to help with transfers from bed to wheelchair.  As time went on, she could no longer assist with the transfers.  Her speech became very slurred and difficult to understand.  She was down emotionally quite often, but tried to hide this from her family.  As a former school teacher, losing her ability to speak clearly was quite disheartening.  She spent her final years in an assisted living environment, later transferring to a nursing home for a short period of time.

It was very hard on her family watching her deteriorate so rapidly, but not as hard as it was on Julie.  She had to live daily with MSA.  Julie did pass on in 1998, after being officially diagnosed in 1995.  Her disease progressed very rapidly.  She was 66 years old.  We were all very heartbroken when she passed and she is greatly missed even though much time has passed.