I Was Tested for MS (Multiple Sclerosis)

It all started about 5 years ago when my husband and I were trying to have a baby. We were just married and knew we wanted to start a family of our own. I have always had difficulties with my monthly cycles so I knew trying to conceive was not going to be easy. I had not idea what was about to happen. I will never forget the exact date. It was Halloween and I was at work. All of sudden I started getting the strangest sensation trickling down my left side of my body. I started panicking. I had 25 students in the class at the time so I was trying to keep my panic under control. I quietly called down to the office for a relief teacher so I could go down to the nurse.

Once I got to the nurse I couldn't feel the left side of my body. It went entirely numb. This was not normal. I called my husband and told him to meet me at the nearest hospital. I don't know how I drove there I don't remember it at all. Once I got to the emergency room my husband was there to greet me. They quickly took me in (my sister in law works there). Once in they started running every test in the book. I must have been there for what seemed to be hours and hours. They had me give blood, take a cat-scan, xrays, etc... They couldn't find anything wrong with me but I still couldn't feel my entire left side. They wanted to make sure I didn't have a stroke. But from the results of the test I was fine. The only test they couldn't do was an MRI. My sister in law knew of a wonderful neurologist right across the street that was affiliated with the hospital. She didn't like who the hospital first wanted me to see so she called this other doctor herself to get me in. He told her to send me right away.

So I get dressed and the whole family went across the street to see the neurologist. I didn't have to wait too long so that's was good. I was still numb and extremely nervous. What was wrong with me? When I was called in to see the doctor I knew right then I was in good hands. He asked me a thousand questions. Thankfully my husband was in the room with me to help answer these questions. I think I was so out of it. He told me that he thinks I might have had an MS ( Multiple Sclerosis) attack. But he wouldn't be totally sure until he sent me for some MRI's. He scheduled me to have a Brain MRI and a Cervical Spine MRI. Then he said once he gets the results of those he would send me for a Spinal Tap. OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!! This can't be good I thought. He tried to calm my nerves and prescribed me some XANAX. I was to only take this when I felt anxious. Then we left.

I cried the entire way home, I cried for days. I was still numb. I finally went for my MRI's and to my shock they found something. I had a tiny white lesion on my frontal lobe. This could mean that there was some damage but not a lot and it could be controlled with medication. The problem with MS is that there is no definitive test that will tell you if you have it or not. All they could do are run some tests and follow your symptoms and attacks. Then they weight the evidence to come to the conclusion. So far I have had one attack and had the tiny lesion. My doctor still wasn't convinced that I had MS. He sent me for the test I dreaded most the Spinal Tap. I heard nightmares about this test. It is basically a needle in your spine that draws out a little spinal fluid. Against my wishes I scheduled the test.

When I went for the Spinal Tap my wonderful husband was right by me side. The doctor was great. The only thing I felt was a little bee sting. My husband almost passed out when he saw the size of the needle. I opted not to look at it. I didn't want to know. The doctor said to go home and lay me head down on a pillow for 24 hours and drink plenty of caffeine or else I will get the spinal headache. Wouldn't you know what I got an hour later...the spinal headache. This had to be the most pain I have ever experienced in my life. I told my husband to shoot me. It felt like my head was being split open. Think about your worst headache and multiply that by infinity. The doctor had to prescribe blood pressure medication to raise my blood pressure and told me to drink Jolt. That was gross. Eventually the headache went away and I started feeling normal again.

After a few days I got the results and they were normal. Thank God. But the doctor still didn't have a definitely answer to what had happened to me. I started getting the feeling back in my left side but it took a few months to feel completely normal again. Presently I am not considered an MS patient. I do however see my neurologist once a year and go for a routine Brain MRI to monitor the white lesion of my frontal lobe. I am happy to report that the last two MRI's I have had done are no longer showing this lesion. It is unexplainable what happened to me. But the best thing I could do is keep up with my doctor appointments and MRI's. With MS once you have damage that's it. It can't be reversed. They can only treat you and hope to prevent any new damage. It is a very scary experience. My heart goes out to everyone who does suffer from this and my thoughts and prayers will always be with you. My next MRI is in March, wish me luck!