re: Scared to death of my likely diagnosis

My cousin's husband has had it for several years. Seems to be doing alright. Doesn't hinder him from doing anything he wants to do. Hang in there.

ETA are you a veteran? In some circumstances it's considered a service connected disability. Worth checking out.

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ALS has to be the absolute worse.

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I agree. I personally know 3 people in my circle of friends that came down with ALS. One passed in 2 years, one has been going downhill steadily for 3 years and the other is still living------if you wish to call it that---and going on 6 years since first diagnosed.

I can't imagine what it's like to have your mind functioning well, but just about every other bodily function basically shuts down.

We’re here for you brother. I appreciate your bravery and honesty for facing this head on and sharing. It’s ok to be scared, any man would be. I’m praying for you. The only thing I know is a lot of rich vitamin D food helps with inflammation around the nerves.

Mackerel, Sardines, Salmon, Tuna, Eggs, Peanutbutter.

Omega Fatty 3 acids will be your best friend! God Bless!

I have a friend of mine that has it.

It really hasn't changed his life that much.
Still plays golf, still travels and still works.


But your wife and child will still love you and will cherish the opportunity to care for you. And you may not even need it.

My dad was diagnosed with MS around 7-8 years ago while he was in his mid-50s. He stated over the years he noticed one of feet sometimes would start dragging and he would develop tightness in his legs. He describes the feeling when he wakes up every morning as if someone ran a marathon with his legs while he was sleeping.

Fast forward to today, he has been on medicaid receiving disability insurance to help pay for the weekly shot he gives himself in order to slow down the progression of MS. He walks with a cane and can barely walk 50 ft, and it takes him sometime to even make it that far. All the doctors he has seen tells him there is no cure for MS, only trial medication to slow down the progression.

If you receive an MS diagnosis I can put you in touch with my dad just to to talk to him. I wish I could say I understand his frustration, but I never will. At the end of the day I'm glad this is not cancer or some other bastard illness and I still get to do things with my dad.

My mother succumbed to ALS after 5 years and she was never a burden. To see her laugh and smile while I and the rest of my could was a gift in its own. Please OP don’t ever feel like a burden, keep going strong and be a rock for your family, your presence in their lives is so much more important than any diagnosis.

Nieses husband was diagnosed with MS 4 years ago, early 30's. Mis diagnosed originally at the clinic in Red Lodge but corrected at Billings hospital. He works like a bull and plays hard but is exhausted at the end of the day. Coming to Lake Charles to fish with me at the end of April
Clay Walker has been living with MS and touring for close to 20 years i believe.
Head up OP, life is about moving forward.

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My mother succumbed to ALS after 5 years and she was never a burden. To see her laugh and smile while I and the rest of my could was a gift in its own. Please OP don’t ever feel like a burden, keep going strong and be a rock for your family, your presence in their lives is so much more important than any diagnosis.

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THIS! This is so true. Thanks Charleston for providing a great perspective.

My mother had MS. She ended up losing all mobility and died over about a 10 year period. She did participate in betaseron trials that have led to life changing treatments that are available today. We lost her when I was 15.

What you should know and take away is that there are several different forms of the disease, some more aggressive than others. Even for the most aggressive forms, the prognosis and treatment options available today are lightyears ahead of my my mom had available 20 years ago to her. It is not the death sentence it once was.

Prepare for a journey that may not always be fun, but be hopeful. Your life is not over, not by a mile.

My uncle had it. He contracted it during WWII, but lived to be 66. He was in a wheel chair most of the time, but he got around, drove, and had a fairly normal life. I remember him as a positive, interesting guy who was fun to be around. I once mentioned to him that I had read Mutiny on the Bounty and he took me into his office, cranked up his ham radio, and the next thing I knew I was talking to a friend of his on Pitcairn island, one of the descendants of the mutineers.