The medical specialists, based on my medical history, believe I’ve dealt with Multiple Sclerosis, MS, since I was about eight years old but somehow managed to deal with it.

These past four years, following my diagnosis with RRMS, I’ve been keenly interested in seeing how past and current issues fit neatly into my MS puzzle.

From the chart…

Muscle weakness

– Kind of

Bladder problems 

– Kind of

Speech difficulties 

– Yes; spasmodic dysphonia 

Pain

– Always, especially in legs 

Vision troubles

– Sometimes my vision is blurry 

Fatigue

– Always

Walking difficulties

– I use a cane for unfamiliar areas or outdoors 

Spasticity

– Ugh…

Numbness

– Legs and feet; a bit in the hands

Dizziness and vertigo

– Hmmm, not really

Cognitive difficulties

– Thank God, no. I’ve never been good with names or titles but it doesn’t count for this

Swallowing problems

– Yes; I always have a liquid handy to assist; sometimes, the soft palate doesn’t rise when I drink and water goes up into my sinuses 

Heat and cold intolerance

– Maybe

Emotional changes

– Only since November 6th

Itching

– Not really

Tremors

– Nope

Breathing problems

– Nope

Hearing loss

– At age 3 following my bout with rheumatic fever, I became completely deaf in my right ear. Mother insisted we not discuss my “bad ear” in public because she suspected I would go into music and didn’t want my “bad ear” to become an issue.

Headaches and seizures

– Nope; sinus headaches but I’ve had those since I was a toddler