Hello from an old newbie

[Guest guest]

I've lurked here for several months now, and I have finally decided to

jump in and join the conversation. Maybe getting my feet wet will

enocourage other lurkers to come out of hiding, too.

I've been reading everyone's emails in digest form, so I feel like I

already know so many of you. I can definitely say that this is the

friendliest and most welcoming group I have encountered on the internet.

A little about me...I was diagnosed on December 2, 1994 at the age of

26, right after returning home from my honeymoon. My attack was severe

enough that I had a diagnosis within a week. I was terrified that I

had a brain tumor and would be dead in a matter of months, so hearing

it was " only MS " came as a relief. And after hearing so many stories

of people who take years to be believed and diagnosed, I feel blessed

that my diagnosis came so quickly.

My main problems now are fatigue, leg pain, cognitive impairment, and

finding a local neurologist who doesn't have the nerve to say, " Well,

you look perfectly fine to me, " as my last one did three years ago. I

haven't seen one since then, which I'm sure isn't a good thing.

Anyway, I look forward to getting to know all of you better and

hopefully share some of the frustrations this disease brings about.