Just Joined

[Guest guest]

Hello,

My name is . I was diagnosed with PPMS 9 days ago, after a

looooong process of testing (MRIs, blood tests, spinal tap). I live

in Renton Washington, USA. Dr said he feels I've had MS " for

decades " , which explains a LOT to me.

The most obvious of my symptoms are trouble walking, funny gait,

keeping my balance, numbness on left side in fingers and toes,

bladder urgency and cognative. I also have something with my eyes

called internuclear " something " (INO) and am affected in the left eye

with double vision looking to the left. Good thing I'm right handed,

I lost my ambidextrous (spelled wrong) abilities.

My welcome letter said " While some of our members use standard

medications for MS, we neither endorse, nor discuss the use of CRAB

drugs here " . I don't even know what a CRAB drug is, so I hope I don't

talk about them before I learn <smile>.

I do know that in the time period between making the appointment and

getting in to see the MS specialist I did some things (which helped

with my diagnosis) and one of them was to read the book by

Bowling called Complimentary and Alternative Medicine and Multiple

Sclerosis. It helped me to understand MS and get an idea of what it

is, I had no idea and my symptoms developed slowly. (I first thought

I'd had a stroke as I was dragging my left foot and had weakness on

the left side).

I am a recovering alcoholic and the idea of " having " to take drugs of

any sort goes against my personal beliefs, I don't even choose Advil

for a headache without thinking twice. That is why I joined this

group. I want to hear more about non-prescribed treatments. I have

chosen not to do any of the 4 treatments offered to me and am on the

list for an upcoming study (which I may or may not participate in) at

the Evergreen MS Center in Kirkland.

I do some vitamins for various reasons. I swear by the amino acid -

SAMe, which I have discovered not only helped my depression, but my

hair got thicker (added bonus) and my skin cleared up. I have been

off of all prescription medications for over 2.5 years (except when I

broke my ankle a year ago April).

Enough from me for now, I want to go read back through the archives

and see what you all have been talking about!