Leading up to diagnosis........
Leading up to my diagnosis of MS I had experienced crippling pains to my chest, I thought that my lung had collapsed or something of that nature, I was taken to St. Thomas's hospital in London and they gave me an ECG and chest x-ray. Both tests showed no problems. I also experienced vertigo and extreme tiredness. Previously I had experienced vertigo only once 4 years earlier. I was convinced that all of this was linked to my back problems. I went the British School of Osteopathy where a senior osteopath recommended I see a Neurologist. At this point I had no idea about MS, I just thought that maybe there was a trapped nerve or something causing the problem.

Tests to find out.........
The consultant neurologist told me that he would need to do some tests to see what the problem might be, again I had no indication that I had MS. Initially I had an MRI scan taken of my spine and some generel reflex tests. The following visit for the results of the MRI was the Big Shock for me. Here's how it went " Okay well the back's all fine!"..... I'm thinking so what's causing all the problems then. Very soon I found out. "Yes as I thought it looks like you have MS, but don't worry". What! Why! How! hundreds of feelings and questions pounded my head. The conversation from there is blurry with the shock. But basically the neurologist said he was 80% certain and would need to do more tests. These were an MRI scan of my Brain, an EEG (electrical probe test of the eyes to brain activity watching a screen). Finally a lumbar puncture. Oh! It is painful but quick so just follow the doctors/nurses instructions. Look it up on the net, you are supposed to keep perfectly still for 12 hours, I have had people tell me that they have had this treatment and been released after 4 hours, this is dangerous.

The diagnosis..
Following the tests my consultant concluded his diagnosis and told me I had the relapse-remitting type of MS, he also told me not to worry. I wasn't offered any further support like counselling or an MS nurse. Just left to deal with the diagnosis on my own in the car on the way home. Within a very short time I had a host of symptoms including losing the peripheral vision in my left eye. I put a lot of this down to the effect that the schock was having on me. My neurologist (remember! "don't worry") sounded very worried and wanted me to take 1g a day steroid injections to regain my sight quickly which I turned down due to possible risks that the steroids offered and the fact that acording to my neurologist with the steroids it would clear up in 3 months and without it would take 6 months. It actually took about 7 months before I could see properly.

Current Symptoms March 2007
Over the past two weeks I have been feeling worse than usual, I have been really tired and muscles have been feeling weak. I have also been getting a lot of nerve pains through my fingers, head and feet. I am hoping this will go soon... Fingers crossed X

Ongoing Symptoms
For 18 months now I have been having difficulty breathing. I thought this might of had something to do with my chest, but after having a series of tests, which I will list in due course, it would appear that this is caused by the MS. At first I thought it was somthing known as "MS Hug" which tightens the small muscles around the chest. But that feeling has left me now but not the breathing problem. Fatigue has also been a major symptom currently and since I was diagnosed