Well, Time for my bad Med Story... Not looking for Pity, just getting it out as that seems to make myself feel better mentally at the moment.
In unrelated posts i have eluded to some ongoing Medical issues. It all started last October when my daughter and i were rear ended. In the accident my daughter was 100% ok thankfully with no injury. i however, was not as lucky. i suffered a broken shoulder and an aggravation of an existing bulging disk in my neck. after the break healed enough (about 6 weeks)i began physical therapy for my shoulder. after about 4 weeks of PT some additional symptoms began to arise which included numbness and tingling on the same arm as the broken shoulder (left). Drs and PT all assumed/thought this was simply related to the nerves and connections dealing with inflammation of the damage and PT.
When it didn't go away and in some cases got worse we started looking at other causes. Nerve studies to rule out Carpel Tunnel for example. While the nerve studies showed damage/issues it did not fit with CT so the journey continued. As strength and mobility was regained in the shoulder no improvement to the other symptoms was being seen. Several months, Lots of MRIs, Xrays, Blood Test, Poking, Prodding etc and last month we finally found the cause...
I am lucky enough to be one of the nearly1 million people in the United States have multiple sclerosis (MS) While MS is not "caused" by a car accident... According to some research and supported by the NIH it is possible for a car accident involving whiplash, neck or brain injury to trigger MS so that will be a fun new thing for the lawyers and insurance to deal with for the settlement... I am not a litigious person by nature and am not trying to get rich from an unfortunate accident however, i will also not incur personal debt related to another individuals failure to brake when heading towards a stopped vehicle.
It appears thus far that i have what the doc is calling a "minor case" of MS with only 1 small lesion visible at this time. Brain lesions, also known as plaques, are areas of damage or scarring in the brain or spinal cord that occur in multiple sclerosis (MS). They are caused by inflammation that damages the myelin sheath, which is the protective coating around nerve fibers. Ultimately this is what leads to relapses or symptoms of MS. in my case it is on the right side of my brain thus causing issues with the left side of my body.
The upside, it was diagnosed fairly quickly as some live with the disease for years or even decades before it is diagnosed. this happens because so many of the symptoms of MS mirror issues from many other things that afflict these weak flesh bags we call bodies. Because of this i will begin treatment much sooner then most are able to and while MS has no cure, management of it seems pretty straight forward. with the proper medication and care i should in accounts be able to lead a fairly normal life for many years/decades to come and will simply need to handle flair ups or relapses as they come. I am fortunate to have a very supportive wife and circle of friends to help me through this and the best part!!! in Moderation i can continue to enjoy cigars and the occasional adult beverage. The biggest adjustment i need to make at this time is my diet... Currently i am sitting at 5'11" and 312# i have been at or about 300# since i was a junior in High school except for a few years while i was a Scuba instructor in Japan and hovered about 260# as i was extremely active and swam almost daily for that 5 years while also lugging around dozens of SCUBA tanks, gear, weights and general work on and around boats.
In the coming days/weeks i will start a thread about my weight loss journey here in the forums, not for anything more than a way to hold myself personally accountable. As the weight goes down i decrease the likely hood and frequency of relapse with the disease. In general a healthy diet does the same. Eliminating processed foods, limiting carbs, Gluten and sugar intake, eating more whole foods with natural ingredients should be first up on my to do list... My weight has never bothered me (at least the number itself) and i have never really had any body shame issues as i have never not been able to do the physical activates i wish to do and have never had an issue playing with my kid, hiking, walking (we routinely walk 20-25k steps in a day when visiting national parks, Disney(which we tend to do at least once a year), cruising to the islands etc) so it is more about being healthy then anything else.
Time for a new chapter in this life! thanks for letting me vent/get it out of my system. i have told my family and close friends but this is really the first time i have put it all out in writing or really into any type of coherent (for me at least) thought so thanks for letting me use this post to do that.
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming of politics and shenanigans.
For educational purposes - Multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
Vision problems: Blurred or double vision, optic neuritis, or pain when moving your eyes
Muscle weakness and stiffness: Weakness in the arms and legs, muscle spasms, and spasticity
Numbness and tingling: Tingling or numbness in the arms, legs, face, or trunk
Balance issues: Difficulty walking or staying balanced, or an unsteady gait
Bladder and bowel problems: Bladder dysfunction occurs in about 80% of people with MS
Cognitive problems: Slowed processing, difficulty finding words, loss of short-term memory, and multitasking problems
Fatigue: Fatigue is often the most prominent symptom
Depression: Depression is a common symptom
Emotional changes: Changes in emotions can be a reaction to the stresses of living with MS
Many people with MS rely on a cane or other waling assistance during relapses and some spend some time in wheelchair if it gets really bad.
