My 1st two weeks with a Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis

Because I am so truly blessed with many caring friends, I am opening this blog to share my daily ups and downs with this surprising news.  I intend to be mainly inspirational,  concentrating on my coping methods and am not looking for a pity party.  However, the trials and tribulations will be difficult and to describe everything I am going through, some hardships will also be presented.

It all began on our 13 hour flight to Chicago for a Cousin’s wedding….

The vertigo hit suddenly and severe.  It began sometime on Friday, 19 June 2009. While on the airplane, the whole world began spinning in a counter-clock wise direction.   By Saturday evening, in addition to the non-stop spinning, I noticed I was numb on the right side of my rib cage, on my front and my back as well.

I somehow managed to drive myself to work at American Airlines on Sunday afternoon…I was still very dizzy but figured it was too much/not enough sleep and that it would pass after a good night’s sleep.  I didn’t want to miss my work trip because it was taking me to Arkansas where I was planning on having dinner with my mom and brother, Greg.  At dinner, I noticed my mouth felt numb, like I’d been to the dentist.  I simply did not feel well at all.

Monday morning I worked my flight from NW Arkansas to DFW and then to Denver.  Before landing in Denver I was talking with another flight attendant, Deseree, about how dizzy and numb feeling I was.  She insisted I be checked out by the paramedics in Denver right then.  The paramedics determined that I should be taken by ambulance to the ER in Aurora, CO where I spent the remainder of my day!

Lots of tests were run by very friendly and efficient doctors and nurses and a representative of AA, Cindy, was at my side the whole time.  After CT scans ruled out a stroke, the MRI showed lesions on my brain indicative of MS.  Armed with a diagnosis of Vertigo and MS and with my “brain on a disc” (CT and MRI on CD), I was put on a plane that evening back to Fort Worth.

My dear husband, Ken was on the phone all day trying to keep my family informed of what was happening all the while running the flower shoppe on his own.  Friends helped him pick me up at the airport since I’m not supposed to be driving and my car was there.

The only instructions the ER had given me was to take some steroids and contact a neurologist within 5 days.  Tuesday I called my primary care doc and told him I needed a neurologist and had my brain on a disc.  The receptionist wanted me to bring my brain in and drop it off before they would recommend a neurologist. No problem, I managed to drive myself in and gave them what I thought they needed/wanted.

Wednesday I went to the dance studio for our regular rehearsal and tried to dance.  I could still shimmy but had little balance and certainly couldn’t spin although I tried!

Thursday I still hadn’t heard back from my doc so I called.  They said they wouldn’t do anything until I made an appointment…why didn’t they tell me this before!  I now had an appointment for the next morning.  I tried calling several of the neurologists I had researched and none would see me with out a recommendation from my primary doc and no one could see me before the end of August/September.  At least I had an appointment coming up the next morning with my primary care.

Friday:  I love my doc!  He is a nice man, way cool and says he will get me into a good neurologist ASAP.

Saturday there was a hafla at the studio.  I went and enjoyed the show.  Afterward, the commotion of movement, lights, noise, etc. really got my head spinning (I was on day 9 of Vertigo…Uuughhh!)  I had to go off and sit quietly in the studio where the lights were dim.  Watching the various different people walking by and dancing, drumming, laughing, smiling and having a good time just suddenly overwhelmed me and I had to go outside for a good, hard cry.  Del kidnapped me and drove me around in his car.  I couldn’t explain what I was feeling but the “specialness” of the studio and everyone in it became profoundly important to me.  It truly is a wonderful place full of wonderful people and I am fortunate and blessed to be a part of the family.

Sunday I finally got some sleep.  The steroids keep me up at night and the numb areas are not always numb, sometimes they are excruciatingly
painful.  It feels like 1001 fire ants under then skin biting and like boiling water burning me all at the same time.  I’ve gotten pretty good at trying to ignore the discomfort/pain and go on as naturally as possible.

Sunday night quote of the day:  Mmmm, fresh blueberries in chocolate ice cream…Yummy!  : )

Monday I went with a friend to the health store and had a detoxifying foot bath and bought some supplements that are supposed to help oxygenate your cells.

Tuesday I was able to get an appointment with my chiropractor friend Dr. Lane Cawthon who does Network Spinal Analysis.  He did a whole barrage of tests on my optical functions and physical strengths.  He was right on with his analysis and I believe he can help some with my symptoms.  At least I feel like someone is doing something as opposed to my sitting around waiting and wondering what is going on.  I bought more supplements with omega 6’s and 3’s…lots of fish oil, flax seed oil, etc.

On Wednesday I still hadn’t heard back from my primary care doc about an appointment with a neurologist so I called to check on it.  They said no one could see me before the end of September! Well, that was unacceptable.  I picked up the phone and called a doctor someone had recommended because their friend was going to them.  They could not get me an appointment there before the end of September either!  I asked them to make a suggestion…I then called Dr. Jiangping Liu, MD whom they recommended.  I now have an appointment for July14!!!

I was able to dance in class a bit better that night.  I am compensating by closing my eyes when I need to do a turn or spin.  So far things are working o.k.  I’m not ready to give up my dancing just yet….

Now, here it is Sunday, July 5.  I’ve had a relaxing weekend with my hubby and with friends.  Catching up on sleep and not doing much of anything besides cooking a nice breakfast two mornings (afternoons) in a row.  Still numb but the burning, biting, burning sensation seems to have lessened somewhat.  And, I’m not quite sure but I think the vertigo has lessened a bit as well!

This has been a pretty detailed description of what has transpired from initial onset to date.  I will check in when anything major transpires or when I am inspired.

I truly appreciate everyone’s care and concern, thoughts and prayers.

Today, right now, I am feeling pretty good overall.  I don’t feel like I have this terrible degenerative disease that is going to bring me down.  I expect to be back to dancing full out soon and I am hopeful that American Airlines will re-instate me back to flying just as soon as I am checked out by a neurologist and put on a maintenance program.  Only a week and a day until my appointment.  In the meantime, I am taking supplements, seeing my chiropractor, eating healthy and continuing my everyday tasks at the flower shoppe as best as possible.