Been in denial.

So while I was off work with covid I started noticing some weard issues. My right leg goes numb but I still feel just reduced and cold feels hot on that side.

I fell 3 times very rare I have amazing balance was Union Ironworker for 7 years.

Doc had MRIs and lower back bulging disc, compression and arthritis, no surprise there but at c 2 in my neck my sheath along my spinal column shows deterioration. They suspect MS and scheduled brain scans.
I'm also feeling like I have drank 4 beers and that comes and goes but disturbing especially when driving and operating heavy equipment at work.

I have been in denial for a few weeks and it all comes and goes so I pretend I'm fine. Tonight was not a good night denial is gone now.
Now the worries setting in. How much longer will I be able to early work,drive, hunt with my kids. ECT.

Guess I better figure out how to afford to take the boys on a cheap Elk and mule deer huns while I can still walk. I have been waiting tell they are older and I have more money but if I continue to wait it may never happen.

There I typed it out. Now it seems more real.

Sorry to hear that. Will put you on the list this morning for prayer at church.

Sorry to hear that . Wont ever see me advise against a hunting trip with family but dont get too depressed. Sounds like there is still hope. Living more now is always a good plan. Even if your sure your healthy. Nobody lives forever. I doubt when dying if you have time to reflect you will regret not working more. You dont take anything with you. I say work enough to pay the light bill and save a little. Recreate every chance you get. If you get lucky and live to 90 with your mind intact you wont regret that extra 3 weeks of trapping when you were young enough to do it.

After losing a son I don't put things off anymore. If there is something you want to do go do it. Don't put it off for any reason. Good luck with your hunts.

Wife has had MS for more years than I want to recall. Have you been diagnosed with it yet? If so, find a good neurologist and get treatment ASAP. There are a lot of drugs (avonex, beta-seron, copaxone, tysabri, ocrevis...) that can reduce relapses and slow the progression. Wife has been on tysabri for over 10 years. That's the only one that has worked for her. Everyone's case will be different, and the same goes with the meds. Don't count yourself out of a future. Prayers my friend.

You're one of my go-to guys in this forum. Know for sure I'll lift you up.

PM,
It would seem by your post that you are at a point that your mind is telling you certain things, because your body is doing certain things, yet your heart suggests to you certain things.
This is your time, as we all will have one, where your life's worldview is being shouted at by all that I just typed.
For most of our lives these areas of "us" whisper.
Now they talk loudly and they will in fact do some yelling in the future.

I chaplain in areas of palliative care = people who get life changing medical news and I work with an integrated team of people who place proper perspective as medical and emotional and spiritual aspects of us are holistically tended to.

Prayers on a Sunday and should you wish, I'm a PM away.


Blessings,
Mark

Sorry to hear. I’ll keep you in my prayers.

Good luck with your issues, and will keep you in my prayers. Let the docs do their thing and find out what is really wrong, as I have found self diagnosis usually can use a lot of improvement! And often times the docs have it wrong!

Mark, we missed you in Ks this weekend! Hope all is well with you!

My neighbor has MS. He gets an infusion every few weeks, he uses two canes when he walks, yesterday we walked for two hours at the local gun show. He is about age 75.

Thanks guys. I'm far from done that for sure was just having a rough night at work compounded by the fact 2 guys called in and the ot guys that replaced them did a good job sleeping in a chair instead of working. So I took care of everything. Not worth the Hassel of having to tell guys 60 years old to do their job.

I was still able to pack my 11 year olds deer out about 3/4 mile last weekend on my shoulders. I did bust my phone when I fell on it on the rock shelf creek though. I figured it was easier than walking back out for the deer cart and fighting it both ways through the thick brush and down the creek. But I was feeling great that weekend. I found out im out of shape though. I'm 41 if anyone was wondering.

Sorry to hear that. Praying for you.
Hopefully it's not ms.

The drunk felling stinks. As soon as you feel it coming on get home and rest. Fibro fog feels like you're absolutely wasted (drugs and alcohol wasted). There's times I won't drive anywhere other times I'll be out doing stuff get that feeling and rush home as safely as possible.

One thing I've learned with my fibro is take advantage of the time especially when "feeling good".

Being sick and having young kids is very rough. Communication is key with them.

With your head up and straight on. I suspect you don't know another way. Take care and look for strength where you've found it in the past.

God be with you.

Keep fighting the good fight man, not feeling good sucks, but you just try and keep putting one foot in front of the other. God bless!!!!

My wife was diagnosed with MS in 2001. Yes, we changed around our lifestyle to keep her out of stress, heat, etc. She was on Rebif self-injections for several years then changed to Tysabri which is a monthly infusion. There are folks that can offer grants to cover a portion of the costs of Tysabri.

We worked very closely with her Neurologist and when she was in her early 60's he said that some folks go into remission about that time. She cautiously went off Tysabri a few years ago and has not been on any MS meds since. She says she is regaining feeling in her feet and is actually getting around better although always has her walker in the vehicle. We still lead an active life and have learned to live life to its fullest.

I am saying all this to reinforce the fact you ought to work with a Neurologist. There are a lot of treatments, etc. and while your life may have to adjust somewhat, it is not as dismal a future as one imagines.

Hang in there! Life is good!

Moosetrot

God Bless

I had a doctor tell me one time that I most likely had ms. Turned out the doctor was wrong. My advice is to wait and see what the tests show.Get two or more opinions. Doctors can be wrong.

Thanks fellows I think I finally nailed my thoughts down. I'm most scared I won't be able to be the father and provider I want to be. When I was younger I chased the $. Used my physical abilities and blew off collage. I was making more money iron working with out it anyway. That was great as long as I have good health. Now I see the advantage of using your head instead of your back.

Left work after 3hrs tonight. Was doing well to get my job done but was going to get moved in the middle of the shift to a job that gives me more trouble. Nearly ran a guy over tonight as it was. Scared the heck out of me Decided I'm done for the night and most likely not going it tomorrow night depending on what the Dr says if I can get in to him in the morning.

Prayers for you man. Been down a similar road myself. Still fighting the fight.
Hang tough and appreciate your family and friends.

Sent with prayer.

Up date. Went to the doc this morning. They took blood did an EKG and adding more testing if insurance will approve it.

They wrote me off work tell the 14th pending test results. So I canceled my vacation days I had scheduled and will use them later in the year. Nice now I can spend the time with my family and it's hunting season. BUT. I'm not allowed to drive, be off the ground, or do anything strenuous:(

I guess I will need to talk my 19 year old daughter and not going with us for our planed out of state youth deer hunt to drive. No stand hunting either will be different but no to bad we hunt off the ground a lot. So I think I can make the trip still work out maybe? I'm sure I can get my friends that live down there to help with heavy work if needed. Wenches are a great tool also.

Ive had my own issues with health and my legs , well other parts too.

I use to blame freezing my feet in 1979..

In reality I just started to noitice my periphiaral nerves have never done well. Never could play music , or type,

We have what we have.
Nerologist said I shouldnt have been walking since 2017. Made three trips in and out; dead on 2 miles each way, 40-45lbs each time 600 foot elevation gain 800 down ( Ok it was a real nice cattle trail )
I need treking poles for balance,
Only spent 3 nights at home in September,
Life goes on

You could see a therapist but do be careful of which one!

My wife was diagnosed with MS in 95. She is just now having some issues with balance and leg stuff. Her feet are numb. She still tries to go to work, but it's becoming more and more difficult to work 12 hour shifts in an ER as a nurse when you are short staffed, and can't sit down much.

There are a few books on the subject. One is called "Living with MS". It is a good book and you can let your wife and kids read it so they know what you are going through.


My wife gets fatigued very easily. So us walking for any distance is well planned out for her to be able to sit down every 5-10 minutes. Start doing crossword puzzles, word searches, etc etc etc. Anything to keep your mind working.

This is all dependent on you getting a definitive diagnosis. Like was said above, find a neurologist that specializes in MS. Most GP's don't have the knowledge to deal with MS.

My experience with my wife mirrors what Elkaholic posted and I would echo his advice about a good Neurologist who really knows their stuff with MS.

My wife "runs out of gas" as we call it quickly now and we have adjusted our life to cope with frequent rests and what is sometimes deep fatigue. We are still very active, happy, and do many things that others do not do, but we have learned to adjust to her pace, and that is just fine. She quit working in 2001 and while at times it has been tough financially, we adjusted and have absolutely no regrets about that move. She drives, goes shopping, goes fishing and hunting with me, and more often than some would imagine we joke about MS. It feels good to look MS in the face and laugh it out of the moment we are enjoying.

At first she was very scared of what the future would bring and for a while was in denial, too. She would not get a Disabled tag for the car nor would she buy a walker for several years. That kind of stuff is out there for folks that still want to engage in the good parts of life and help folks get by the specter of being beaten by MS. Use them when you need to.

Her life changed, our life changed, but we will not let MS beat us. I am in my late 60's, she's in her mid-60's now and we are planning a long, happy life together. MS be danged.

Moosetrot