This will come as news to some that I have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). To be honest, I’m still adjusting to this new change in my health. It brought up so many feelings (yes, I have them).
In November, I went to see my neurologist and from the last MRI of my back, they found lesions at C2 and T4 on my spinal cord. The lesions lead to a 95% diagnosis of MS. The two brain MRIs were normal (I’m sure some of you are chuckling). On Friday, November 25th I had a lumbar puncture to check the spinal/cerebral fluid as the last test to confirm MS. They did more blood tests, one of which goes to BC. And I have a nerve conduction test in January. More results yet to come. It’s likely I will be put on treatment for the MS, but a mild one. I confess, I had a hard time keeping my emotions in check when she gave me the news. Elaine is taking it all better than I am.
New year: I went back to the neurologist on January 3rd. She confirmed that I have the MS antibodies in my cerebral spinal fluid. One of the blood tests I had in December was for an aggressive form of MS with a really long name. I don’t have that, so I don’t have to remember the name. The testing also involved three MRIs and other many blood tests.
On the positive side, she doesn’t have any concerns with my brain and I only have two lesions on my spinal cord. On the negative side, is my age and that I’m a man (both can lead to a more progressive MS). It seems my doctors were all trying to solve one symptom at a time. Then the second neurologist put it all together by seeing them all having one root cause.
I was offered four treatment options. The one I’m going with is an infusion called Ocrevus. It has a high efficacy rate (85-90%). I will go twice a year for a two hour infusion, done in Bracebridge. It’s crazy how expensive these treatments are ($50,000/year), but there is funding through the government. Treatment started this week once my vaccinations were up to date. This treatment may also reduce my current symptoms or possibly halt them where they’re at.
Having MS explains things like my double vision, loss of peripheral vision for a while, the numbness in my hands and feet, some bladder issues and likely some of the symptoms that I previously associated with my concussions like my foggy headedness. It’s also likely I have been dealing with this for 25-30 years without knowing that the symptoms were MS related.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease which affects the central nervous system (directly affects the brain and spinal cord). A chronic and unpredictable condition, multiple sclerosis is marked by a variety of symptoms.
MS affects around 50,000 Canadians, and approximately 3 people are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis each day. Multiple sclerosis is the most prevalent neurological disease in young adults in Canada.
This year, for my 60th birthday, I will be doing a fundraiser for the MS Society of Canada. If you can donate, that would be great. You can so through the post on my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MikeDGreenfield.
Meandering Moose 