In January 2004, I became very ill and could not keep any food or drink down. I soon became severe dehydrated from persistent vomiting. My husband then took me to the emergency room to have fluids administered in my body via IV. At that same time, I began to experience double vision. Soon my vision returned to normal after I recovered from this serious bout of stomach flu. Subsequently, I thought that I was okay.
My double vision returned as before which lasted from six to eight weeks. This occurred in March 2004. During this time, I had difficulty reading single lines of text. This required the use of a magnifying lens for help. I was working on a full-time basis during this episode. Fortunately, my manager was very sympathetic. He told me to take whatever time off I needed to find out what was wrong with me.
I then sought medical attention to identify the cause of the double vision. I had visits with two ophthalmologists, and the second one suspected MS. I then went to my regular doctor for further testing. While I was undergoing my double vision, I had my annual physical exam.
At this appointment, I told my doctor of the eye problems I was experiencing. My doctor immediately sent me out for further testing (which was to have an MRI scan of my brain). She also referred me to a neurologist.
The neurologist conducted a full neurological examination. This confirmed the MRI findings of MS. She then told me that I needed to start immediately on medication to treat my MS. I told her to prescribe the one with the least side effects without me making a choice. I started on it within two weeks of being diagnosed. All this took place in mid-April of 2004. My MS then stayed clinically stable up to 2014.
A year later; (2015), I started to experience a gradual decline of my MS. It was depression in 2015. Next, it was balance issues and peripheral neuropathy in 2016. From 2017 to 2018; moderate fatigue and cognitive decline began to appear, and I suffer from these to this day. There was no new activity on my MRIs of the brain during this time frame. It finally got to the point of no longer being able to work. This began in 2019. I have been on full disability since then.
I remained in taking MS medications to prevent new activity on my MRI and to slow down the progression of my MS. These medications were successful in preventing any new MRI activity; yet, I am still experiencing gradual decline of my MS. Little did I know that my doctor declared that I have officially entered into the Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS) stage. I was informed of this at an appointment I had with her earlier this year (2025). I personally believe that I entered the SPMS stage beginning in 2015. Often this transition is difficult to determine by doctors. The only way to do this is reviewing medical records to observe this gradual decline. Currently, I am on one of the stronger medications for MS in hopes that my MS does not decline any further.
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