Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Whoops! When I was lying in a hospital bed after finally admitting I probably had a problem requiring help from doctors, I thought back to what I now know were flares and my solution made me belly laugh. I would say if I still felt "bad" in a week, I would go to a doctor and describe my symptoms.

The doctor was wrong, thankfully

If that's not a whoops, I don't know what is but that's what landed me in Urgent Care where a doctor told me, and my wife, that I, more than likely, had a brain tumor. He was wrong but the good thing that did was get me first in line for tests at a hospital covered by my insurance. Now, the MRI should have been a very unsettling time for me but I used it to remind myself of things I had unexpectedly accomplished in my brief life. Being told it was probably MS was a stay-in sentencing compared to a brain tumor.

I finally found the DMT that worked for me

I went through 3 different DMTs, Avonex, Rebif, and Copaxone before an infusion was recommended to me. I even got off all DMTs briefly long before a doctor suggested Rituximab and I said if that will shut you up but, after my first infusion, I wondered where this drug had been or if I had found my MS drug. So, you've give it to me, I'm persistent.

I became an advocate

Over the years it took me to find my MS drug and for MS to do what it does, my life has seen its fair share of changes. After being really into my career, I'm disability retired. Because walking is way to predictable, I better have my wheelchair if we are going longer distances. Some may think I balled up and quit on life but hardly. After meeting two others with MS, I helped to create meetings that are held on Zoom where we ultimately look to spread cheer and life hacks to try. Everyone has times in life where they feel less than, but I always strive to look on the bright side of life.