Sharing their journey—life with relapsing multiple sclerosis
MS LifeLines® Ambassadors chronicle their thoughts and feelings about living with MS.
These journals reflect the personal experiences of one person and others can be different. It is best
to contact your doctor to discuss what's best for you. David and Joni are MS LifeLines Ambassadors
and have chosen to share their stories with other people living with MS. MS LifeLines and MS LifeLines
Ambassadors are sponsored by EMD Serono, Inc and Pfizer Inc.
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Select a topic or topics below to find journal entries that interest you most.
I've been taking medication for my relapsing MS for a while now. And to be perfectly honest, there were times when I struggled to stay on the path and continue with my treatment. It didn't really happen immediately but eventually I started to question why I continued taking these injections. I even wondered if I could go without them. But whenever I start to veer toward that way of thinking, I always find ways to pull myself back in and remember what's important.
Joni was living the college life. She was enrolled in a top-rated pharmacy school
and between classes, homework, and a part-time job, she rarely slept. One day she noticed
numbness in her feet and felt overwhelmingly fatigued. When the numbness spread to her hips,
Joni was admitted to the hospital. To Joni's shock, she was diagnosed with relapsing Multiple
Sclerosis.
Since Joni was diagnosed, she graduated from college, moved to a different state, and started
a new job. Joni earned a doctorate in pharmacy and she currently works as a community
pharmacist. Throughout her journey with MS, she's learned the importance of candidness and honesty.
Joni now loves to share her experiences with others and in her free time, she enjoys reading,
traveling, and hanging out with family and friends.
I'm not sure if anything has been truly "routine" since I was diagnosed with MS, but I continue to strive to make it "routine" in every aspect of my life. My mother used say, "Be careful what you ask for." And like most of her advice, I never listened to it until she told me a second or third time.
David has a passion for travel. He had just returned from a trip to Africa when he began to
experience numbness and double vision. Both David and his doctors assumed that his international
trip was the source of his symptoms. After a lengthy hospital stay and many tests, he was
diagnosed with relapsing Multiple Sclerosis. David's reaction was one of disbelief and
concern for his future, and it took months to adjust to the diagnosis. With the help of friends,
family, and his doctor, David regained his positive attitude. He began treatment immediately and
has responded well.
As part owner of a travel agency and in consultation with his doctor, David enjoys scuba diving
and traveling around the world. He also owns his own business that creates unique beverages.
David believes his optimistic attitude helps keep him in control of his own life with relapsing MS.
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