Hello
I am very new to MS. Don't really understand just confused. Diagnosed in March this year. Trying to understand while emotionally drained.
How were you guys when you first found out and what good resources would you recommend?
New (confused): Hello I am very new to... - My MSAA Community
New (confused)
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Twonder14
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Hello and welcome to the club none of us wanted to join. but we are here laughing and helping each other. my best advice is to exercise like your life depends on it because it does and look at your diet to remove inflammatory foods.
I totally agree! Exercise is very very important and helpful!
Thank You
I will try to it’s just so hard working ft and maintaining good mental health at the same time
I get so overwhelmed
totally understandable. try setting priorities, a little at a time.
carolek572CommunityAmbassador
I was relieved when they finally diagnosed me, Twonder14 , because I was searching for answers to my symptoms for 10 years! You can look at mymsaa.org for more resources, and you can ask us on this forum. Welcome and I definitely am looking forward to hearing more from you! Keep Smiling 
Welcome! The first year is a weird time. I spent too much time on pub med, and don't recommend that. I think MSelfie is a good resource, and obviously MSAA.
I was relieved to finally find out why I was feeling the way I was.
I don't have specific resources but there's plenty of info out there.
The people here are very good to talk to 
I'm one who waited several decades to finally find out what was wrong with me, so it was a relief. This forum is great for asking questions or just venting. Whatever you do, stay away from Dr. Google! If you want technical information, go to legitimate MS websites.
Welcome to the group. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Wellcome Twonder14 sorry the reason your here but glad you found us, you are on my prayer list. Mary
You remind me that I too,13 years ago, was new and confused. I had absolutely no idea of the rough and bumpy road ahead. None of us want to be on this road, but you'll find your fellow trekkers welcoming and very supportive, sharing route maps, lending a hand over rough passages and picking each other up after tumbles. Welcome.
I was diagnosed pretty quickly but was still relieved by the diagnosis. Based on my symptoms ir was the best of the possible options. ALS or a brain tumor would have been worse. It's been 9 years now and as my symptoms worsen I feel less lucky but try to remind myself it could be worse.
Also agree with advise to exercise as much as possible as best you can. You will miss the abilities you have now so enjoy what you do have. Keep your general health at its best with good diet, don't smoke and alcohol in moderation.
Welcome to our group!
I had a ruff start up when I was diagnosed. The (Deturent Medication Treatment) DMT my doctor prescribed for me hives and the second one gave me seizures, while I was having exacerbations every 3 months. I had a high level of depression and I could not acceptance the fact I had it. I was put on depression Medication and started therapy.
Two years into my Treatment I was diagnosed with cancer and taken off my DMT 's. Based on MRI's I had several new exacerbations which only increased my depression. It took me 8 years to gain acceptance.
But back to your question. What you want to do is find a MS specialist neurologist. Ask questions every time you have one. This group is great for that. Research the DMT 's that the doctor suggests. Accept the fact you have it.
I hope things go well for you in the future 🙏.
Thank You
Yes it’s been pretty rough for me
Mentally just drained
Between starting treatments
Calling insurance company
It’s a lot at once
It "is" a lot all at once. That initial shock can be overwhelming. I remember well!
Here's a good video for newly diagnosed folks:
Sorry you've joined a club that non-one wants to belong to.
As far as resources go - here is the best possible resource for newly diagnosed people - but you'll need to sign up promptly as it started this week and only runs for about 6 weeks. It's free, online so you can choose when you log-in, and has now been done some 30,000 people around the world.
Check out the FAQs on the landing page - they'll tell you what you need to know.
Hello,
I was diagnosed 17 years ago, also in dreaded March. The
National MS Society has very good resources for Newly Diagnosed.
I consulted that initially. I also belong to a group called iConquer MS.
There are a great many resources and I think the key is to find what
supports you the best over time and mix and match those.
My philosophy when I was diagnosed was to try and face it and
to figure out what would work for me in a way that I could keep
myself as healthy as possible. This involved a lot of soul searching and
essentially giving up some things in order to gain others, like going
from FT work to PT - lost money but gained less stress and time.
Also learned how to say no and tried to focus on positive things
that would make my life better - creativity, supportive people,
nature, etc. All the best to you!
It is a life altering diagnosis and takes time to adjust to that
in many ways. Give yourself time and kindness. The two best pieces
of advice I got and still follow is "listen to your body", and "surround yourself
with supportive people." You are already doing that so way to go! Take care.
we are here for you.
Welcome to this beautiful family of MS people. Everyone here is very welcoming. I’m a big believer in the philosophy of individualism. The way that you have ms is sure different from everyone else. But in the end, we are all rowing in the same direction. Talk a lot to your physician, if he or she doesn’t want to spend time with you then find a new one! You can always private message any of us by tapping on our name. It will direct you to a private message where you can ask that person more specific questions about your ms. Kelly
thank you for ur kind words and advice
Welcome - glad you found us! When I was newly diagnosed, I was initially in shock and numb and pushed thru day to day life rather robotically (just went thru the motion). That gradually corrected itself for me. I recall collecting information from "newly diagnosed" programs and literature and found that to be helpful. When I was ready, I did attend a support group for a while. It takes a while to find a "new normal" but it is possible, in my opinion. Please persist as much as you can. I'm now in year 29 with MS (yippee!).
The Mayo Clinic has a great overview video about MS that may help with any confusion the following is the link mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...
Welcome to the group. Besides the great advice that others already gave here is another one...ms.mooc.utas.edu.au/i/mse5. It is a 6 week course about MS, done by the University of Tasmania. It doesn't cost anything and I don't think you get any college credit but you do get a certificate saying you completed it. It is a great course for those newly diagnosed as well as for family members and friends who want to learn more about MS.
When I was first diagnosed with "probable MS" I was frustrated because the doctors wouldn't give me a straight answer. Almost 5 years later I was diagnosed with "you definitely have MS." Finally a straight answer to "What the hell is wrong with me?"
Added to that frustration is that no one could tell me what step 1 to 100 was to expect with MS and what the typical time frame was in between each step. Unfortunately MS doesn't work like that and it took me a long time to accept that.
The best advice you can get is from other MS patients. The best tips on gadgets and how to work around/ through different issues comes from the people who have already been there and done that. Doctors are great for medical advice.
Welcome
welcome and it was scary at the start but again i was happy someone was finally finding out what was wrong ...was told it was all in my head ,well it was but that they were saying it wasn't something wrong with me...this is a great bunch of people of all ages ,different stages of having it and some new like you and some that have had it for many years....take it slow for it isn't going to kill you just have to go along with it ...love and happiness for you are still the same person but you have something that you have to learn about but you will be fine ...keep going ....we are here for what ever questions you may have but a good specialist in Ms in the best doctor and they have really good advice for they know the most about it ...a Specialist in MS...
thanks
My first couple days I felt relieved because now I knew why I kept falling. Then I spent a day in bed crying and grieving for the "me" I felt I lost. Then I got up and kept going. Try to find something that gives you joy. Several of us do art, there are beautiful quilts shared on this site that will knock your socks off, crocheting, knitting.... These are things that help us feel we have value. Do you have a hobby? Share it with us! This is what saved me from drowning in the blahs.
Glad you found us. I was relieved that it wasn't a brain tumor. Try not to understand everything all at once cuz you'll go nuts. There's a lot of info on MS now. I was diagnosed 18 yrs ago & there wasn't much info & only 5 approved treatments. You've got a lot of suggestions here from everyone so just take it slow & stay posituve.
Welcome Twonder14! You found a great place to ask any questions. There's lots of people with lots of experience and knowledge here. The first year can be especially overwhelming. There are lots of websites you can check out by various MS organizations, also, you can look into websites from Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, as well as MS specialty centers around the country. There are several good publications that are available, monthly MS magazines, and some great videos on youtube about MS and various treatments. As you do you research, if you have any questions at all, please ask. We love to share what we have learned. Keep us posted.
I know it is overwhelming. I was about your age when I was diagnosed, in May 1980. My initial reaction was relief, that I had a name for what was making me have all these strange symptoms. Nobody knew much about MS, including the group of 4 Neurologists I was seeing. I read every book, article, and research study that I could find, but there wasn't a lot available. No meds available, no treatment plans, no suggestions. I started exercising, walking daily, on the track at the college where I worked full time. After just a few weeks, I got shin splints, so I switched to trails. I was a single Mom, with 1 son, so I felt I had to work. And I dug up most of my yard and planted flowers! After 26 or 27 years of working at this small private college in the Mountains of NC, I could not stand the thought of another cold, snowy winter, so I took a job at Stetson University, in Deland, Florida, in January 2000, doing what I love, working with students. The best resources for MS that I have found are MSAA and MS Focus. This group is great, and there is always somebody to talk to. Hang in there, Twonder 14, remember that each of us is different, Symptoms are different, reactions are different, lifestyles are different. Choose what makes you happy! Exercise would be a good place to start. Don't see it as one more thing I HAVE to fit into an already too busy day. Try to find ways you can exercise while doing something else. At work, I was at a desk with a computer, all day long. Sometimes I had a student to counsel, most of the time, I was alone. I would do muscle clenches/releases right there in my chair, and no one the wiser. Be creative, and have fun with it. Give yourself a day off, Twonder, forget all about MS, Just Do and BE You. And enjoy every minute of it!
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