In the beginning there was the "BAD" news.

Most of you know by now that I have been diagnosed with MS. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-is-ms/index.aspx . I will try to bring everyone up to speed with the process without boring you to much. If I do, I apologize in advance so feel free to skip to the end. This may take a couple of Blogs to do.

It all started last year in early summer with a cough that would not go away. After a few trips to the doctor to be told "It must be allergies... take these pills" I thought for sure all would be well. To my and Rox's dismay the cough did not get better but tiredness and fatigue were getting the better of me. So I went to doctor after doctor trying to figure out what was going on with me to no avail.

With so many visits under my belt Roxanne made a log sheet for me so I could keep track. I must tell you after 30 trips to the Doc's it was getting pretty old and very taxing on both of us. Answers, answers, answers was all that I was looking for. How hard could that be, really?

I never knew how hard it was going to get. It all came to light after parts of my body started to go numb and tingle with shooting pain. I thought this is not good!!! One morning It came to a head when the side of my face and neck started to go numb and I thought for sure I was having a stroke or something. I called my neighbor John and asked to be driven to the hospital. I heard a screech at the front of my house, my personal ambulance driver was there. Man that was fast service I thought to myself. Running red lights and cutting drivers off my expeditious driver and I arrived at the hospital without complications.

Admitted and confused I stayed for 5 days, tested, scanned, x-rayed and poked more times than a prostitute on Orange Blossom Trail I was ready to go home. The only answer I got was from the neurologist. It could be "MS" but he was not sure. "Go see another neurologist " is what he told me when I get out for more testing. Great, just what I needed more tests. I felt as though my world was ending. I just had a doctor tell me "maybe"... I might have this "thing" he was not sure. Not liking that at all my mental stability started a downhill spiral.

Not able to eat, nerves on edge, losing weight fast I was not getting better. Stressing out and not knowing what to expect next I needed help. Roxanne and I both agreed that I needed to go to see doctors that would not treat me like a number or a patient in room #3. My sister works for Dr. Ashraff, the head of medicine in Carthage, NY so it was suggested I go there to get much better personal care.

One two hour plane ride later here I am in NY. Dr. Ashraff and his assistant Lydia visited with me for just under an hour and actually took the time to get details from me based on my logged Doctor visits and symptoms. The consensus was in. Go to the top doctor for MS in Rochester for a consultation and yes more test. However this time no wait, Dr. Ashraff made some phone calls and poof I'm in. Continued next Blog........