Thanks for accepting me into your fold. I Am thankful to find a group again,
to share in this confusing health problem that I seem to have. The reason why I
am joining this group is to have a link to and from others who also understand
MS. I will, hopefully be as active and helpful as I can be. I had been with a
group that I can no longer find. It was, "live" and we could share back and
forth. However, often it got, "carried away".

My MS problems began in 1969. First possible dx was in 1973. Slowly, I finally
got better. That early, "possible MS", dx came after having a spinal tap. There
were a couple of times that I can look back and realize that I had little
disturbances from it, through the years. 3 years ago, it started again with
balance problems. I went to the Dr and then for many new tests, that weren't
available the first time. Because of my experience with a spinal tap, I decided
not to suffer through another one in 2004. The hospital where I had the first
spinal, no longer had the records of the first one. This round, I continued to
get more symptoms. Before they finally started medication, optical neuritis took
its toll on my left eye. Some days my vision is so that I am unable to
participate in anything. In late 2004, I took a, "round" of intravenous
steroids. That did nothing to help me. Then I started Betaseron, which was a
choice I was given. I had a difficult time deciding whether to take it or
Avonex. Depression has plagued me and still does but the medications for it
have not helped me so I have chosen not to take them. Have found that
exercising only aggravates my symptoms. A strong faith, family support and
hobbies help me stay focused and willing to live. We thought, hoped and prayed
that I had been healed. Well, I was healed for a nice long time.

My life, in Colorado is good. I have a very supportive husband and 3 grown
children, plus 5 grands. I am mostly retired and had a major MS setback starting
3 years ago. One of my hobbies is collecting machine made marbles. That helps to
keep my mind sharper and some days seem to help with depression. I was an artist
until the optic neuritis caused too many problems to do my artwork any more.
Now, I make crocheted and loomed items for the needy and for Project Linus.