The day after Christmas, I wasn't feeling very chipper and Melody was still in Seattle working, so I jumped on the ferry to Victoria, B.C. As we waited to unload, the crew took a couple guys in wheelchairs off first and I started looking at my future. As I looked at the city and the hotels, and the people scurrying about, I began to realize how profoundly different and separated from them I now am. I am walking better than ever (post MS) but nothing is automatic. I concentrate on walking...

Hey Kjetil,

It occurs to me that since multiple sclerosis is predominanty a high-latitude northern Euopean descent disease, that Norway probably has a considerable incidence of MS as well. If that's true, what kind of treatment protocol do you use there? I'm not wild about drugs that compromise your immune system, but that seems to be the only choice here. Are there any alternative teatments used there?

Dave

Well, there I was beginning to come to grips with defining my life with MS, starting a new trading program, and feeling like there was life ahead, when the Dr. e-mailed me to ask if they had done an antibody test for neuromyelitis optica (NMO). I was pretty stunned since NMO was her first guess (prior to MRI) and what had me planning my funeral before she decided the next morning that it was MS. NMO is much more aggressive than MS, without remissions, usually leads to blindness in one or...

I suppose I'm being a typical patient and not dealing with this well at all. One of the things that helps me is to write, so this is more for therapy than anything else. If it keeps you informed, and helps you understand, fine, but realize that no amount of pity or sympathy, or even understanding makes the slightest difference in changing this disease.

We see the Dr. again next Wed. (12th) and will hopefully get a better assessment of my future. I am not the least bit concerned with...

Well, symptoms continued to worsen. My right leg was all but useless, the flexors wouldn't work at all, I had foot drop and numbness. The left leg continued to function, but was exhausted and numb from the rib cage down (in front) and the shoulder blade down in back. My right hand was completely involved to the point where I could neither close nor extend it, couldn't write, hold a spoon or take the lid off the toothpaste. Bowel and bladder were also screwed up, et. etc. ad nauseum. I have a...