I originally made this video for my friends and family, and posted it on Facebook. It has been viewed almost 3k times, and several people requested that I put it on YouTube. I finally decided to go ahead and upload it. (There is a quick Pt.2 video that ties up certain topics I missed). When I was first experiencing symptoms I knew MS was on the list of possible diagnosis, I too turned to these kind of videos to gain some understanding of the diagnosis process, other patients symptoms etc. I am NOT a physician (obviously). I describe the disease, and the process I went through to get diagnosed through my own lens. This is information I learned along the way, have read up on, or was told directly from my own physicians.

I do want to elaborate on the part of the video where I state some of the drug therapies are fatal. The way I worded it in the video makes them sound super risky, and that is not always the case. It is about choosing the right therapy for your body. For example, if you have cardiac issues one of the oral medications could be fatal for you. If you have prior liver disease or damage, the drug I am on may be fatal to you. If you are positive for the JC virus some infusion therapies may be risker and possibly fatal to you. The last thing I want to do is sound dramatic, so I apologize for that wording. By and large, the drugs are NOT fatal...albeit, hard on the body in general.

Moreover, many MS patient choose to go the natural route. There are several protocols out there now (Swank, Whals), that promote a particular MS diet, stress reduction, and rest. I believe in these as well. Again, it is up to each individual to choose for themselves how they want to manage their disease.

Lastly, it seems Lumbar Punctures are sort of a hot topic in MS support groups; whether or not they are necessary for a diagnosis. You can get an MS diagnosis with 0 O-Bands found in your CSF. However, 95% of patients with MS will show positive for O-Bands in their CSF. So, for me the test was worth a shot. Remember, there is no 1 conclusive test for MS, that includes the Lumbar Puncture.