Embrace the Journey: Life is Fragile

Me at age 16, when I had Mono

How can this be? How did I get Multiple Sclerosis? I pondered that question many years. My explanation for all this time has been because of a bad case of Mononucleosis I had Senior Year of high school. 

That seemed reasonable because research at that time postulated that MS might be linked to a severe childhood disease. Hence, Mono weakened my immune system and allowed the virus to fester.

Me age 50 when diagnosed

For twenty years, I have used this bad case of Mono to explain how I thought I got MS. Now, science has established a link to the Epstein-Barr virus. aka Mononucleosis. My sister Penni who lives in Boston sent me an article from The Boston Globe, dated Monday, January 17, 2022 about this development. 

A group of researchers from MIT secured access to the military data base at Walter Reid Institute of Research. This huge population offered a high number of incidents they tracked over time. This gave the study tremendous credibility. The article compared this data base to the power of the Hubble Telescope. 

Tracking and monitoring Army recruits over twenty to thirty years was the key. Many recruits enlist in their late teens. If they got  Mono, like I did, MS symptoms would show up in their thirties or forties. Identifying and following these symptoms over such a long time was the key to establishing the link.

Hiking in California

I didn't have any issues in my twenties and thirties. I felt fine, had plenty of energy and didn’t have any major issues. I was in my mid forties when I began noticing irregularities with balance, walking, talking, vision decision making and thinking.   

Even then, I didn't slow down. After some near falls on steps, I became more careful. I was in my late forties when I noticed that I was bumping into people who were walking beside me. I would get so provoked! I blamed the other person for not walking straight. 

I traveled a lot in my job and drove all over the state. I started having problems staying awake while driving even in the morning after good sleep. I would chew gum, drink water, open the windows, sing with the radio. Still, I never thought to get checked. What finally got my attention was feeling weak with while walking on the beach. The sun was bearing down and it was hot. I was literally dragging my right foot through the sand. That’s when I pledged to talk with my doctor. 

After diagnosis I learned more about MS symptoms. I learned about typical symptoms of MS in cognitive, physical, physiological and psychological areas. I realized I should have been paying attention to recurring issues. The recurring yeast infections, frequent UTI’s were not normal. The stiffness in my joints, pain in my hips and jerky walking and headaches were not normal. I didn't acknowledge fatigue and muscle weakness. I think the most noticeable issue was my legs being out of control after about two miles of walking. My right leg was swinging way out and impossible to control. I wish I had paid better attention to physical issues. Maybe I would have sought help and been diagnosed sooner.

More fun cruising

The Globe article explained that brain inflammation is a common side effect of viral infections. It said that the millions of people who are living with what they call Long COVID are examples of inflammation. Red Flag! With MS, lesions form from inflammation on the brain causing issues around the body. I hope we won’t hear about high incidents of neurological issues from people who had Covid 19 twenty years from now.

Life is fragile. Sometimes recurring issues are not normal. My hope is that my story helps identify red flags. 

My personal goal is to live life to the max every day, take care of myself and stay vigilant.  I told Donnie recently, “I’m glad you are as committed to my health and your health as I am. We have things to do and I like doing them with you! Do you think we will live as long as  Mama, and Bucky and ‘V’? If we do, I hope we have our mind in tact like Bucky and Mama did. I do need to watch for falling. No more falls no COVID!”.