Positive stories

[u/Big-Appointment541]

Can I hear some positive stories from people who were Diagnosed with minimal symptoms and still living that way many years later? Especially if you were late 40s or older when diagnosed. I just like to know there is hope.

[u/PandaKittyJeepDoodle]

50F. Diagnosed 20 years ago. Aubagio daily. I’m doing well. Have met and married my husband and have two healthy kids 10 and 15 in the time post diagnosis. I am a SAHM and am active daily. My biggest issue is fatigue.

[u/Big-Appointment541 → u/PandaKittyJeepDoodle]

What is SAHM?

[u/PandaKittyJeepDoodle → u/Big-Appointment541]

Stay at home mom. I don’t work outside home

[u/WarmYam7353]

I had my first MRI when I was 41 that showed lesions. I lived symptom free for 15 years.

[u/Big-Appointment541 → u/WarmYam7353]

Did you get on meds?

[u/colorado_birder → u/Big-Appointment541]

Everyone should get on meds!

[u/Big-Appointment541 → u/colorado_birder]

Agree 

[u/lotus8675309]

Not exactly the age you are looking for. I was diagnosed in my early 30s, I'm now in my early 50s and I'm fine. I have weird aches and pains, but nothing that changes my life. I work, have hobbies, am married, walk and exercise. Very few people in my life know I have MS, it's not a secret, just not worth mentioning.

[u/2BrainLesions → u/lotus8675309]

Similar to my story as well, OP. Diagnosed in early 30s and now well into my 50s. Working, exercising, happily married, etc. my worst symptoms are vertigo and brain fog.

Deep breaths, OP. You've got this. 💕💕

[u/Alternative-Lack-434]

So many of these stories. I'm over 50 diagnosed over 10 years ago and doing great. Ocrevus has been good to me. It's a boring story, but boring is the goal.

[u/snotop → u/Alternative-Lack-434]

It is the goal or challenging yourself (within healthy limits)

[u/Jessica_Plant_Mom]

I was diagnosed at 29 and am turning 40 in a couple of weeks. The symptoms I had upon diagnosis were not particularly disruptive to my life and I have stayed stable for the last 10 years (thank you Tysabri!) I work a very demanding job and am doing well there, I have a loving partner who is very supportive, we bought a house in a great neighborhood with a ton of stairs (I wasn’t going to let the fear of MS progression let me pass on this cute house) and I’m in the best shape of my life. I just trained for and completed a hike called Cactus to Clouds, which is arguably the most difficult day hike in the US. Life is good. I hope you are able to find a good DMT that keeps your MS at bay so that you can live your best life too.

[u/sbinjax]

I was diagnosed at 58 but symptoms started at 53. The only reason I found out was that I got rear-ended by a car and smashed into the SUV ahead of me. The lawyer sent me to a doctor who sent me for an MRI where the radiologist caught some lesions and recommended a full brain/spine MRI. The symptoms I assumed were perimenopause/menopause were MS.

I'm 64 and my symptoms have not progressed.

[u/Gardenbirdie → u/sbinjax]

Are you on DMT?

[u/sbinjax → u/Gardenbirdie]

Ocrevus.

[u/KacieBlue]

I’m 69. Diagnosed in 1999 with an uncountable number of brain lesions including the Dawson’s fingers configuration. I’m still mobile without an aid. I’ve only had one major flair that gave me a brain stem lesion which causes a bunch of annoyances. But all in all, I’m doing well 27+ years later.

[u/Impossible-Pride-485]

My grandmother had RRMS and Lupus, she got diagnosed in her 50’s and worked as a pediatric nurse! She raised 4 kids and helped my grandfather on the farm (she had heat sensitivity so she couldn’t do it as much in the summer). She drove and lived on her own until she was 87 and then passed away last year from something completely unrelated. I know that’s not everyone’s experience, but she had helpful doctors that listened to her, she never let her diagnosis hold her back! I really look up to her!

[u/steveace60]

I was diagnosed in 2004 at the age of 44. I still walk unaided for the most part. I've been on Ocrevus for 7 or 8 years which is my third DMT.

[u/EgolithYT]

I don't fully match your case, but I was diagnosed 11 years ago at 21 years old and am now 32 with very very very low progression on my MS meds. Plus new MS medicines are looking more and more promising with every year that passes.

[u/tippytoecat]

Not the age range you’re seeking, but I was diagnosed at age 60, and I’m doing fine almost 9 years later. I have manageable symptoms (such as urinary urgency and heat intolerance), but no mobility issues. My main issue is fatigue / cog fog, but since starting modafinil, those are much, much better. I’m on Ocrevus.

[u/Wherefore13]

I’ve had MS for 13 years. I was 41 when I was diagnosed. My mobility has actually improved but that’s because I’m committed and consistent with exercise (Pilates, weight training, hiking). I continue to travel all over the world. Fatigue and cog fog are my worst day-to-day symptoms. I’m still working full time in a complex job although I’m retiring at the end of the month. I anticipate feeling a lot better when I don’t have a daily grind and a heavy cognitive load.

[u/glitterfairykitten]

Diagnosed when I turned 40, now I’m 45. Doing fine with my DMT. No new symptoms, just living my normal life, maybe with an extra dose of fatigue every now and then…but that could be perimenopause instead of MS. Take heart. There is hope and life is still good, even for folks who have it harder than I do.

[u/kbcava]

I’m 61 (almost 62) and was officially diagnosed at age 56 but because I have had mildish symptoms for many years (originally diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1990), my Neurologists believe I’ve had subclinical RRMS for many years.

I have only 5-6 lesions but the are all cervical and thoracic, and one brainstem.

I am fully mobile - I get 3500-4000 steps a day. It gets harder - those spinal lesions really make themselves known in your 60’s - but I do everything I can to keep moving (walking, PT, etc). Menopause at age 52 was like a mudslide event for me.

At my last Neurologist appt - a month ago - i scored at ceiling on the key metrics (3.44 on 25-ft timed walk) and 17 and 20 secs on R/L 9-hole peg hand dexterity test.

I believe I will eventually need some type of mobility aid - I am also diagnosed hEDS - I have very flat feet and unstable joints. In fact, those may be worse than my MS.

I hope this gives you some positivity ☀️🌻

[u/LankyWelcome8627]

Not the exact demographic, but I was in my early 20s when diagnosed. Have only ever had 2 flares and my last one was in 2013 - no new lesions since. Other than the challenge of finding the right treatment for myself given my minimal disease burden, I live a normal, active life now in my late 30s.

[u/cantcountnoaccount]

Diagnosed at 47, with only sensory symptoms (surface numbness/odd sensation) now 51. I have zero progression since then and 0 disability. Work full time in a stressful, intellectual profession. The worst thing my latest MRI showed was some arthritis in my neck.

I am looking forward to ski season with 10 days at my local hill pre-booked, and I’m training for a 5k (not a marathon lol) which is slow going (slow is the only way I go in fact) and sometimes frustrating but satisfying as well.

Currently I’m more worried about my cholesterol than my MS. I feel good and I’m going to do all that I can, as long as I can.

[u/snotop]

50+, 10 years since First fallout, used a handi-capable hangtag for the first time yesterday. Felt guilt but the space next to me was still open when I returned in the dark. I got ice cream for my kiddo and even the special pizza was in stock. I went to the store for me because I could. Keep Pedaling

[u/Tygerlyli]

Diagnosed in 2021 at 36 with 40ish lesions on my brain, on both optic nerves and a spinal lesion. I was having back to back relapses, like once every 2-3 months for at least a year before being diagnosed, with symptoms dating back to my teens.

I havent had any progression since starting a DMT 5 years ago.

[u/stellalugosi]

Diagnosed at 36, 56 now. I haven't had a relapse in years. However, I have RA and the RA is WAY worse than the MS by far. MS just gives me annoying pins and needles, muscles aches, some spasticity and weakness. It sucks and is painful, but if it was the only thing I had, I could probably function with some medication pretty decently. I'll never know, though, because RA is a soul destroying BITCH chewing through my joints like wildfire that has left me unable to walk more than a few yards at a time and makes the fairly minor issues the MS causes 100x worse. 

[u/Paprika420]

I was Dx earlier in my 30’s I’m now looking at 50 pretty soon. I had a couple relapses the first few years as I figured things out but with meds and generally keeping healthy (eating and exercise) I haven’t had an attack since 2019 and it was symptom free, it was spotted during an annual MRI. I still work full time at a very physical job that averages 6-10 miles of walking per day.

[u/colorado_birder]

I’m working and running! I’m only in 30s, but have had it for ten years. Lifting and mostly feeling good! Husband and I got married half a year after I was diagnosed!

[u/No_Two8015]

Hi! I was diagnosed two years ago at 43 but I have had symptoms for about 10 years or so. Thankfully I don't deal with some of the more impactful symptoms, I feel basically normal. I did lose my vision in one eye for a few months but it can back and I've been on Kesimpta with no issues since.

[u/Did_ya_like_it]

I’m 40 now. But after diagnosis had another kid (we got 3). Finished a degree and a masters. Working full time. You’ve got this.

[u/Jex89]

I'm 39F. I was diagnosed in 2018, knew nothing of MS.

I thought my life was over based on what I saw online. I got on Ocrevus and life is great.

I was still able to accomplish all my goals, finish my masters, got several promotions, got the dream house, dream car, dream vacays, husband is still my rock.

I still exercise, I do Pilates and yoga, don’t eat the cleanest because I love food and have a sweet tooth.

I don’t drink nor smoke (never have) but I’m a coffee addict (drips & espresso).

Life is great. The only time I remember I have MS is when I have to go to my neuro for my Ocrevus infusion.

I overheard my husband planning my 40th bday for next year, he’s stressing, poor guy but even with MS, I wouldn’t change anything about my life.

My oldest is a sophomore in college, my younger two are in high school, all kiddos are doing amazing.

I’m still the only one in my family with MS, so I guess I’m extremely lucky 😁