My first indication that something wasn't quite right was when I was 19 and running my own business as a dressmaker designing and making bespoke bridal gowns and bridesmaid's dresses. I was involved with a large order, making a very ornate, beaded bridal gown and four bridesmaid's dresses when I suddenly started to have problems focusing my eyes and they became extremely painful to move. At this time I visited an optician who looked at my eyes and told me I was suffering from eye strain from all the 'close work' I had been doing. He sold me a pair of glasses and told me to wear them while I was working. I did this and eventually, after a few weeks the pain disappeared so I carried on. Six months later the pain returned and my vision deteriorated so that I could no longer see well enough to do my work. I was also developing patches of numbness so I want for an orthopedic consultation. He told me that I had probably 'stretched a nerve' and to go away and rest. Next I went to a chiropractor to try to get an answer. He examined me and some of my reflexes were abnormal so he refused to work on me and recommended I went to see a neurologist.
I went to see a very eminent neurologist at The Churchill Clinic - he arranged an MRI scan and gave me an MS diagnosis on the strength of the visible plaques on my scan. I have never had any other tests to eliminate other illnesses. I gave up my shop and closed my business after being told that MS is a progressive, incurable disease. My life changed from that day on.
These are some of the MRI scan pictures that were taken before my MS diagnosis in 1991 when I was just 22 years old.
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