Whoopy! I have MS!

I have been told that I have an easy going nature. I have been described as laid back.
In many cases, when a problem arises, I've heard people say, “Don't let it bother you,” or “You can't let it get to you.” But I'll admit, that when something bothers me, it bothers me.
If, for instance, it starts raining, I find a place where I can be sheltered, or use an umbrella. Because the falling rain bothers me.
There is a common expression, “Not smart enough to get out of the rain,” It doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with rain, but I think that most people prefer to be out of the falling rain.
In a similar way, pain is something most people try to avoid. It is there to indicate that something is wrong, and should be addressed and remedied.
For the last five years, I have been dealing with multiple sclerosis. In order to do the things I have to do, like shower, shave, or eat, I have, to some extent, ignored the fatigue and uncoordination, and tried to go along as I would before these things started to interfere with my performance. But it does bother me.
“Oh, someone cut my arm off? No problem, I won't let it bother me,”
This is what I mean, there are times when you are supposed to be bothered by something. If there is nothing I can do about a problem, I don't just ignore it, because usually it is something that bothers me.
I feel bad if my condition worries others, but I can't do what some people have grown to expect me to do. If it bothers them, how do they think I feel about it?
As a young kid I remember doctors saying “You will feel some discomfort” as they began to administer an inoculation. Afterward, I thought,”Discomfort?! That's PAIN!
One of the first neurological problems I got was peripheral neuropathy. Now, that is discomfort. It felt like I was getting athlete’s foot. But after using all the over the counter medications for a month, I went to a doctor. She could see no fungus, or any other reason for the discomfort.
The doctor asked if I drink alcohol. I told her that I brew ale as a hobby, and she concluded that the alcohol was the cause of a loss of myelin in my peripheral nerves.
The jobs I have had have exposed me to many things which can cause myelin loss, but after being tested for any of these things in my blood, they found none of the suspected chemicals or pathogens.
So I have just tried to ignore the discomfort with some success. But in 2002, I started having bouts of double vision, A neurologist suspected that it could be multiple sclerosis, and had me start a series of MRI scans to see if there was the pattern of myelin loss associated with MS.
The first scans were done at three month intervals, and were all inconclusive until, in 2005, they were able to see the results that indicate MS.
The months prior to the diagnosis had me nearly convinced that I was losing my mind. With all the doctors and medical specialists in Boston, it was hard to believe that it took so long to just get a diagnosis.
Strangely, it was a relief to get a definite diagnosis.
“Yay, it IS MS!”