Here goes!

I've decided that I have to get my story out for others that have MS to see. I have been dealing with having MS since February of 1991. I was officially diagnosed in December of 1995. I was unable to walk at that time. I was active duty military at the time and the diagnosis really hit me hard. It was great knowing what my problem was, but I thought my life was as good as over. The military decided to make me take a medical retirement and my career was over. I returned to Washington State and moved in with my parents while I tried to figure out what was next. I began a regular medication plan and worked on trying to get my body working again. I found a job and an apartment. Life was somewhat on track again, but having Multiple Sclerosis was really dragging me down at times. The medications have side effects and the disease itself is a pain in the rear.
I worked as a pizza joint manager and then moved into a retail establishment. I actually worked well and even enjoyed the job. After more than a year there I was hired by the US Postal Service. This was the job I was going to stay with and retire from at 65. BUT, in January of 2000 my MS really began to act up. My medication could not control it and I soon was unable to do my job:( After trying to get things under control and not being able to, I was moved out of my job and put into a temporary position. Due to my health I was once again forced to take a Disability Retirement.
By June of 2000 I was in bad shape. My vision was going, I was not walking well and I really was running out of hope. My doctor and I decided to go with an unapproved, experimental treatment that showed real promise. This was a Chemotherapy treatment and it really worried me. I did the first treatment in July of 2000. I really did not enjoy it, but I did feel my MS change a bit. In October of 2000 I did the next treatment. This time was not as bad and I really began to see my MS coming under control. I continued with my regular medications and really began to work on my physical fitness.
For the first time in years, I was somewhat optimistic about my future with MS.
I will post more shortly.