So, I quit coffee.
The headache started late that June afternoon. Withdrawal came to me quickly. I suffered the following day with the belief that I could get through this. Coffee is now the delicious evil I will extract from my life. Later that same day finds me in a numb headache pain, but I am determined to see this through. Every couple of hours I gulp down loads of headache remedy with little effect. My coffee addiction is trying to defeat me. I head to a darkened bedroom with my eight-year-old daughter, who lovingly places a cold, damp cloth on my forehead. I’m not above complaining. More medication, a dark bedroom, and a damp cloth are not cutting it. Then my wife walks into the room, and, obviously tired of the whining, says “why don’t you just drink some tea?”
Ok, tea is not coffee, so I agree to a cup. One cup and 20 minutes later the headache is gone. Little miracle in a tea bag.
Spring warmed to summer and my body began to agree with me again. There is no evidence that a change in diet and lifestyle changes contributed to a recovery, but I notice the improvement. This MS is a fickle condition. It was August of 2004 as I awoke one warm summer day to notice that the feeling in my legs has returned. My legs felt 100 per cent better. However, my feet are still numb on the bottom, and between the toes. Given how my legs felt, I was hopeful that my feet would soon follow.
I worked hard (kind of) at work, and definitely worked up a sweat building a stone patio. It was not a very good stone patio. I am confident that it is likely the worst stone patio ever built. I continued to be physically active. I went to the gym every day, and took my dog for long walks. During the warm months I would ride my bike to work.
It was indicated that a healthy lifestyle and a reduction of stress are necessary for someone diagnosed with MS. With the doctor and my employer in agreement I took a work transfer, and the following year I was out patrolling the Coquihalla Highway as a member of the traffic services. My hours were also reduced and I no longer have to work past two in the morning.
My health improved, but I could always tell there was something not quite right. My numb feet were a good indication that MS is still with me.
With MS remission can be prolonged for days, months or even years. While it may be in remission it is fair to say that it has not gone away. MS is still there. It’s a lifelong diagnosis. The drugs on the market have the ability to limit the number of relapses, but do not eradicate the condition.
As my condition was a concern for my employer I was mandated to have a yearly physical. In 2007 I went to the doctor who found me to be healthy, but that I should see a neurologist for an MS follow-up. An appointment was made for me to see the neurologist that I had initial contact with after my first MRI.
It was a cool fall day when I saw the doc. It was an appointment I had not been looking forward to. I’m not sure if it was the manner in which he spoke to me on our last meeting, or if it was my reluctance to learn more about MS. While my feet were still numb I was essentially ignoring the condition. I was feeling good so I thought I had beat MS.
We spoke for a while about how I had been doing. I told him I had seen Dr. Hashimoto who confirmed a diagnosis of MS. He performed the standard neurological examination, and explained to me that he is not an expert with MS. We then returned to his office where he explained that he’s fully aware of MS and its effects, but there are others who are specifically trained for MS. He grabbed a pad of lined notebook paper, and wrote something in pen which he tore off. He presented to me this little torn-off note that read “Clinically Isolated Syndrome.” He said something else, but I stopped actively listening. What is this? Is this a diagnosis, and why on a torn-off piece of paper?
I left there with this piece of paper with a question nagging me “do I have MS or not?”
There is a distinction between the two illnesses. CIS has the same look as MS on MRI, but can be a one-time event. Both are treated the same. The distinction between the two is that CIS is a one-time event, MS is for life.
As I got into my truck I thought maybe I didn’t have MS. I haven’t had any relapses in three years.
I still have numb feet. I pull up into a drive-thru and order myself a steeped tea with honey for the drive home.
I’m okay with the tea, but it’s not coffee.
On The Road With MS 