Some people can go many years without knowing that they have multiple sclerosis (MS). It can be frustrating to live with the symptoms of MS and not know why they are happening and what is causing them. Many of the symptoms can point to another problem that is not MS. Sometimes the symptoms of MS can come and go. When this happens, there can be a delay in the diagnosis because people will not go to the doctor until they feel the symptoms. There are many different tests that can determine if you have MS. After you get this diagnosis, it is time to make a long-term plan so you can live a life that is not controlled by the disease.

There are different things that you should expect when going into a doctor’s appointment for an MS diagnosis. You will have to tell your doctor specifics about the symptoms you have been experiencing. They will then run a few tests to ensure that your brain and spinal cords are working properly. These may include: an MRI, a spinal tap, an electrical test and a blood test. An MRI will help your doctor see if there are any brain changes caused by MS. A spinal tap will look at the fluid in your spine. This fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid. Higher levels of proteins or other substances found in the fluid may point to MS. Electrical tests on the nerves will be able to help your doctor determine if the MS has affected the parts of your brain that help you see, hear and feel. A blood test can help your doctor rule out other possible conditions that could be causing your symptoms that are not MS.

Getting an MS diagnosis is much different from getting a diagnosis for a cold or an infection. MS is a long-lasting disease that can impact you for the rest of your life. It can affect your lifestyle and the way you go about your daily life. You should remember that you can still be happy and live a normal life with MS. There are many wonderful treatment options available to people with the disease that can help ensure a long and healthy life. The first thing to do is to stay positive. You may have some extra challenges to overcome, but you should not let MS define who you are as a person.

The first step to take is to stay in touch with your doctor. You should be telling them about any symptoms that you are having and if your medications are working and if there are any side-effects. This will ensure that you get the right treatment for your MS so you can live a normal life. Your doctor will know your unique case of MS in detail, so they will be able to help you with any problems that may occur.

When you have MS, you should have a healthy diet to fight back against the symptoms. You should eat foods that have anti-inflammatory properties like: fatty fish, flax-seed, whole grains and fruits. It will help with the inflammation of the nerves and help symptoms subside.

Two of the main symptoms that come along with MS are fatigue and depression. You can fight these by exercising or with any form of physical activity. Some of the symptoms can make it hard to get a good work out in, so make sure to talk to your doctor or physical therapist about ways that you can get active with your specific symptoms.

There are other simple measures that you can take to live with your MS and help keep away any symptom exacerbations. Getting a good amount of vitamin D will help support your immune system, which can lessen any MS symptoms. You should also stop smoking as it can increase the risk for MS symptoms to flare-up. Stopping smoking will also help slow the progression of the disease.

Getting the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis can be shocking, and it may take awhile to sink in. The best things to do are to stay healthy and positive because the disease does not define you. You can live a happy and healthy life with MS by following these steps and ensuring that MS does not control your life.