my MS diagnosis : multiple sclerosis and my first symptoms 

I was diagnosed about 6 years ago. Doc said I would be using a walker or in a wheelchair within 2 years at that time. Taking no meds, just vitamins. No walker or wheelchair yet. Not a cure, but the right foods and exercise helps. Only speaking for myself as MS affects each person differently. Do your homework. It is what it is, so we have to live with it, As the saying goes, “I have MS, but MS does not have me.” Be strong.

This is a good video. I've had MS for 31 years, I was diagnosed when I was 19 years old. I was a sophomore in college so essentially I have had it most of my adult life. I've had some pretty serious setbacks or flare-ups or exacerbations, as they call them. It has been about eight years since my last flare-up and really I have been able to do just about everything that I have wanted to do in life.

Just diagnosed officially last month. It's a terrible, scary disease. 4 months ago I had severe severe optic neuritis in one eye - my vision in my left eye went black, I couldn't even see my hand if I held it in front of my face. It is still after all this time no where near back to what it was (i had good vision prior). Now everything is covered in a heavy fog, I can still barely see and everything is black and white. I am not even 30 yet and also male so this scares me quite a bit. It has destroyed who I thought I was and has left me fearful of the future. Thank you for making this video - I wish you all the best :)

I have severe, terrible anxiety about this type of thing. My doctor said he suspects MS from my symptoms so of course I had to research it. Your honesty actually makes me feel better. I watched this entire video. Thank you!

Thanks for making this video Will. Going on 12 years with MS myself, take it a day at a time brother.

My oldest son has MS & your saying all the things he has spoke about...the same symptoms , experiences . He is 53 & got it late in life also..... I'm so thankful for you telling your story & how informative & up front you have been..... You have helped me understand & comprehend much more.... He explains the same problems you have gone through... I'm going to have him watch this & I'm positive he will be relieved to listen to someone that can relate to him. I just want to comment about your allergy problem & I found by recording everything I eat that made me ill that most everything now days has SOY in it & SOY makes me SICK... Physically sick, stomach, etc Also gluten & MILK I'm just saying read about what they have done to the food we eat that's making us sick... I'm 70 & I went from barely walking, stomach pain, arthritis pain, diabetes etc. I recorded everything I ate & figured it out myself. Now I'm rid of diabetes, lifting weights, exercise daily. Soy is also in VITAMIN D , tuna fish has soy, I have to read every Meds label etc. It's used as a filler in all our food & it's killing us... We have auto immune disease in our family... You are an angel of truth for my son that he is NOT alone in his pain. Thank you so much for taking the time & putting yourself out there for everyone to see! I pray you receive the miracle you so deserve & be healed in Jesus Name! Amen to you & your family . Stay STRONG & GOD BLESS! I'll be watching for your videos!

Thanks for posting this video Will. My daughter has MS.I totally understand the ups and downs of dealing with this disease. Glad to see you are doing relatively well. All the BEST Will!

Best wishes Will - I love your channel. Thanks for being so open about an illness that must be really scary and unpredictable.

Omg I hear you! I have sooo many parallel symptoms and experiences as you. I was diagnosed with MS 2 years ago and transverse myelitis 11 years ago. I’m a classical guitarist and MS devastated my right hand as well giving me a whole host of other horrible symptoms. My hand took a year but is 80% better now. Thank you for sharing your story. I particularly appreciate your scathing remarks about the bullshit remedies people try to push on you. They drive me crazy. I wish you all the very best. ❤

Best wishes for you, Will. We are your family. Whatever direction you decide to go, we will always be with you.

Thanks for telling your story. Hope you find all the solutions for management. Best guitar channel and hope you're around for a long time.

Thank you for opening up like this. Been dealing with some weird health problems for years now and the specialists just pointed me to neurologist to get evaluated for MS. You brought me some comfort. Hopefully it's not my case and I'm sorry it is yours. Thank you again for sharing.

There is no video that I have spent as much time with as yours. It kept me engaged from the beginning to the end, and I genuinely appreciate how frank you were in explaining your MS experience. I was diagnosed In 2000, just before COVID. I used that COVID shutdown period to try to better understand what the heck just happened to me. I'm still going back and forth with my neurologist to find the best combination of meds, and I used supplements like crazy.. after one of my worst episodes last weekend, I can say that I feel normal today and doing everything I can to stay that way. In short, I found your description of your experience fascinating, I honestly just sat there and watched the whole thing, and I can't begin to explain how happy I am that you were willing to take the risk of sharing. Enjoy the rest of your day. Stacey

It's very good to hear your story in plain everyday American language. It's the best video testimony I've heard.

My sister who is 55 was just diagnosed with ms and out of all the videos I watched, yours is the most helpful. Thank you so much. What a big help.

Gotta say it - there is NOTHING better than a first hand experience story by someone else going through this. Thank you so very much, Will. The medical industry is so ill-equipped. Makes me crazy. We must help ourselves these days, in the most NATURAL ways possible.

PPMS HERE, 39 MALE IN A POWER CHAIR. STAY STRONG EVERYONE.

Best wishes Will. This video will help many people. I feel sure of that.

Thanks for taking the time to share your story. I wish you all the very best. You’ve helped my understanding a lot.

I've been watching you for awhile. I know of your health problems. My Prayers for you my friend. Such a Talented guy! You do not deserve this hard ship in your life. I enjoy your videos. My prayers to you Buddy.

You're been though a lot in a little time man. I feel for you. All my best wishes and a big thanks for sharing this.

Good video Will,I really hope you keep on the up and up! Take care my friend!

Thank you for being real in the video & for reply. Greatly appreciate it

Out of all the great MS stories. Yours really touched me! Thank you for sharing. Pure honesty with a bit of humour! I hope you are managing the best you can. I’m waiting for my spinal tap. I’m scared!

Great description of having MS and the meds.

17 just been diagnosed and I was freaking worried I’ll never continue to play guitar but I see you have MS and play guitar. It gives me hope.

I am so sorry to hear this. Thank you for making this video! I wish you the best!

Very informative, direct to the point no BS. Wishing you all the best and health and future.

Man, I appreciate this video so much. I was diagnosed a month ago. Dr’s didn’t explain anything just told me I had to take meds. I feel so scared alone and confused. I’m a single mom and can’t “take a day off” even when I feel like I’m gonna die. But I appreciate this video so much. You just speak the truth no B.S and that is something I haven’t been able to find anywhere

Hey there, great video. It helped me understand MS when I was first diagnosed. I wished everyone around me would see this video so they would understand what it is. I just started my own vlog; The Silver Lining - living with MS to help people understand what it is and to leave something behind for my kids who are still to young to understand what is wrong with me. One step at a time is my new moto !

You are like a breath of fresh air! finally I found a real person who explains our condition well! I've been on Keto for three weeks and I'm much better. Mercury in the Mediterranean sea is the cause of the Sardinian problem! I drink a lot of water, coffee, Tea , and almond milk. I eat a huge mixed salad with fried red onions and portobello mushrooms in olive oil every day. I sprinkle blue cheese stuffed olives on my salad too. Plus I eat lots of eggs and cold meats, rotisserie chicken etc.

So sorry to hear this sad news Will. Thank you for sharing the information, and God bless you.

Wonderful honesty and openness. Thank you for this. My 29 years old daughter was diagnosed last year so we are as a family supporting her through it. Much love to you honey x

Thank you will for explaining what having ms is like I’m a nurse but learned a lot from this video Best wishes to you and your family

Thank you so much for this video. I was just diagnosed with MS and your information was extremely helpful.

Thanks for sharing your story. That's a very, very generous thing. Much respect.

As someone who has had a few symptoms over the last couple years, but no MS correlation/diagnosis yet, I found this video extremely helpful and informative on what types of things to look out for moving forward. Thank you, Will.

Thanks for this video. Flying home to be with my brother, who is going through the testing phase. This answered so many questions.

thanks for sharring Will. im really sorry that you have to go through this shit.. cheers from denmark

That was the best the best documentary I’ve watched thank you!!!!! You gave me some piece of mind

Thank you so much for sharing your story and being totally honest! I would love to see an update video on how you’re doing 😊

Appreciated hearing the details of this horrible condition that I knew of but embarrassingly, I didn't understand . Wishing you all the very best in your life and keep up the great work .

SO GLAD that I found you and this video! Real talk about a real disease. THANK YOU!

Hey, cool to hear your story about the disease. You talk about it so easily and confidently -- very cool. Well done, man

I was diagnosed with M.S. in ‘98, It’s funny how it works, I still lead a pretty normal life, but my oldest son has it and is a little worse than I am, it’s great seeing videos like this explaining it. Thanks for the video

Best wishes Will. I hope we can learn so much more from you!

You are helping many people, very helpful video. Love you man.

Ty for the video and education of it. I known 3 people in my life with it and still didnt understand it. Wish you a long happy life Will

Thank you Will for making this video. This is the best one I've seen out on YT re MS and symptoms. This was so helpful. Praying for your health...

Oh man I'm so sorry to hear about this. The way you described how your symptoms started sounded absolutely terrifying, but you told the story so brilliantly and calmly, and you are obviously so much improved from that fog currently, that I'm sure you've really helped and given hope to so many people who are newly diagnosed and in a panic about it being a degenerative disease and wondering whether things will ever improve. All the best to you, man.

Thank you for your video, I haven't been diagnosed yet but ms is one of the things my neurologist is saying it could be. You made your video in a way that is real and relatable.

Thanks for posting this Will, hope you're doing well!

Very interesting!!! We have our disagreements, but man to man, I wish you the best and good health!!!

I wish the best for you. I’m being sent to a neurologist soon to be tested for MS. I’m trying to collect as much information as I can, so thank you for making this video. I know it can’t be an easy thing to talk about. My daughter has Tourette’s syndrome so I’m a huge advocate for educating the population on chronic illnesses. It took us a few years to have her diagnosed because I just didn’t know enough about it. So I applaud you for telling your story. I wish you a good, long life with the best quality of life you can have. Although I’m scared of being told I have MS, I’ll be happy to have answers. I’m just so tired of being so damn tired all the time! I can only fight it so long before my body takes over and forces me to sleep (regardless of where I am or what I’m doing). How do you explain to people when you have no diagnosis yet? “I swear I didn’t stay out all night partying and I’m not a lazy ass; I just have some weird unknown sleep issues...” rarely does that go over well! There are points when I start to feel like a hypochondriac. Anyways, thank you for making this video. I really appreciate all the information.

Howdy Dr.Will! Sorry to hear you're suffering with such devastating health issues, but I must say I have only the deepest RESPECT for you, having the courage to share such a personal matter in a public forum, so that others may benefit from your experiences! And, it if it makes you feel any better, I once lived in a low-rent housing development, and one of the reasons I chose the place was because I HATE screen doors, and this place had none. So, one morning, I got up late for work, rushing out the front door & damn near ran into a SCREEN DOOR - that's right; maintenance had installed a screen door on my apartment while I slept! So, there ya go - you're not the only victim of screen door mayhem! Cheers, Bro! Keep these awesome videos comin' & I'll keep watching!

Thank you for sharing your experience and personal journey. I wish you all the best. 🧡

I don't comment, ever, but I want to say thank you for this video. I haven't been diagnosed yet. But I've got a good idea that's what's going on. The speech and brain fog is the toughest for me. I work in a fast paced environment and can't seem to keep up. I have 3 young daughters and am a single mom. I'm just hoping I can find a way to keep myself together for at least 10 more years. Get my girls through college. But, besides all that, thank you for sharing this with us all.

Thank you for this. I’m in the process of being “officially “ diagnosed for MS right now. Already have the negative blood tests. About to do the lumbar and cervical MRI and EMG testing. But have had two doctors say I have this. Have ignored the symptoms for a year now. But my symptom have gotten worse. Even now writing this thank god for auto correct.

Very informative and very well said on all things. It truly is a process as ever case is an individual one. Just told possible MS after MRI. Have "small cell eshemic disease" already, Im 50 so. Thank you for taking the time to share your story. Helped to shed light on my situation. Blessings!

Thanks for the honest testimony. Stay Strong!

I have MS, I was diagnosed in 2015. After the initial nightmare I have been feeling pretty much back to normal. But now I'm starting to have symptoms of relapse, and honestly I am terrified. Nobody understands, my job doesn't understand, my friends don't understand. I feel so alone.

Was just diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia but I'm pretty sure that when I get back under an MRI we'll find that it's actually MS behind it. Your video was super helpful and I'll probably watch it again. I'm really struggling with brain fog and losing words at the moment and extreme fatigue ... driving me crazy. Good to see you still living a productive life with it. Keep up the good work (and do another video about it sometime!). Thanks.

Thank you for this video , this was the most informative video I have watched so far. I am going through the testing process now with all of the systems you described in your video. I could just cry right now because I am so depressed but after watching your video I have a better understanding of this disease and I will have a better attitude as i move forward. Thank you for your sharing your experiences with everyone!!

Thank you so much for sharing your life with MS 🙏🏼 Wishing you all the best ever 🙏🏼❤️

So helpful, thank you so much

Great explanation was diagnosed myself with RR at 37 woke up one day and my vision was messed up. Yeah no fun but it’s not a life sentence.... ur spinal tap story is exactly what happened to me...eat healthy and keep positive. Guitar really help me through all the negative thoughts initially. Still got a 8 and 10 yr old to raise and my daughter to walk down the isle someday... i too have lesions in my brain, spine wish i was as comfortable talking about it as you are... Thanks for sharing

Gelvin, thank you for sharing your story. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1987. I was 39 at the time. I was having the classic symptoms of MS. So my doctor sent me to have a MRI. Which came back positive for lesions. I never had a spinal tap. But was sent to UCLA for a few tests. One showed that I have lesions in my spine. I was relapsing remitting up until 5 years ago and now I'm primary progressive. Which they can only tell by my relapses and symptoms. I'm unable to have a MRI because I have a pacemaker. I've probably tried every injection they have; so now I get an infusion every 6 months. ❤

Thanks for your testimony. Very inspirational!

Good video Will! My best friend has MS and I've had to learn about it the hard way. He's been diagnosed with it for at least the past 10 years (he's 32) and has to walk with a cane, is losing his teeth, can't feel his hands or feet, and is blind in one eye (Still one hell of a guitar player). Good luck with everything Will!

Will, this is a wonderful video. Thank you so much. I am glad you got off of those damaging drugs. I was diagnosed in 1987 at the age of 33. When I had my daughter in 1992 I plummeted and was incontinent and wheelchair bound by 1994. I stopped seeing a neurologist when my daughter was two years old. I have secondary progressive ms bur I am lucky for I do not often feel tired or have pain. My main problems are constant UTI's due to catheterisation. I nearly died two years ago with uro sepsis with was really grim and has made me terrified of it happening again. Luckily I have bounced back! Like you I had terrible depression and had to see a shrink and had to have a psychiatric nurse, I am on SSRI's but was lucky as it worked for me. I was totally suicidel it was terrible, even worse than he ms. I felt like a useless wife and mother who could not even carry my child but I got through it and still managed to take her to local activities. When she was five I went to adult education and opened my mind. I wrote a book and became secretary of my local writer circle for six years until my husband became ill. He died in 2016 of dementia. I am now starting to get over it and keep myself busy by making jeweiry, paintinit too and other crafts which I never thought I could do! It keeps me going. My symptoms in the beginning was also optic nueritis and I had to wear an eye patch for a while, they called me captain birdseye at work! I knew I had ms because my sister had it art age 16, died age 44. My mum had it and died about 15 years ago, my aunt had it too and passed. My younger brother had it too and passed 5 years ago and now my nephew has it and he is only 50years old and has the worst kind and may have Parkinson's as well! I wonder if there are any other families like mine? We do seem to be cursed. Thankfully this is rare. I hope that you will keep well and strong. I don't blame you for not trusting big pharma. I am sure I would be in a much worse state if I had continued to see my neurologist. I too have had people telling that I should try this, that and the other and I agree, they have shit for brains. Often while out shopping in my power chair people will start telling me about their aches and pains and then go sprinting across the road to catch a bus! Anyway, I am sorry for the long comment but it is good to be able to talk with others that understand.

Thank you for the video!!!! Good things I hope come your way and healing .❤!!

This is the first video of yours that I have seen and I am very appreciative for it. I was just diagnosed 3 days ago. It stinks but I think I have a semi-level head on my shoulders with a great support network. Your first episode story was remarkably similar to mine. Pain and numbness in the left foot. Weird brain fog. Then, ultimately, optic neuritis in my left eye. As I write this comment, my left eye still feels like it has Vaseline smeared all over it. I am in medical device sales, selling to the VA. I work with Biomed on a daily basis. The similarities are remarkable. Thank you for sharing your story as this was the best and most straightforward take on this whole situation. The veteran in me just wants to suck it up and move on to the next mission. The best advice that you gave is to give yourself grace, embrace the suck, stay strong, and enjoy life along the way. Again, thanks for the video, it made a true impact. I am going to have my wife watch it again with me so that she can understand your real life account.

LOVE you man!

Just diagnosed at er after it caused me to have a stroke. Doctors would not listen when I kept telling them what I was going thru. Last year diagnosed with RA . Now this past week had the MS and stroke diagnosis. Thanks for sharing ur story it helped me understand how it affects others

Very interesting and informative video

I have learned more from you about MS in fifty minutes than I have from a dozen experts. Excellent advise about quack healers. Thanks for your honesty and openness.

Thank you so much, Will, for making this video! I have been suffering with a multitude of "random" , seemingly unrelated symptoms for so many years now. I have gone to countless dr's, practitioners, physical therapists, etc, and not one of them has ever been able to help me, or to even give me any kind of diagnosis. They want to treat each symptom as a separate thing, but I have suspected for a long time now that they are somehow connected and interrelated. A friend recently suggested to me that perhaps it's MS, and I started doing some research on it a few days ago, as I had heard of it, but didn't really know what it was, or what kind of symptoms it caused. From what I now know about MS, it could possibly be what has been causing me so much pain and trouble over all these years. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that there's much in the way of treatment for it, other than the drugs, which Will said were such bad news for him! But I still would appreciate having a solid diagnosis, just so I know exactly what I'm dealing with, if it really is MS.

I'm sorry to hear that you have it. My mom was diagnosed in the early 70s at around 40 and they knew much less about it then than they do now. There were no "MS" meds back then, just muscle relaxers and pain killers. She survived until 2009. She had the first kind you mentioned, I think they called the spells "exacerbations." It then turned into primary/progressive. As bad as she was she lived to be 77, having had it for 37 years or so. I remember what she went through and learning how weird the disease. But she was tough and never complained. I pray a cure or better medicine will be found. God bless you.

Really really good video. Excellent video. Thankyou for sharing.

Thank you so much for being so honest. This helps me. What a brave person you are! May God be with you in this journey. I think I have MS too, am trying to get a diagnosis.

Find an Upper Cervical chiropractor! Getting checked regularly and adjusted when needed can help you immensely! I would be happy to hand select one I'd trust my family with. I'd just need to know the town you're in.

I know it's been 3 years since you recorded this video and I hope you're doing well today. Thank you for your honesty as far as diet and lifestyle. I was diagnosed over 4 years ago but I know I've had it longer. It's been a slow and steady decline but I'm still fighting and yes I'm still walking not great but I'm doing it. Take care brother.

Thank you so much. I actually did have my legs buckle under me with a new relapse. This happened after a prolonged period of remission, and I had almost thought I was never going to have a bad one again. Wrong! That was about 2018, and I have never got my full functioning back after that. What helped me more than anything was a good physical therapist. Now, I am in a foreign country, where people like this actually come to the house and help you, and this was a God send. I was able to lose the walker and walk on my own again, even if it was slower than before. For this, I am grateful. One step at a time. So, I totally agree with you on everything. Take care. We are none of us getting out of here alive, and it is people like you who make life a little more tolerable.

Awesome video! Just diagnosed w/ MS....Hope your doing well. Ps you should make more videos. You have a great personality & your funny.

You have really inspired me to make a change in my life. I was diagnosed last year, with the same kind of story, new shoes, I was on holiday though, and my feet went numb, then my legs, until it spread up to my bra line!!! My MRI showed up 7quite big lesions, and 1 at the base of my skull, (there you go, about of brain fog, can't remember what it's called) also, 2 in my spinal cord.I (as you refered) I am A Lucky Bastard too! Thank you for posting this, you really switched something on in my brain. Take Care of Yourself.

I have a friend that has it and she suffers bad with it . MS is bad stuff , wish they knew more and were able to treat it .

i agree with some of the things you say great sharing good video

Watching this video makes me sad. Stay strong, Will! Sending you lots of hugs.

Thanks for sharing. I was diagnosed May 21, 2019. You were very helpful for when I start all my appointments this week. Not sure my type yet. I have no pain just a numb hand and left leg is heavy, it buckles when I walk. I know that I will get through this one day at a time. Once again thank you.

Thank you for doing this. It’s helped me feel better. The fatigue 😩 I keep calling myself idle but I just can’t most days.

Thanks for sharing ❤ really appreciated your transparency and honesty. The part about being tired and pushing yourself to complete tasks. I really needed to hear that. I beat myself up about being lazy. But we are quite the opposite! All the best. God Bless

Thank you for sharing your story. It was helpful.

Also your advice about being very Careful about medical treatment is so true You can’t take anything as gospel when it’s your health they’re talking about

Wish I could do the antianxiety and depression meds. I get all kind of crazy on them ,just ready to tear someone apart for looking at me wrong. I'm 55 and recently diagnosed. The VA has looked back at my folder and thinking I may have had it since late teens or 20s. Thanks for this vidio this is the closest anyone has described. To what is happening. The crying for no reason at all freaks me out. Be sitting at dinner with friends and family ,all happy and good and crying my eyes out. Over 20 years with my company ,though they have been told what is going on, it has came back to me that I must have got on drugs is why I dont work anymore. It has isolated me a lot.

Man, that was so insightful and useful I wrote down all your tips, as I will of course immediately forget them. lol :) THANKYOU x

Good video! Terri had a brain aneurysm which caused the paralysis. Just watch a video as I am studying ms...I have MS...remitting type . Thank you for sharing your story!

In the 80’s I went numb down one side when I was in the shower. Had a few basic tests and the doctors said it could be MS, if I never get any more symptoms, it’s not, I didn’t, so great. Four years later my father was actually diagnosed with progressive MS at 60, he had it for 15 years before he passed away, but became pretty disabled and in a wheelchair very quickly. A couple of years ago my nephew was diagnosed with MS in his 20s. His is the relapsing type and seems to be doing OK the moment. It does make me wonder if it is genetic.

“The medication sometimes is scarier than the goddamn disease!” PREACH! I was on Tecfidera which was horrific. Now I take Ocrevus which I just pray isn’t eating my body from the inside. I’m only 26 but sometimes I feel 3x my age. I hate this disease.

We love you, Will.

Thank you very much for your video. It greatly helps me appreciate all the more how some people might be suffering. I sure hope better medicines are found & your MS goes & stays in total remission. Please know I feel for you.