MS symptoms, especially in the early stages, can be seemingly “invisible”. No, I am not in a wheelchair…. and I wake up grateful every day that I am not, but that doesn’t mean I feel “great” every single day. I struggle with things that a “normal” 28 year old does not.

Fatigue. I thought I understood fatigue until the onset of my MS symptoms. This fatigue is different. It hits hard, and when it hits I’m not sleepy, but I can not for the life of me move my body. It feels paralyzing. The thought of getting off the couch seems close to impossible. My limbs feel heavy. I’ve noticed this hits me harder if I go days on end without giving myself a break. For example, when I’m away from home traveling several days in a row, or when I have plans several days in a row. My body just needs a “break” sometimes.

Weakness. Months prior to my onset of MS in 2019, I went to Orange Theory workout classes daily. I remember thinking “why am I getting weaker”? I was having to decrease my weights and I couldn’t understand it. I also struggle really hard with going up the stairs. I have strong legs. I workout daily. But going up the stairs feels almost impossible sometimes. My legs just feel “heavy”. Living in a 3 story townhome makes this even more dreadful, but I try to remain optimistic & know it keeps me strong!

Heat sensitivity. Don’t get me started on this one. I live in southeast Texas and it is H-O-T down here 11/12 months of the year. I’ve learned to be more mindful of the heat. For example, when tailgating for some Aggie Football I might need to drink more water than beer now. LOL. I recently purchased a cooling vest after overheating during a hike in Austin this summer. More to come on that once I’ve tested it out.

Nerve pain & numbness. Over the last few years I’ve noticed that scratching an itch, or being tickled, hurts. Its weird. Doesn’t last long, but it doesn’t feel good. My hands also frequently “fall asleep” or go numb temporarily.

I’m not here to complain. I’ve accepted my fate. I take medication for my fatigue and power through each day. These are just a few things those with MS might go through silently. If you are wondering how to “help”, just be patient with us. Don’t gripe that we are walking too slow, don’t tell us to “suck it up” when it’s hot outside, or to “just get up” when we are fatigued. We wish it were that easy, but it’s not.