9 Years Since Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis - My MS Story

Details on diagnosis, optic neuritis, nerve pain, my anti-inflammatory diet, and LIVING WELL with MS.
I'm also on:
✯ Instagram ➠ / metaspencer
✯ Facebook ➠ / metaspencer
✯ Amazon shop: www.amazon.com/shop/metaspencer
✯ My other KZbin channel: / metaspencer

[@EvenSoItIsWell]

“Made a job of de-stressing my life.” Preach!! Spencer you were one of the first “My MS Story” videos that I watched. I appreciate you taking your health into your own hands and how you live your life in general. I am so glad you are doing well!

[@SpencersMSStory]

And it's always so great for ME to see your thoughtful work here on KZbin. We're making out way through this disease my friend :)

[@s0phian0va]

Your story has been the most inspiring for me! I took Ocrevus for two years when I first got diagnosed, but after establishing lifestyle and diet changes, I am off of meds now and doing well with no new lesions or symptoms! Thank you Spencer!

[@SpencersMSStory]

It's so cool to hear about how you moved off the meds. Good job! Ocrevus is one of the meds I considered back in the day, and I've known a lot of people on it. Keep doing what you're doing as it sounds like it's working out!

[@LIVE-9]

Это работает. Лекарства - no.Вам здоровья❤

[@mardaripaul5382]

Your approach is a very good one. Are you still on the Swank diet? I have MS since 1997 (I was 3) and was diagnosed correctly, but then MS was discarded because "it resolved fast". During the years, they kept saying that I have herniated discs, probably sarcoidosis, depression, maybe psychiatric disorders, etc. I'm the opposite version of you. I ate fast food, had a sedentary life, and smoked maybe 3 packs a day. The MRI is something out of a nightmare. There were probably as many as 100 lesions on the brain (T1 and T2) and 15 on the spine; some of them disappeared, and some of them regressed in size on both the brain and the spine. However, EDSS is 1.5 (because of a decrease in left eye visual accuity from the last relapse). I'll switch to an antiinflammatory diet, and I'll also finish translating into Romanian the "Best Bet Diet" book, so other people impacted by this disease should know what to do. Hugs!

[@SpencersMSStory]

1997 was when it started for me, too -- but I'm much older. Hang in there my friend! Yes I'm still following a strict anti-inflammatory diet, but not the Swank diet. Swank just focused on avoiding saturated fat. Be well friend

[@forevershann9129]

I’m shan and im 30 i just found out that i have MS !!! And i dont know how i feel i had all the symptoms for 1 year and i didnt know what was going on with my body but today may 8 /24 it’s confirmed i have it and im lost i am glad i found you page because you motivate me to change my life completely in a positive way !! Keep dropping these videos !!!

[@SpencersMSStory]

Hey Shan! That's some tough news to take in and digest ... but I think that over time it can become a whole lot less shocking and overwhelming. Stay positive! There are many of us who have had MS for decades and are doing GREAT without drugs. If you haven't looked into anti-inflammatory diets for MS you might find it interesting. Hang in there! You've got this :)

[@Billster1955]

So glad you are still doing well brother.

[@metaspencer]

thanks buddy!

[@klarastepankova9757]

Hi Spencer, I am 29 and I have been diagnosed 1 year ago. I have two very small lesions on the brain. I had my MRI scans last week and there is no progression at all, completely the same like one year ago. I started following Matt Embry diet plan, exercising, supplementing vitamin D. Even though I am on Copaxone I guess exercising, taking vitamin D, less stress and eating anti inflammatory is the key and playing very big role on the disease. .As you said there is some symptoms because of the lesions like tingling or burning skin,but that just happened very sporadically.Thank you for your videos,because of them I know I am not the only one person with MS. Greetings from the Czech republic.

[@SpencersMSStory]

It sounds like you're doing well! Following that diet makes sense to me, and it certainly can't hurt your health. At 29 you have many wonderful years ahead of you so keep that inflammation down. Be well friend! (I haven't been to Czech Republic since 1992 ... but what a great visit that was)

[@6ftS]

I'm always very glad you are doing so well, buddy.

[@SpencersMSStory]

Thanks buddy! nice of ya to say

[@Lorrainerandall]

I just wanted to say thank you for the videos. I have been on a similar path and came to the same conclusions. I am 63, fully functional, and have some residual damage (ankle and leg weakness) that I am working on correcting. The naysayers are everywhere. I was infected with EBV when I was 16, symptomatic since. I have my life back, but it took a lot of work. Best Bet Diet, Perlmutter and the MS genius, Terry Wahls. No DMT--but the doctors can really put on the pressure. Stable MRI over 8 years, despite covid. I might have been interested in DMT if they had first discussed a neck issue, health, diet, sauna and exercise. Our medical system is a debacle. Thanks for standing up for lifestyle and health changes--hopefully it will encourage others to take charge of their health.

[@SpencersMSStory]

wow, so much of what you say resonates with my own perspectives and experiences! oh how I know about that pressure from the docs you describe -- and yet they never start with diet, stress, or any basic "health" issues. Anyway, great to hear from a fellow traveller. Keep positive!

[@Lorrainerandall]

Thanks again for the post. One day I would like to see an action plan for people diagnosed with MS. For the rest of my life I will be fixing the damage that could have been prevented. There's a real cost to the lack of action.

[@anabelena509]

Once again Spencer, great to see you doing fantastic! I really enjoy your videos, hopefully you decide to make them more often in the future😄

[@SpencersMSStory]

Thanks for that! much appreciated :)

[@ducdanjou7885]

I love these vids and I love even more that you are doing so well.

[@SpencersMSStory]

Thanks Curtis! Always great seeing you on here doing your thing, as well :)

[@SANDS78]

Hell Yeah! Love ya bro!

[@SpencersMSStory]

Thanks buddy! Got my moto out this week and was thankful (as always) that you encouraged me to jump on that wild beast! looks like you've had some good travels recently :)

[@SANDS78]

@@SpencersMSStory Been having a blast!every fortunate and thankful to be where I am at right now. Perfect riding weather too.

[@stevesalvidge219]

I am coming up on six years post diagnosis. Thankful for other voices who are talking about to.

[@SpencersMSStory]

Six years! That's a good long while so I'm hoping things have evened out for you. Hang in

[@tedgendron2372]

Hey Spencer, I look forward to your annual instalment, thank you for doing this. I was diagnosed almost 20 years ago now, and while I have had a few more issues the last couple of years, I feel pretty fortunate. I view MS as a blessing. While I would rather not have it, I am reminded each day to enjoy the things I am able to do (which is virtually everything). Keep making your videos my friend, it is always a highlight for me to see how well you are doing.

[@SpencersMSStory]

I appreciate your perspective soooo much about MS being a blessing. It took me a long long time to realize that in many ways I'm better off with the disease. What a strange concept! Keep on moving forward my friend, and thanks for the note

[@__Wanderer]

Great to hear you're doing well Spencer :) Think you're doing incredible for 9 years and no relapses! The changes you have made are making a big impact - low stress, healthy food and exercise all working their magic :) Sadly my first relapse left me blind in my left eye permanently - came out of the blue with no other symptoms prior (my biggest fear now is also getting optic neuritis in my other eye / leaving me with full blindness - not quite sure what I would do in life if that were the case). I was rather stressed at the time and had covid 3 weeks earlier so suspect a combination of the two triggered the event. Also hoping to do as well as you are! I am only 2 years into my journey...

[@SpencersMSStory]

Good hearing from ya even though that's a rough story! I've heard from others who have had doozy exacerbations like that one that knocked out your eye ... and then sometimes an exacerbation can be relatively mild. Who knows for certain what determines the severity of an attack??? One thing is for certain: we've gotta try to avoid any flare up whatsoever. Two years in means it's all fairly fresh for ya. Keep moving forward!

[@pavlinajirankova7382]

Hi Spencer, I'm really happy you are doing well! I'm not diagnosed but have had many ms symptoms for years (tingling, heavy feet, dizziness, blurred peripheral vision at points just some of them), on and off. I was relieved last year after MRI of brain and spine that I'm apparently 'ok' and don't have ms but i know something is definitely creeping at me. I'm also eating anti inflammatory diet, I'm active etc so I'm hoping that i can somehow reverse the damage in my body, perhaps even before a diagnosis! I know about how important a gut health is and so I'm focusing on fixing my long term gut issues. It's not an easy fix but i hope I'll get there soon. I am feeling encouraged by your videos. Thank you so much for that!

[@SpencersMSStory]

It sounds like you've found lots of information out there, which is half the battle! or maybe more than half :) Yet lacking a solid diagnosis can be so frustrating (as I know all too well). Hang in and stay as healthy as possible despite the failings on the medical professional side of things :)

[@pavlinajirankova7382]

​@@SpencersMSStorythank you for your reply. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) i stopped waiting for medical system to help me. I've waited for my first neuro appointment for 6 months, this was classified as urgent appointment. Now as they said I'm basically "well" as nothing was found so far on my brain, all the GPs in my clinic are treating me like hypochondriac whenever i come with a new problem; and my next neuro appointment is next year, meaning it will be two years from the first appointment (apparently a normal waiting times in the UK now). It forced me doing lots of research on my own and make a treatment plan by myself. I've found out about LDN which i want to try and see if that could be helpful for now. I'm just sorry for all the people with these strange symptoms which are being sent back home with no result and treated like it's all possibly in their head😢

[@SpencersMSStory]

@@pavlinajirankova7382 those impossibly long waits are so familiar to me ... and crazy! taking things into your own hands might be the best thing you can do

[@denisenj7648]

Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@SpencersMSStory]

We've gotta keep moving forward, ya know! :) Be well

[@deljay1840]

Excellent video! Keep up the good work and keep spreading the message

[@SpencersMSStory]

Thanks friend!

[@LIVE-9]

Получила серию стрессов и когда конфликт решился, то заработала обострение( выздоровление, с точки зрения Германской Новлй Медицины). Так что всем здоровья. Просто не попадайте в СТРЕССЫ. СПЕНСЕР,спасибо за видео.❤❤❤

[@SpencersMSStory]

Да, стресс может вызвать множество проблем со здоровьем. Держись, друг!

[@LIVE-9]

@@SpencersMSStory Благодарю.♥️♥️♥️Тебе здоровья. Онемение постепенно исчезает без сильных таблеток. Витамины и хорошее питание помогают справится. Все будет ok🙂

[@SpencersMSStory]

@@LIVE-9 Да, в самом деле

[@LIVE-9]

@@SpencersMSStory Thank you.🌺

[@brandicalhoun5132]

Spencer.. how did you stop freaking out after your diagnosis? I am so scared and I can’t calm down. Constant anxiety

[@SpencersMSStory]

Don't rush yourself -- it can take TIME to come to terms with any big life change like that. The thing that helped me the most, and I'm not sure if this will be as meaningful to you, was simply realizing that it's not a life ender and that there are sooooo many people living well with this disease. For me, thinking "It's over" was the thing that made me freak out and when I recovered my optimism I calmed down. Are you don't the important things to stay chill like exercising, eating super healthily, sleeping, minimizing stress, etc? Let me know what works!

[@brandicalhoun5132]

I just started on the wahls diet.. I have been doing guided meditations, and breathing exercises. I’m so exhausted and my legs are stiff and tingling for a month now.. it’s hard to get out of bed. I cry a lot

[@SpencersMSStory]

@@brandicalhoun5132 that diet is a great step! give it time to kick in, make sure your vitamin D levels are up there, and stay positive. You've got a lot of living to do!

[@brandicalhoun5132]

Thank you so much❤️ you have inspired me today

[@jasonc5289]

Now, here's what I know. "We" aren't first. "We" aren't fifth, tenth or even 25th. I read that "we" ranked 54th in 2017. Think about that. In 2021, "we" ranked 37th and 38th in 2023. Real studies. It's weird. I went to same place as Jack Osborne. Like I said, it's so weird.

[@SpencersMSStory]

Who's the "we" you're talking about here? I don't follow you exactly

[@jasonc5289]

@@SpencersMSStory "We" being the United States. It's beyond weird. "We" have the cure to many, many "diseases". In America, not so much. I suppose "we're" still testing. At least that's what the former head of FDA says, who now works for Pfizer. Like I said, it's beyond weird.

[@jasonc5289]

Oh, and the study from 2017 where "we", inexplicaby, ranked 54th, had Macedonia in 55th. Macedonia and then the United States.