Multiple sclerosis has given me plenty of reasons to change my mind

There are many people who simply cannot admit when they’re wrong. For those who actually can, changing an opinion or belief when faced with new evidence may be even harder. I wouldn’t know, personally, because I’ve never been wrong about anything ever.

If you believe that, I also have a cure for multiple sclerosis (MS) in my basement, which is guaranteed to reverse 10 years of neurological damage.

That stung a little bit to even joke about. I don’t have a cure, or even a basement, for that matter. I’ve also been wrong plenty of times, and I’m proud to say that, for the most part, I can admit it, and more importantly, change my opinion. Just looking back at four-plus years of my columns here on Multiple Sclerosis News Today is like reading a chronological history of how my opinion on this disease has changed since I was diagnosed. There are times when it could have, or should have, changed faster, but I’ll blame that on my inherent stubbornness.

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I’ve gotten better at being wrong

I’ve written before that I didn’t know much, if anything, about MS prior to having it myself. The first person I met with the disease had lived with it for more than 20 years and used a cane to compensate for foot drop. I remember breathing a sigh of relief because I honestly thought that was as bad as it could get. I had to admit I was wrong and change my opinion when I learned that everyone has a different experience and different symptoms.

That lesson was really driven home when my diagnosis changed to primary progressive MS. I wasn’t thrilled with the original diagnosis either, but I had been looking forward to maybe having one of those remissions I’d been hearing about.

Shortly after learning about the new diagnosis, I was comforted by the idea that every day would be the same and I would never have to deal with a relapse. I had to alter that belief when I experienced my first “bad” week. It’s not technically a relapse, but people with progressive MS can occasionally have periods when symptoms abruptly worsen, followed by a recovery.

There are many medications that can be taken, either on- or off-label, to treat those symptoms. Over the years, I tried a number of different remedies for spasticity, fatigue, brain fog, and bladder control. For some unexplained reason, admitting to myself that something is not working and either trying something new or simply discontinuing it has been hard. I think it’s because each time I try something, I build up a certain amount of hope that it will be the perfect solution. Realistic hope is a good thing, but it also means accepting that something might not work and that I might need to change my opinion.

I suppose with MS, admitting when beliefs, ideas, and perceptions need to be changed, and altering them accordingly, is unavoidable because MS changes lives.

I’ve gotten better at admitting I’m wrong and changing my opinion based on new evidence, but there’s room for improvement. I can accept those changes, but I still don’t like being forced into them by MS.

Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.