A woman with multiple sclerosis was misdiagnosed for 13 years and was told by her doctor that she should “exercise” or make a “mixed drink” to ease her severe pain.
Lindsay Cohen Karp, 39, a children’s book author from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, said she has suffered from “debilitating fatigue, movement disorders and pain” for more than a decade.
Her endurance was so low that she eventually “couldn’t walk”.
After spending 13 years searching for answers, she was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018. Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the immune system erodes the protective covering of nerves, disrupting communication between the brain and body.
A woman with multiple sclerosis was misdiagnosed for 13 years and was told by her doctor that she should “exercise” or make a “mixed drink” to ease her severe pain.
Lindsay Cohen Karp, 39, a children’s book author from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, said she has suffered from “debilitating fatigue, movement disorders and pain” for more than a decade.
Lindsay (seen with her sons) had so little endurance that she eventually ‘couldn’t walk’ – but medical professionals couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her
And while she feared what the disease would do to her body, she felt “overwhelming relief” after years of being left in the dark about what was wrong with her. I remembered that
“I thought I would spend the rest of my life hanging off the edge of a mountain undiagnosed,” she wrote in a recent essay. insider.
The mother of two says she visited many doctors and traveled to other states to find out what was wrong with her.
“I endured an unnecessary breast exam because my doctor requested it,” she recalled.
‘[Another] Doctors told me there was no answer as my body continued to decline to the point of struggling just to exist.
“The vain suggestions ranged from exercise to psychotherapy to mixed drinks, and it seemed like a drop of cranberry juice in Smirnoff could stop my decline.”
to her blogShe explained that “it was difficult to walk and stand” but eventually “learned to live in a new body”.
“I had to walk a short distance, sit down to rest, and then do some more,” she explained.
“My legs hurt and I felt like I was running out of energy, like a car with an almost empty gas tank.
“I was poked, poked, and poked again. Constantly doing lab work was my new normal.
“Deep in my overwhelmed brain, a voice told me to go on with my life. let me.
That all changed 13 years later when a doctor did an MRI and noticed “white spots” on images of her brain.
“These are areas of demyelination,” she recalled he told her in an insider essay. “Your spinal fluid showed evidence of inflammation. sexual sclerosis.
After spending 13 years searching for answers, she was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018
Lindsay (seen with her husband and children) recalled feeling “overwhelming relief” after years of being left in the dark about what was wrong with her.
Lindsay began taking medication for the condition, which returned her body to “the way it used to be.” And while she’s still rekindled, “she’s finally able to recognize herself,” she said.
She said that “his words that filled her brain” felt like “carbon dioxide from the soda went through her mind and stifled her thoughts.”
“It was a nice day. The answer means therapy, and more than anything, it deserves it,” she explained.
Now, the writer (who is seen as a baby with her mother) says she thinks “every day” of the doctor who ultimately gave her the diagnosis, and how he thought her “life still exists.” The only reason is that her two sons are ‘mother’
“He spoke clearly, as if 13 years without a diagnosis for symptoms such as debilitating fatigue, mobility problems and pain was just a big misunderstanding.
“The idea that one simple test could give me the answers I had missed for 13 years was a dream come true.”
Lindsay began taking medication for the condition, which returned her body to “the way it used to be.” And while she’s still rekindled, “she’s finally able to recognize herself,” she said.
Now, the writer says she thinks “every day” of the doctor who finally gave her the diagnosis, and that he is the only reason her “life still exists” and that her two son explained that he has a mother.
“I think of him every day. I am reminded of his kind nature and ability to think outside the box,” she concluded.
“I am grateful to the universe for connecting me to him and for him guiding the beginning of my multiple sclerosis journey.
“Without him, I wouldn’t have been diagnosed, I wouldn’t be able to walk, I wouldn’t have the stamina left. Without him, my sons wouldn’t have a mother.
“Not many people can say that their life exists for one good person. They can. And I will never forget it.
She is currently working on a memoir detailing her experiences and often opens up about living with multiple sclerosis on her blog.
On her blog, she talked about her inability to participate in certain physical activities with her children
She said she “cannot participate in all family activities” but has “found an activity that matches my ability level”
“There will always be days spent on the sidelines,” she wrote. “But my hope is that the time I do exist will stand happily and strongly at the forefront of their minds.
In one post, she talked about her inability to participate in certain physical activities with her children.
“I can’t participate in all the family activities,” she said. While I am relieved to have had these experiences, part of me mourns the memories that I will never be part of.
Although there are things she can’t do, like hiking, she said, “I’ve found activities that fit my ability level,” like riding a bike.
“When I’m on my bike, I feel like my body is free from disease,” she continued.
“The weakness I feel when walking disappears as I pedal forward. With the wind in my face and my children by my side, we now form unforgettable family memories.” And thankfully I am a part of these memories.
“There will always be days spent on the sidelines. My children will remember that sometimes I wasn’t able to be there for important milestones and adventures.
“But my hope is that the time I exist will stand happily and strongly at the forefront of their minds.
“Living with multiple sclerosis can mean missing out on the wonderful days of your children’s lives, but it also means that the time I am present is far more meaningful. And it’s worth it.
