In answer to your other question, he was diagnosed the year after we got married. He had only minor symptoms at first, but now has mobility issues (walks with a frame or crutches for a few steps, or uses a wheelchair or mobility scooter), co ordination and balance problems, and bladder dysfunction (uses catheters) and daily Cialis to retain what limited erectile function he has left. He's on the latest treatment: beta interferon injections 3x a week didn't do any good, so he goes to hospital once a month for a Tysabri infusion. his eyesight has also deteriorated so much in one eye that he's had to surrender his driving license permanently (it won't get better but may very well get worse).
Sometimes he has difficulty finding the right word, or slurs his speech, but on the whole we're lucky that so far it hasn't significantly affected him cognitively.
We wanted three children, but with all that going on we decided on vasectomy a year or so ago. Even though it was totally the most sensible and adult decision, I'm still mourning the third child a bit to be honest
. some would say we were mad to have the two we DO have, but it was a calculated risk: that he would be well enough and that I could cope. They are wonderful <3
The MS is pretty hideous, actually. He's on the cusp of being categorised 'secondary progressive' but his consultant has been holding off so he can have a trial of the tysabri (which is only licensed for relapsing-remitting). It's the unpredictability that can be really scary. You adjust to one level of disability, but then he has a fall or a serious relapse and it throws everything out. I constantly worry about what will happen if I have to give up work to care for him and the girls. Where will we live?!
I feel rubbish writing all that out.
