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This summer, I found myself in the ER at 1:30 a.m., undergoing a two-hour MRI, wondering if this was the moment my MS would take a turn. It was my first real scare since being diagnosed in 2016, and it brought up every fear I thought I had managed. New symptoms, physical and emotional stress, and the reality of living with MS all collided. Today I’m taking you behind the scenes of what it was really like to navigate this experience.

The First Signs Something Was Wrong

It started with a subtle feeling in my left leg. I almost dismissed it, but it began moving up to my mid-thigh—something I hadn’t experienced before. Since my left side has always been more affected by MS, I started to get nervous. A week later, I felt a similar sensation in my left arm.

The kicker? This was all happening while packing up our house for a move. There was physical strain from lifting boxes and emotional stress from leaving our home. It wasn’t clear if this was MS or just overexertion. Still, doubt crept in.

When Symptoms Escalate

Despite my symptoms, I kept pushing through. I had a work trip to Connecticut and decided to go, thinking I might get better rest in a hotel than at home amid the chaos. But while I was away, I began to feel trigeminal neuralgia; sharp, electric shock-like facial pain that I had dealt with in the past. That was my tipping point.

I called my doctor, who advised me to get an MRI through the ER. If I went through her office, it could take weeks. So, I packed up, left my work trip early, and headed straight home.

Back in the ER

I went straight from the train station to the ER. The waiting was intense; 12 hours before I even made it to the MRI machine. I was eventually rolled in at 1:30 a.m. for what turned into a two-hour scan of my brain and spine with and without contrast.

The experience was overwhelming. Between the cold MRI room and long wait, I had to stay calm and grounded. I share tips about surviving MRIs in Season 1 of the podcast, and I had to use every one of them that night.

Getting the Results

By 7 a.m., a medical student informed me there were no new lesions. A group of students and the neurologist came in and confirmed it was a pseudo flare. In other words, I was experiencing MS symptoms, but without new disease activity.

I was relieved, of course, but also frustrated. These symptoms were real. The brain fog, the nerve pain, the weakness. They didn’t just go away because my MRI was stable. And yet, the medical response was essentially “go live your life.”

What I Learned from My First MS Scare

This experience validated what I’ve believed and lived for years: conventional medicine plays a vital role in diagnosis and emergencies, but lifestyle and diet are the keys to daily management.

The ER could give me answers, but it couldn’t help me manage symptoms or feel well. That’s where nutrition, mindset, and lifestyle habits come in.

Here are a few lessons that stuck with me:

• Know your baseline: I was able to recognize these were new symptoms, which gave me confidence to seek help.
• Trust your gut: Even when symptoms aren’t extreme, changes deserve attention.
• Advocate for yourself: Only you know how you feel. If something doesn’t seem right, speak up.
• Lifestyle still matters: Diet, stress, and rest all contributed to this scare. I wasn’t taking care of myself the way I needed to, and it caught up with me.
• Grace over guilt: It’s not about blaming yourself. It’s about choosing better next time.

Moving Forward

Now that we’re settled in our new home and the weather has cooled down, I’m doing so much better. I’ve recommitted to my lifestyle habits and I’m prioritizing rest, especially in summer months. I’m also avoiding major projects during high-stress seasons whenever possible.

This experience lit a fire in me to continue sharing what I know. Most people living with MS don’t know how powerful lifestyle changes can be. And I want to help close that gap.

If you’ve ever questioned whether what you’re experiencing is real or wondered if you should call your doctor, let this be your reminder. You are allowed to seek answers. You are allowed to advocate for yourself. You are allowed to put your health first.

And if it turns out to be “nothing”? That’s the best-case scenario.

Want More Encouragement Like This? Tune into this week’s special episode of My MS Podcast: 🎧 S6E2: MS Pseudo Flare or True Flare? Navigating My First Scare and Listen now to My MS Podcast