Readers Respond: What comment about your MS was the dumbest?

Responses: 380

Updated October 02, 2008

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Although my sister was the first person I told when I was diagnosed w/ MS in 1996, she seems to have forgotten all about it. Last Thanksgiving, she was having the dinner. At the time I was having major problems with balance and spasticity in my legs, so I needed to use my cane. When I came in the door, she said 'Nice cane!' like it was a joke. I only wish it was!
—Mom42boys

Had gone for a spinal tab in 2009 and phoned the doctors office a couple weeks later to make an appt to find out the results. The receptionist says to me "well, you did test positive for the protein." Me: " ok well that's good that i have protein" Recept: "No no honey...that means that you have MS!" Needless to say, I have never gone back to that office!! I found that to be quite unnecessary as all i wanted was an appt to see the dr and could've been told that in the privacy of his office....not while i was on my break at work!! i couldnt even finish my day at work after that :(
—Guest Crystal

Upon telling a previous boss I had MS, she asked the following: "How long do you think you will be walking?"
—Guest Purplecohen

When I had my first major relapse that shut down the entire right side of my body, my supervisor, who is a nurse, said she couldn't understand how I could be fine one day and so sick the next day. Also, I can't stand when I have a muscle spasm and someone says "Oh, I get Charlie horses all the time"...not the same!
—Guest Leigh

I was speaking with a cute guy I had recently met and during our conversation I let him know I have ms his response keeps me chuckling to this day,he said "you have Microsoft?"
—Guest cammy

I couldn't believe it when a " friend" actually said...." God is paralyzing you so you'll finally sit and write that book you keep talking about".....ha ha, I mean, can you imagine? Well, I'm not paralyzed...my symtpoms are identical to our beloved blogger...and I can manage so far, lead suit and all.
—Guest Dave

I had a former employer tell me on disclosure of my MS when my sight worsened... "You DO know you're gonna die?" to which I said, "That's the only sure thing for us ALL" before I walked out. It was exhilerating!!
—Guest Natalie

When I was first diagnosed 20 years ago, my lovely neighbour's adult daughter asked me how many years before I need a wheelchair. True!!!
—diannepw1

I was worried about some pain I was having and my personal trainer suggested that I might have MS since my symptoms were similar to those of another of her clients. I asked my PCP and he said, Don't worry, you don't have eye problems. I finally saw a neurologist who ordered an MRI. The radiologist reported, non-remarkable--lesions typical of 65 year old woman with hbp. I asked the neuro about the lesions. He said he would check, he never did. I had to go to Mayo Clinic where they looked at the same MRI, saw the Dawson's Fingers, and said, "Has no one told you that you have MS." I have new doctors.
—Guest igoetze

I was running a half marathon 1 year after diagnosis and someone said to me, "well you better do it while you can." My all time favorite was 2 weeks after diagnosis, an idiot said to me,"at least you don't have ALS." Thanks(insert extreme sarcasm).
—Guest Guest

There have been MANY dumb statements in my 23 years of having MS - I think my favorite is "What is it you have again? Muscular Dystrophy?"
—Guest Susan Goldberg

I have had MS since 1996, but neither of my sisters ever asks how I am doing or shows any concern. Last Thanksgiving, one of my sisters was hosting and I was having severe balance problems, requiring me to use a cane. As I was coming in the door, she commented 'Nice cane!' like it was a joke prop or something. Needless to say, I wanted to put the cane somewhere uncomfortable for her!
—Mom42boys

WHEN THE FATIGUE IS SO BAD, I JUST WANT TO STAY HOME, I GET THE RESPONSE: "OH, TAKE A PILL!"
—Guest helen

I was working part time and I happened to be walking by a large cabinet and I lost my balance and hit the side of the cabinet. My "idiot" boss at the time who knew I had MS asked me what was wrong with me for walking into the cabinet so I said "Oh, I'm glad you saw that, I was looking for some attention."
—Guest BBelle22

MS symptoms kicked in about 1year ago, had all the tests, still waiting for others, even the so called experts" don't seem to know what to do, as for ordinary people why would they care? Why should they care? It's your problem, before I had this bastard thing I didn't really care about anyone that was ill, I heard about Fred having,, cancer/ MS. Or something. Said oh dear that's terrible, 5mins later I had forgot, Think about it. You did it too. So don't expect anyone to be any different now it's the other way round. It's just not worth talking about it. Good luck. Remember you don't get it, Till you've Got it.
—Guest Graham

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Julie Stachowiak, Ph.D.
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