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While my wife and I anticipated the birth of our daughter in December 1982, I experienced serious symptoms for the first time! I had a numb feeling in my toes. Within one week, this feeling slowly rose up to my navel.
At first, I thought that an old sports injury was causing the problems and therefore, went to an orthopaedic. The orthopaedic did not find anything and immediately sent me to a neurologist.
I felt like I was in the torture chamber of Dr. Frankenstein. The neurologist put needles into different muscles and then sent electric currents through the needles. This torture took about one hour. When the neurologist came back with the examination results, he told me that “I was in excellent health and that he actually had never seen a person more healthy than I was”. He also told me to come back in two weeks if I my symptoms should persist.
And he asked me how long I want him to certificate my sick-leave.
(Here in Germany, we have unlimited sick-leave but need a doctor’s certificate stating the anticipated length of the ailment.)
When my symptoms did not abate, I went back to the same neurologist who repeated the same examination he conducted at my first visit. And again, he told me that I was the healthiest person he ever saw and that I should return in 14 days if the symptoms persisted. He then asked me for the lengths of time I wanted him to certify that I would be sick. Only a few hours later did I realize the implication of this question. He really was of the opinion that I was faking my problems and simply did not want to go to work. A short time later, my daughter was born and luckily, all symptoms I had experienced, were gone.
In August of 1983, exactly 9 month later, the same symptoms started again. Since only one neurologist practiced in the province I live in, I had to go back to the same neurologist and the game started all over. Again I heard that I was the healthiest man he ever saw and was asked for how long I wanted to be certified as being unable to work. This time, I came prepared and exploded right into his face. I demanded to be send to a specialist who would be able to find the reason for my problems. My reaction was successful and he referred me to the Neurological Clinic Garbersee for a lumbar puncture and myelograph.
Since I had planned a 4-day business trip to Paris and Geneva, followed by a family vacation for the near future, I immediately went to Garbersee clinic. I naively believed that my problems would be diagnosed and solved that same day. The doctor in charge conducted some tests and was “fascinated” at the test result for my foot-reflexes. He called a young college to show him a typical “positive Babinski”.
Then he told me that I had to stay in the clinic for a minimum of one week for the lumbar puncture and myelograph to be conducted. He also told me that these tests should not be delayed. When I told him about my plans, we agreed that I should go on my business trip but delay my vacation and check back into the clinic after returning from Geneva.
So I went home and agreed with my wife that she and my daughter should fly ahead to our vacation spot. I would take my car to join them after being released from the clinic.
After coming home from my business trip I took my family to the airport and went to the clinic right after. The lumbar puncture and myelograph where conducted the following day. A fluid was injected into my spinal cord for the myelograph After the lumbar puncture you have to lay flat for 24 hours. After the myelograph however, I had to sit or stand for a minimum of 24 hrs. so the injected material does not reach the brain.
The day after the two procedures I did experience strong headaches which I denied having when asked because I was afraid the doctors would not allow me to join my family on our vacation. On Friday the doctor called me into his office to discuss the test results. He started by saying that I was strong enough to face the facts and he told me that I have multiple sclerosis.
I did not know much about this illness, but it scared me and the only thing I wanted to do was to be with my wife and daughter.
I still had strong headaches and therefore asked a friend who is a pharmacists, if he would give me some pain medication which would allow me to drive.
The next day I drove 1,500 km to meet my family!