When you have MS, sometimes it is hard to know if your body is responding to the disease or just regular old human things like being 9000 feet above sea level. It’s a conundrum.

When I was first diagnosed, my neurology team told me all about extreme hot weather and avoiding jacuzzis and saunas… apparently the majority of people with MS no longer get to enjoy spa days or Florida. Very annoying symptoms tend to present themselves in a major way with heat and well, that kind of makes the hot tub a moot point.

So this past weekend was an awesome getaway to Mammoth, chock full of jacuzzis and thin air. And when I began to feel a bit funky… tired and out of breath and tingly in my legs I naturally figured… here we go with the recurring symptoms. That is until I looked around and realized everyone I was with was breathing hard going up the stairs… feeling dizzy and light headed after jacuzzi time, and definitely experiencing fatigue. One night my friend even told me he lost all feeling in his right arm as soon as he fell asleep.

Apparently, being above sea level can be a little like having Multiple Sclerosis. Who knew? Whether I was experiencing symptoms from Mammoth or MS, I’ll never be sure but hey – it’s at least helpful to be able to say “oh by the way – you always ask me what MS feels like. this is it!”

All I do know is I ain’t never giving up that jacuzzi – they’ll have to drag me out by my numb and tingling baby toe.