My first Multiple Sclerosis (MS) symptoms started in 2018. I did not know I was experiencing MS symptoms at that time. I was on my own for a few weeks as the rest of my family left for a trip.

It was a pseudo-vacation, a break from the usual hustle and bustle with just me, myself, and the house. With the family off the scene, I indulged in some post-work mountain biking escapades on a nearby hill. I was too lazy to cook just for myself, so I opted for takeaway. Little did I know, my orientation was about to play some wild tricks on me.

As I hopped into the car for a quick food run to a nearby spot, the trouble started. The world around me turned into a dizzying dance, my head swirling like a chaotic cyclone every time I tried to turn around. Panic mode activated.

In an attempt to fix the situation, I navigated my way through glass walls at a food court, feeling like I’d stumbled into a maze of mirrors. Ten minutes and a takeaway victory later, I found myself back in the car, the vertigo-induced labyrinth still playing tricks on my senses.

Taking a breather in the car, I waited for the whirlwind in my head to settle. Eventually, it did, and I managed to drive home—maybe not my safest journey, but no accidents, thankfully.

Back at home, the freak-out session commenced. A brain stroke, or something equally ominous, danced in my thoughts. The storm settled by the afternoon, though, and I ditched the idea of calling an ambulance. The next day brought a semblance of normalcy, marked by a slow and shaky run to a nearby park. Gradually, things improved, and in a few days, it was business as usual.

In hindsight, it might not have been the wisest move to play doctor-dodge, especially with my wife’s hypothetical doctor-summoning powers. Yet, I milked every moment of that solo vacation and dismissed the need for a medical check-up.  

Read more about the unforeseen consequences of dismissing my first symptoms of multiple sclerosis three years later here.