Montel Williams
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Getting my initial multiple sclerosis diagnosis took years. In fact, we’ve just recently been able to diagnose this disease relatively quickly. Back when I should have been diagnosed, they weren’t diagnosing anybody. But every couple of months, I’d go to the doctor and say, “There’s something really weird going on and I can’t figure it out.” And the doctor would tell me to stop lifting weights and I’d be okay.
I repeated this over and over again while I was still in the military. I left the military and started the talk show, and this scenario kept repeating. Finally, I went to one doctor who took one look at me and said, almost matter of factly, “I’ve got to tell you, this looks like MS. I can’t tell you without the test, but I think you have MS.”
It explained so much of what I was living with. For years on my show, people commented about how good I was at showing my emotions when I was talking with a guest. And for my viewers, it was a license for them to show their own emotions: “Montel cries and it’s okay!” Well some of those days it might have been because of the topic, but other days it could have been because my feet were on fire, and the only way I could carry on a conversation was to just let it go. So I might cry in the middle of a program, and fortunately sometimes it managed to fit.
Often, when I am in pain, I still “mask,” or hide my pain from others. When I’m walking down the street, I make sure that people don’t see me trip. I exercise hard every day to stay as strong as possibly so that people don’t see me stumble and fall. But I also remind myself that this is the curb ball I’ve been thrown, and I might as well just deal with it.
Fortunately for us, pharmaceutical companies have been breaking their backs trying to come up with new medications that treat MS. When I was first diagnosed, there were three. Now, there are dozens that are either on the market already or in development.
Now, of course I still have symptoms, and of course sometimes my symptoms get a little bit worse, but I’m still holding the disease at bay. That first doctor who diagnosed me suggested I could have been in a wheelchair five years ago - but I’m still walking!
I chronicle my journey in the books that I write. Working on my next book, I thought about all the people that are suffering and how many of them also suffer from a fear of being found out. You don’t want people to know you’re tripping. You don’t want people to know you have a limp. Well, I’ve been down that path, and as difficult as this may look to people, I’m okay with who I am. I want other people to understand that they can get up and enjoy life. I want people to understand that they’re not alone and there is hope.
6 Responses to “ Montel Williams ”
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September 7th, 2008 at 9:13 am
I have been diagnosised with “possible” MS. I knew there was something very wrong when I went from going to the doctors once a year to every few months. I was always told I had Artheritis and sent away. Finally, I emailed my doctor and expressed my concerns over not feeling good for so long and feeling put off. He ordered an MRI of the brain the next week. It came back with 10 leasions on the brain. I unfortunately have memory issues so was not a good historian. Without dates and time frames of episodes the Neurologist could not give me a definitive diagnosis of MS. He did start me on treatment. I take an injection daily. I still have urinary incontinence, balance issues, spasms, extreme pain in my feet, and memory issues. It was refreshing to hear that Montel had the same experience. I thought I was losing my mind.
Sincerely,
Valerie
September 14th, 2008 at 6:12 am
Hi Montel:
My name is John Matran and I have mixed connective tissue disorder. This is a combination of a lot of autoimmune disorders. I tried to get on your show when. you were on TV. I have the same way of thinking as you. The Doctors gave me 6 months to two years to live, this was 16 years ago. Iwent scuba diving on my 70th birthday. Good luck
September 21st, 2008 at 8:29 am
I was diagnosed with MS about 7 years ago. It started with me losing my eyesite while walking with my two young kids. I got over heated and everything went gray. I had to get my daughter to lead me back home. As I sat and cooled down, my eyesite returned, still foggy but returned none the less. From that day on, I was very heat sensative. I have tried 3 of the shots with no help. I was having at least 2 strong episodes a year. With each one, some symptoms would stay. I now have a hard time walking, my balance is bad, pain, memory problems and weakness. Last year my Dr. put me on a once a month IV treatment. I am happy to say that this is the first MRI that has no new leasions. I may not be getting better but at least I’m not getting worse. It was thought that I would be in a chair by now by I wont give in to this darn disease. I feel that one day I will be able to run with my kids and ride a motorcycle again. All I have to say to anyone who has MS is don’t give up, a cure WILL be found.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:32 am
I have MS and like you, I was undiagnosed for many years. Dr’s would give me medication for vertigo or just give me anti-depressants. By age 50, my balance was affected and eye-sight was giving me problems, to the point of double vision. A spinal tap showed such saturation that it was determined I had been dealing with MS since my late teens. I have lesions on my brain and my spine. I walk with the aid of crutches and have a power wheel chair for distances and days when the pain is too great or balance is worse. It is not awful to have MS, Challenging for sure. I have been on the daily injections with lesions advancing. My medication has stopped the lesion growth but at my age, not the advancing of MS. I have been blessed with great care. My doctor has given me medication that helps with cognitive issues. It made all the difference by making connections where signals in my brain were broken. I have a great life and make the best of each day..I think MS taught me so much about how to live. I can appreciate all the little things, look forward to anything and enjoy people, my home, and life more than ever. I think maybe it was a Blessing and a wake up call for me!
Sincerely, Christine
September 28th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Dear Montel,My aunt Margie Howard was my mom,s best friend,she was a young vibrant female in 1950 but spent the next 35 yrs wheel chair bound.My uncles undying love & devotion to her kept her alive long she had all her faculties but needed to be carried bathed completely dependant on him.God knows if uncle Dodie didn,t have money to buy the wheel chair van etc.She may not of had the time she did.Montel your crusade is remarkable all I can say is thanks your no holds barred approach is stupendous thanks again Margie didn,t have the ops that we have today but with care &kindness she was a long time survivor &lover &liver Of life. kathleen m joseph boston ma 02128
September 30th, 2008 at 8:21 am
I was finally diagonosed with Primary Progressive MS a year ago, after 20 years of problems that couldn’t be explained, such as loosing use of my right leg after walking or standing on it for over 15 minutes. In 2003 a MRI found a cyst on a lower disk in my back (said to be shutting the blood flow off to my right leg) and that was removed in 12/03 but didn’t solve the problem and by now my right hand was getting weak and I couldn’t straighten my fingers out. Finally my neurologist recommended a brain MRI and it came back abnormal so then he did a Lumbar Puncture which came back abnormal so from this is he diagnosed “Primary Progressive MS”.
I can walk but have a limp on the right side and drop footness of the right foot for which I now wear a brace for. I have a walker with a seat that I use at work. I plan on working till end of December 2009 the Lord be willing.