Gould,
I hope you find out that this is not true. One thing that is in your favor
is that MS normally appears between the ages of 20 to 40.

I'll know more maybe today.

I've had shaky hands for 20 years. If I am holding or hanging on to something,
no problem. I got to the point where I didn't notice it, but my wife has said
for the longest time, "you should go in and find out why you shake so much."
Being a typical guy, I went to the doctor 3-4 times between 20 -45 years of
age, whether I really needed to, or not.

This year I fell down.One day my leg just "wasn't there" and over I went. It
was pretty funny. No big deal, I thought. A month or so ago, my hands and feet
started tingling, and my right foot feels "numb" much of the time.
I figured it was circulation, (diabetes runs in the family), and saw the doctor
last week. He ran some tests, said my circlatory system was fine and that it
isn't diabetes. My MD said it's almost definitely
peripheral neuropathy, and suspects there may be more than that going on. He
made an appointment for me with a neurologist, who saw me the very quickly,
yesterday.

The neurologist did some tests, and said my nerves have a problem detecting
vibration (leads to balance problems) and heat/cold. Some of the test were
similar to the "drunk" tests the cops give people suspected of DUI. Close your
eyes and touch your finger to your nose, walk heel and toe across the office
floor, (I almost toppled over on that one), etc. He sent me directly to the
hospital for an MRI.

The MRI was a challenge. I am absolutely claustrophobic. Image having a cage
placed around your head, and then your whole body stuffed into a "torpedo
tube".
No room to move, at all. Insufficient air for breathing. The top of the tube is
inches from your face as you lay there on your back. A brain scan takes 15
minutes. The MRI doctor shoved me into the tube and said, "Are you going to be
alright?"

"Heck no! Pull me back out! Right away, please!"

Once back out where there was some air,
the MRI doctor said he wouldn't charge me for trying. He said that many people
just can't endure the MRI tube, and that I shouldn't feel badly.

Maybe because I had already experienced going in and being pulled back out, I
was able to overcome my subconscious fear with some conscious reasoning, and I
"talked myself" into going back into the tube. The doctor said we could call it
off anytime during the prodecure that I wasn't comfortable. For the first
thirty seconds I was still terrified, but something I learned years ago took
over, and I mentally "moved" to a place where it was very light, there was
plenty of air, and I was weightless so there was no compelling desire to move.
(The MRI doctor was pretty surprised at how peacefully I endured the procedure,
as was I). He asked me, about halfway through, if I was still willing to
continue and I remember saying, "It's OK now, I'm not stuck in the tube, so
finish up." Next time I have to face a phobia, I'll try the same trick. I
recommend it for those who can do it, it works extremely well. (The last few
trips to the dentist, I've used a similar technique in dental chair and now
generally avoid anesthetics for
fillings, etc).

The MRI doctor isn't allowed to discuss the results of the scan, but my biggest
fear was a brain tumor. I asked the MRI doctor
if he saw any sign of tumor. He said, "You will need to have your neurologist
read these images, but I think you can bet the farm he isn't going to say
you've got a tumor." That's good news.

Aside from your personal inquiry and good wish, how does this relate to
rec.boats? Following that MRI, I'll be one of the few posters here who can
mount, actual, scientific evidence that yes, indeed, I do have a brain. :-)