Misdiagnosed and untreated for almost a decade

Sujatha’s diagnosis journey lasted nine long years, nearly a decade of unexplained symptoms, misdiagnosis and the wrong treatment. By the time Sujatha received an MS diagnosis her MS had progressed. Like many others, Sujatha did not receive early treatment with disease modifying therapies which could have changed the course of her MS.  

Now, Sujatha shares her diagnosis story from India to highlight why early diagnosis is vital for every person living with MS.  

‘#MyMSDiagnosis – A Journey Delayed, But Not Defeated 

I’m sharing my MS diagnosis story because early diagnosis matters. Awareness matters. Listening matters. No one should have to spend years in uncertainty like I did.  

For nine long years, I lived with unexplained symptoms—numbness in my hands, extreme fatigue, vertigo, dizziness, and leg stiffness. I knew something was wrong, but time and again, doctors dismissed it as “just stress” or “anxiety.” 

The truth? It was multiple sclerosis (MS)—an autoimmune condition that damages the central nervous system. But due to the lack of awareness, even among healthcare professionals, I was misdiagnosed and untreated for almost a decade. 

That delay came at a cost. 

I was eventually diagnosed, but by then, I had progressed from Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS) to Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS). In this stage, damage is permanent, and symptoms don’t go away. The window to slow the progression had narrowed. I had missed valuable time when treatment could have helped preserve my abilities and quality of life. 

MS is often called an “invisible illness”—you don’t see it until it takes something from you. People see me smiling, hear me sounding “fine,” but they don’t see the struggle behind it. They don’t see the fatigue that makes it hard to get out of bed, the stiffness that slows my steps, or the uncertainty I carry into each day. 

Today, I’m living with SPMS. I’m also a single mom raising two daughters, doing my best to show up strong for them. I still have dreams. I still have purpose. But now I also have to carefully manage my energy, prioritize my health, and advocate—for myself and others. 

My journey isn’t just about what I’ve lost. It’s about what I’ve found, too: resilience, community, and a voice I didn’t know I had. 

This is why I share my story—not for sympathy, but for awareness. To help shorten the diagnostic journey for others. To encourage people to listen when someone says, “Something doesn’t feel right.” To help doctors consider MS earlier. To make the invisible visible. 

MS may have changed the course of my life, but it hasn’t defeated me. I choose every day to live with purpose and courage. I choose to speak up—not just for myself, but for every person still searching for answers, for those newly diagnosed, and for those silently struggling. 

This World MS Day, I raise my voice for early diagnosis, better awareness, and stronger support for everyone living with MS. Because no one should have to wait nine years for clarity, care, or hope.’ 

Our thanks to Sujatha and the MS Society of India.