Liz is grateful for the “constant support” of her husband, Chris
Liz Corsini woke up one morning in 2022 and couldn't see out of her left eye. At 30 years old, active and busy with work and kids, she had no idea this moment would mark the beginning of a complex journey with multiple sclerosis (MS) that would fundamentally change her life.
“I honestly didn’t really know anything about MS at that point,” recalls Liz. “I had gestational diabetes that never went away after having my daughter, so I thought it was related to my diabetes.” She called her eye doctor at Boston Medical Center, who told her to come to the emergency department (ED) immediately.
Solving a Medical Mystery
That trip to the ED turned into a month-long hospital stay to help restore Liz's vision and find out what had caused it to deteriorate. At first, Liz's care team thought she may have neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a rare autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the optic nerves and spinal cord.
But when an MRI revealed lesions on her brain and spine, Liz's care team suspected MS and ordered blood tests to rule out other potential diagnoses. They also began plasmapheresis, a procedure that removed the harmful proteins from Liz's blood plasma that were attacking her eyesight. "They put a super thick catheter in my neck vein," Liz remembers. "I felt like Frankenstein, but it really helped me feel better."
Because there is no single test that can confirm an MS diagnosis, patients often find out they have the disease after a long period of testing and observation. This was the case for Liz, who was discharged home from BMC feeling better but without definitive answers. Months later, her diagnosis of MS was confirmed, and she was referred to the specialized Multiple Sclerosis Center at BMC.
Navigating a Challenging Journey
Today, Liz continues to receive her MS care at BMC, where nurse practitioner Kerin Flanagan is her anchor. “You can tell she’s a mom,” says Liz. “We can openly communicate about everything, and she really listens. If a medicine is not working, she’ll say, ‘Okay, let’s try this.’ It’s not just percentages and statistics — she treats me as a person.”
As they worked together to manage her MS symptoms, Liz and her care team discovered another condition that was significantly impacting her daily life: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which causes her heart rate to spike dramatically. Interestingly, it was a TikTok video that first made Liz wonder about POTS. "I'm not a TikTok person, but I saw this video of someone talking about having MS and POTS, and I brought it up to Kerin," explains Liz. "She referred me to a cardiologist to get it diagnosed properly."
In terms of her MS, Liz says that her Ocrevus infusions have been effective in stabilizing her vision, stopping new lesion growth, and preventing more nerve damage. She also gets Botox injections for muscle spasticity and is developing strategies like staying out of the heat to help prevent flare-ups.
"The MS is in remission, so it's actually the POTS that affects me more day-to-day now," Liz explains. "I get dizzy and my heart rate gets extremely high. It's why I haven't been able to work and why I'm in the process of getting an electric wheelchair."
Finding Support in Her “Little Village”
While some days Liz feels defeated, she finds strength in learning to advocate for herself and celebrating small victories. "I was always the one who handled everything - cooking, household management, taking care of everyone," Liz reflects. "Having to ask for help with basic things has been one of my biggest challenges."
Liz is grateful that her husband, Chris, has been a source of constant support since they began dating in high school 18 years ago. "We've been through so many things together," she says. "We're best friends. I'm glad I have him and my kids in my corner for support during this journey, because it has a lot of speed bumps! I love my little village."
For anyone facing an MS diagnosis, Liz has this advice:
- "Don't compare yourself to other people with MS, because everyone's journey is different. Sometimes you have to go by how your body feels, not what statistics say should happen."
- "Speak up for yourself. Don't be afraid to get a second opinion or try a different treatment. A good doctor will listen and work with you to find what's best for your body."
- "If you need mobility aids, use them. They help a lot, even if people stare."
- “Ask for help.”
Learn more at BMC’s Multiple Sclerosis Center.