When did you first experience symptoms?

At the end of 2005, I started having odd symptoms. I would trip or stumble. I didn't think much of it, but my wife urged me to see my doctor. At first he thought it was Lyme disease and ordered blood tests, which came back negative.

When did you see a neurologist?

After my blood tests came back normal, my primary care doctor referred me to a neurologist, who ordered an MRI and tests called evoked potentials (EP). When the EP came back abnormal, the doctor ordered a lumbar puncture. Those results, as well as the MRI of the brain and spine, came back consistent with the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS).

How did you react to your diagnosis?

At first I was in denial. I got a second and third opinion. The third doctor said he was 99 percent sure I had relapsing-remitting MS and recommended aggressive treatment immediately. At that point, I was limping and had poor balance. Initial treatments weren't helping, either. After 18 months, I progressed to secondary-progressive MS.

How are you managing it now?

I'm on a new drug recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and I'm already seeing some benefits. And I'm a lot more comfortable asking for help when I need it.

You wrote a book called Why Not Me (Dorrance Publishing, 2016). What motivated you to do that?

For years, I kept quiet about my disease. I was paranoid because of the stigma. Once I needed to use a cane and my condition was more visible, I had to confess. And a surprising thing happened: People opened up to me about their own troubles. That experience helped me deal with my own situation in a more positive way. That's when I thought about writing a book.

What is your book about?

It's about how to cope with a disease like MS. I include strategies for staying positive and remaining engaged. For instance, I continued to work after my diagnosis. I also go to the gym three days a week and work with a personal trainer. These activities give me a sense of accomplishment. I also encourage people to become knowledgeable about their disease. It's critical to ask questions and be informed.

How has that helped you?

When I was first diagnosed, only three treatments were available. Now there are more than a dozen. I'm confident that in my lifetime something will be available to reverse the progression of MS. That's another reason I stay engaged. I want to be fit and in the best shape possible when the cure comes. I want to be ready.