Multiple Sclerosis

[SaintDragon]

I went in for a check-up last week because of dizzy spells and being tired all the time and left the doctor feeling kinda strange and whatever. I failed at a few cognitive motion test in the doctor office and with my fatigue I am scheduled to have a MRI done on Thursday.

 

I wasn't expecting that, because I thought for sure all the stress I put myself through for 5 years had finally caught up to my health. I got a little bitchy this week, because I am nervous and all the other crap too. Multiple Sclerosis was mentioned and at first I freaked a little....I researched, but I see it really isn't to bad unless yo uget into Secondary Progressive or they type that has no down time between flare ups. The percentage of that is pretty low.

 

I'm a tough person....I don't care and I have put up with a lot for a long while now and I still keep plugging along. I just don't let anyone or anything tell me what I am or what to do like I have been doing. I like myself and the way I think and I am smart. It's just so stressful for a long time and I am stil hear...I haven;t gave in yet and I don't think I ever will. Tonight I am proud of myself...I don't care what anyone thinks:p

Edited March 11, 2010 by a LoveShack.org Moderator

[Neutrino]

There is fear in your post and I only hope it is unjustified, damn physicians and labs leave you in suspense sometimes for months until you get the results or between appointments.

 

You need nerves of steel to go through what you're going through...

 

I have no advice to offer... only get some rest and try to repeat the tests at home... look for information online (isn't MS genetic ?)

[Lizzie60]

I went in for a check-up last week because of dizzy spells and being tired all the time and left the doctor feeling kinda strange and whatever. I failed at a few cognitive motion test in the doctor office and with my fatigue I am scheduled to have a MRI done on Thursday.

 

I wasn't expecting that, because I thought for sure all the stress I put myself through for 5 years had finally caught up to my health. I got a little bitchy this week, because I am nervous and all the other crap too. Multiple Skelorsis was mentioned and at first I freaked a little....I researched, but I see it really isn't to bad unless yo uget into Secondary Progressive or they type that has no down time between flare ups. The percentage of that is pretty low.

 

I'm a tough person....I don't care and I have put up with a lot for a long while now and I still keep plugging along. I just don't let anyone or anything tell me what I am or what to do like I have been doing. I like myself and the way I think and I am smart. It's just so stressful for a long time and I am stil hear...I haven;t gave in yet and I don't think I ever will. Tonight I am proud of myself...I don't care what anyone thinks:p

 

 

You're not sure yet... so why stress about something that you might NOT have..

 

My best friend has it.. (multiple sclerosis)

[SaintDragon]

You're not sure yet... so why stress about something that you might NOT have..

 

My best friend has it.. (multiple sclerosis)

 

Well going for a routine check-up thinking it was stress then leaving with the knowledge that I showed enough signs of a Neuro disorder to warrant an MRI kinds leaves me with a feeling that really sucks. I even got a pamphlet on what MRI will do and how to prepare.

 

When I heard the mention of MS it made me think..."wow..my life is over" I've been doing lots of research about it and seems it strikes in younger people in their 20's 30's.... I'm 35 so yes....I am a wee bit stressed. On top of my other BS I do not need this....I really don't.

 

The worst part is a diagnoses can take years for MS... If it's anything it will be Lupus which my mom has a mild case of.... Also I have one family with MS in my mom's bloodline.... She had it for years, but she can still walk and everything. I read that it's a strange disease....different Rx's at different times....It could be livable or put you in a bed for life.

 

So yes...waiting till Thursday to do a MRI and then who knows how long after....I get to know the verdict of the MRI...Nerve damage or no.....

 

Basically I am going nuts right now.....pretty much bananas..... On top of my other stresses and now this....It's a wonder I don't have a heart attack. In fact(melodramatic) I sometimes hope for a heart attack.

[Lizzie60]

My best best friend has it.. she was diagnosed about 5 years ago.. a few months after her husband died of cancer.. imagine her joy..

 

Once she was diagnosed with MS.. she knew that it all started about 20 some years ago.. since she started feeling weird.. but they never got her to take any tests for that..

 

When she was diagnosed.. she thought she was having a stroke.. they took her to the hospital and they ran some tests and there it was...

 

But.. let me tell you ... she is active like crazy.. but gets tired faster.. mind you she's now almost 57... she goes to the gym (tries to)... to keep her muscles in shape.. she has no problems walking ..

 

There are a few down sides.. she gets confused more easily now.. but on the other hand.. she smokes, she drinks quite a lot... I've been arguing with her for years about that.. but she doesn't seem to change.. she's doing more harm to her body with those poisons than MS.. IMO

 

I hope it's not that.. good luck.. keep us updated..

 

Sending you my best vibes.

[SaintDragon]

I went for the check-up, because I thought the stress was causing fatigue(So very tired all the time) and sitting down my head would spin and it would feel like I was tipping over. Happened one two many times for my liking so I went for a check-up.

 

He had me tip my head forward and I could feel some tingling...he asked me and I said yes. He did another test with me pushing against his hands and it was not up to par. In my defense though I was very tired and beat up from stupid things I have been worrying about.... Gave myself a migraine too. It's probably nothing, just stress, but those test were not to his liking and now I gotta get a body X-Ray so he can be sure nothing "neuro" is going on.

 

The waiting and pondering is killing me.... Thursday I do the MRI then probaly have to wait a week after for results....Maybe not...maybe they can tell right there..I hope so.

 

I'm not sure what I will do if something shows.....You know what I'm saying?..... I'm not a happy person in the first place(sorry to be down and depressed talking) but it is what it is.

 

I'm just going to pray to the lord that nothing comes of it..... I don't think I can deal with this on top of everything else. It's almost unbelievable.

 

Thanks, Liz.

[mark982]

sd, my wife has m.s. found out in 05, while at times it can be alittle challenging, 99% of the time you'd never know. she works full time as a director of nursing,and just finished up schooling for her administator lic. with modern science the rate of relapses are getting less and less with the vast majority happening in march-may. genes do play a large part in it, but we're having a hard time finding out where in my wifes family that it came from,both her parents are still living and neither one can remember anyone having it. my wife found out she had m.s. at 44 yrs. good luck in your drs. appt i wish you nothing but the best.

[SaintDragon]

sd, my wife has m.s. found out in 05, while at times it can be alittle challenging, 99% of the time you'd never know. she works full time as a director of nursing,and just finished up schooling for her administator lic. with modern science the rate of relapses are getting less and less with the vast majority happening in march-may. genes do play a large part in it, but we're having a hard time finding out where in my wifes family that it came from,both her parents are still living and neither one can remember anyone having it. my wife found out she had m.s. at 44 yrs. good luck in your drs. appt i wish you nothing but the best.

 

 

I'm less worked up about it today and I going to say it's pretty slim I'll have it.. I have strength back today and headache is gone. I still think it was more or less the major stress I have. Still the anxiety and "What if" is killing me until I do the MRI.. Doctor didn't look VERY concerned..just said he wanted to take precaution.. Even if it's not MS, it may be something simple.. I have one person on my mom's side that has MS..for over 30 years and she still walks around although she told me sometimes her husband has to help her get out of bed and support her when she is having balance problems. So I am concluding that it's "tolerable" disease.

 

Thanks for the wishes....My best to you and yours also.

[TheLoneSock]

SaintDragon,

 

I'm sorry to hear about all that. All that noise in your head about your situation must be deafening, worrying and such. I can only imagine how it feels, I hope the best for you. But I'd like to share with you a few things about MS. I'm sure you've done plenty of research on your own about it already at this point so if I repeat any information, please forgive.

 

Basically MS is (widely believed to be anyway) an autoimmune disorder. Your body's leukocytes attack parts of your nervous system in your spinal cord and brain - specifically the myeline sheath coating the nerve strands (demyelinization). The breakdown of this protective barrier causes neuritis, which is inflammation of the nerves. This inflammation slows down, disrupts or blocks messages being sent from your brain. It's hard to diagnose since the signs and symptoms are shared with a few other disorders or illnesses, the only way to know for certain is through analysis of your cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) - this is done with a spinal tap. So nothing is certain until you've had that spinal tap and it's been fully analyzed.

 

Common early symptoms are numbness, tingling, loss of balance or cognition, weakness in the limbs and blurred vision. As MS progresses symptoms can grow to include muscle spasms, altered thinking patterns, paralysis, sensitivity to heat, fatigue (even after a full night's rest), incontinence and further visual impairments like nystagmus (uncontrolled rapid eye movement), and optic neuritis (permanent blurred vision in one or both eyes, this occurs in about %55 of patients). Many patients lose the ability to walk at some point in their life, however, about %75 of patients out there have still retained their ability to walk even 15 years after the onset. MS has a genetic re-occurrence rate of about %20 from parent to child.

 

MS is actually more prevalent in females than in males, and again more so in those with lighter skin color. Most cases begin in early adulthood (20-40). In the US there are about 400,000 people with MS, or roughly 80-100 per every 150,000. There aren't any cures for MS as of yet, but there are treatments and drug therapies that can slow progression, prolong life, and in many cases force MS into a benign state (remission) called relapsing-remitting MS. Most patients in the US and other advanced countries fall into that category because of access to the medicine.

 

I know this is a lot of info and I'm not trying to scare the bejesus out of you, though looking back over what I've said it might. I'm just trying to give you as much info as I can think of off the top of my head. MS is a pretty aggressive disorder, it's akin to Parkinson's in many ways. But it IS treatable, and thousands of people have it. In the US the life expectancy of people with MS is about 5-10 years less than that of other people, however I believe about %40 still see life well into their 70s. Advances are being made in medicine every week and we're still learning a lot about MS.

 

Remember, until it's been confirmed by your doctor through a spinal tap, nothing is certain. It could be a number of things. The most common drug therapy used for MS patients in the US is called Avonex, and it's a self injection therapy. It's meant to treat the relapsing-remitting (benign) version of MS. It is, as you said, a tolerable condition. Especially for those with access to the right care.

 

I hope this helped, keep your head up and try to stay positive. Best wishes to you.

Edited February 28, 2010 by TheLoneSock
typo

[SaintDragon]

SaintDragon,Common early symptoms are numbness, tingling, loss of balance or cognition, weakness in the limbs and blurred vision. As MS progresses symptoms can grow to include muscle spasms, altered thinking patterns, paralysis, sensitivity to heat, fatigue (even after a full night's rest), incontinence and further visual impairments like nystagmus (uncontrolled rapid eye movement), and optic neuritis (permanent blurred vision in one or both eyes, this occurs in about %55 of patients). Many patients lose the ability to walk at some point in their life, however, about %75 of patients out there have still retained their ability to walk even 15 years after the onset. MS has a genetic re-occurrence rate of about %20 from parent to chill

 

Yepp I have researched the bejezus out of this and know about all the therapies they use for it... Avonex, Copaxotone ect, ect.. Some are muscle injections or a skin stab. I guess what is being determined by the MRI right now is if anything shows as far as nerve degeneration. I'm just crossing my finger nothing fishy shows up and it's something way simpler.

 

He got suspicious when I failed a few cognitive test and explained my rx's.. like sudden head spinning around and feeling like I was tipping over and tired as hell a lot. I'm sure it' was just the stress, but it was enough to scare me into seeing the doctor. It was the small test he did that made him order an MRI, because he just wants to be sure it isn't anything. The test he gave pointed him in that direction...I failed miserably at them.

 

Yes I read a lot of the symptoms on there.... numbness, spastic muscles, incontinence, you can suddenly go blind then get your vision back the next day ect ect.. Most of the incontinence thing is rare...My mom's aunt has no trouble with that and she's had MS for over 30 years. Others on the net that have MS stated no incontinence at all. Most of them complain about eyes flashing like a video game(Seeing lights) buzzing muscles, balance problems, and extreme fatigue.

 

So right now it's just precaution...because I failed a few simple test and being tired, a tingle in my finger ect ect..... Just crossing my fingers and worrying like a bastard ATM... Going up to the track to watch a winter demo derby today... Need to blow off some steam and eat burgers in the stands, because I have already lost it twice this week:cool: I'm happier today though, just sometimes I get so freakin bent.

 

Thanks for taking the time to write....I would assume you are in the medical field or a doctor of some sort?...

[TheLoneSock]

Well I hope that helps out. Treat yourself as much as you need to right now, it's probably one of the most stressful times you'll ever feel in your life. And remember nothing is certain until you get that spinal tap analyzed. Really glad to see that you've thrust yourself into learning about it instead of just taking what doctors tell you on the chin. Try your best to relax and take it easy. Do things you love and spend time with friends/family/significant other. It could still be a number of things, even dietary like an electrolyte imbalance. Even if it is MS in the end, you'll be fully prepared to deal with it and you have the best health care in the world here in the US.

 

I work in EMS and I'm in school for a couple other things including pre-med.

[SaintDragon]

You can't help but to read up on it since leaving the doctor thinking the possibility of a chronic nero disorder may exsist in you. I am worried(of course) but deep inside I feel that it isn't that. I feel my stress for 5 years has really f*cd up my health and merely a vitamin deficiency or something. I also had an EKG the same day and have stage 1 hypertension.

145 over 90 BP and elevated heart rate. I truly let my health drop tremendously for 5 years. I just wish the doc didn't mention seeing a Nero specialist and MRI with MS in the same sentence lol.. Set me up for a week's worth of pondering and yet more stress.

Reading about C-spine and Spinal Taps really got me thinking. Seems it can make you sick after and it hurts like hell when they do it. I hope it does not get to that stage.

Hopefully(and I am getting positive) it's just some sort of blood or vitamin defiencey.

 

I hate waiting to find out....Just give me the damn MRI on the spot and tell me.

[TheLoneSock]

Honestly it could very well be that, a lack of something in your system like the electrolytes I mentioned before. The body does strange things when it is not in homeostasis. Your hypertension puts you at a much higher risk for stroke though, so keep that in mind. You are young (in general) and there is time to start taking care of yourself better. Exercise and great nutrition will do your body WONDERS, but you HAVE to find something you can stick with.

 

Also, did your doc put you on any medications for your hypertension? Something else to keep in mind.

[HokeyReligions]

I do hope and pray that its not MS. I am intimatly familiar with the disease as my father had it - back when no one knew about it. I've been supporting research and fund-raisers for it for a long time. I know what it can do to a person and to their family.

 

I also know that new therapies have come a long way in slowing the symptoms and decreasing the severity of the disease and that many people can still live long and productive and happy lives. That was not the case with my father. I spoke once at a luncheon about growing up with an MS parent. I have no memory of my father standing (I was a teenager when he died) but I do have memory of the stigma that used to be associated with it.

 

I was the only kid in school who knew how to feed, bathe, shave, and care for a person who was totally paralyzed.

 

For a while it was thought to be genetic, but they don't think so now. My brother was tested a lot, as was I. The only thing that shows up in me that was the same as my dad is that we both got a false-positive test for TB.

[TheLoneSock]

The genetic re-occurence rate from parent to child only has a relevance of about %20 (which doesn't necessarily mean a strictly genetic fashion). They are finding now that it may have to do with a certain pathogen in the blood, or even due to excessive hygiene in youth (not allowing the immune system to be properly trained). It's just one of those things we don't fully understand yet, so there's really no point in worrying or shaking a stick at what COULD be the cause.

 

Like you said though Hokey, we have come a long way in the treatment options, it's not nearly as debilitating as it used to be.

[Citizen Erased]

How insensitive would it be to make fun of the spelling error?

Pretty insensitive I'd have to say.

[SaintDragon]

Ha-ha... It's not MS...I'm not worried about it, because I have so many other crazy stress problems.... Stress cause lots of these rx's I have, like fatigue and dizziness. Good to take precation though ..oops another SP error...must be MS and the sight of one who is just as bad as me with multiple ID's(Carl that you?) and one who is deathly afraid of me has posted some input(let it go)

 

Oh Lord. I thought I wasn't crazy anymore..I'm seeing illusions now.

[Citizen Erased]

Please, nobody is afraid of you, my 5'1" self could take you.

[SaintDragon]

I do hope and pray that its not MS. I am intimatly familiar with the disease as my father had it - back when no one knew about it. I've been supporting research and fund-raisers for it for a long time. I know what it can do to a person and to their family.

 

I also know that new therapies have come a long way in slowing the symptoms and decreasing the severity of the disease and that many people can still live long and productive and happy lives. That was not the case with my father. I spoke once at a luncheon about growing up with an MS parent. I have no memory of my father standing (I was a teenager when he died) but I do have memory of the stigma that used to be associated with it.

 

I was the only kid in school who knew how to feed, bathe, shave, and care for a person who was totally paralyzed.

 

For a while it was thought to be genetic, but they don't think so now. My brother was tested a lot, as was I. The only thing that shows up in me that was the same as my dad is that we both got a false-positive test for TB.

 

Your dad must of had the Progressive type of MS, no recovery from flare-ups at all(so I hear) That type I read is a low percentage and with today's meds it's even lower. I'm less worried it's that.... Like I said it's a precaution mesure due to some sub-standard test I took along with fatigue. I'm sure it's stress, because even my BP was effected. Currently off soda and eating more greens fo rthat...Having no soda and pizza is driving me mad!...A few days ago I went off on here lol.... I erased it though. *taking deep breath*

[SaintDragon]

Please, nobody is afraid of you, my 5'1" self could take you.

 

With due respect.

 

We shouldn't be writing each other here ok...I don't feel like dealing with those others.

I have a host of yet more crap going on and need the place as before and I'm just any other whining(life sucks) guy on here so...I feel at home LMAO:o

 

Have fun on your trip!

[quankanne]

Stress cause lots of these rx's I have

 

ah, my sisters are case studies in and of themselves about how their bodies respond to stress. I know at one point, the younger of the two was going for MS testing because her responses were strange. Not sure exactly what the verdict was, but it *wasn't* MS-related, just stress related.

 

big sister, ah, there's a huge mystery, her body manifests some pretty strange illnesses if she doesn't keep the stress in check, though she's the high energy sort that pretty much has got to physically fall apart before she'll slow down.

 

my prayers are with you, and I'm hoping that it's something much less scary than MS, and can be regulated with proper care of your body.

 

have you asked any of your relatives if they've experienced something similar? That might shed light on genetically passed on health problems, thus giving you a huge headstart in helping find the proper treatment.

[SaintDragon]

Stress cause lots of these rx's I have

 

ah, my sisters are case studies in and of themselves about how their bodies respond to stress. I know at one point, the younger of the two was going for MS testing because her responses were strange. Not sure exactly what the verdict was, but it *wasn't* MS-related, just stress related.

 

big sister, ah, there's a huge mystery, her body manifests some pretty strange illnesses if she doesn't keep the stress in check, though she's the high energy sort that pretty much has got to physically fall apart before she'll slow down.

 

my prayers are with you, and I'm hoping that it's something much less scary than MS, and can be regulated with proper care of your body.

 

have you asked any of your relatives if they've experienced something similar? That might shed light on genetically passed on health problems, thus giving you a huge headstart in helping find the proper treatment.

 

Ahhhhh! the bold part, thank you lol..

 

I'm fairly certain it is the same for me as it is for your sister and the MRI is only a precaution. For the last 5 years I have put so much stress on myself that I really should of been dead of a heart attack by now. Going into the doc last week was a very wise thing to do and should of been done A LONG TIME AGO, because I never really attempted to get help for anything, stress or physically. I'm thinking this is god's way of telling me it's over...no more BS, letting stress build up and being the way I am and if he has to scare me then I guess it's fair lol

 

I have one in the family with MS on my mom's side and my mom has mild Lupus, but I do share a lot of the anxiety related problems like my mom.. I worry a lot and most negative things bother me, problem is I tend to hide it and it builds up until I break. It's been extra bad the past 5 years and it's fairly certain that it has taken a toll on my health, with cognitive problems, fatigue and stage 1 hypertension. My doctor ordered me to stop salt intake, soda and eat greens every day to help lower the BP and if it does not and I keep up my habit then I will expect problems from an enlarged heart or heart attack later on.

 

Thank you again for the bold part...makes me less stressed about Thursday and I know if MRI is good the thing about stress and all my problems are gonna have to be delt with... I truly believe god has heard me and this is how he is helping..... Making me think something is wrong, scaring the s*ht out of me and having the doctors give me a stern talking to.

You know what?..it's been to long holding all this in. I sick of living with the stress and not doing anything about it.... I guess this is the time I'm gonna have to deal with it for real....I have no choice now.

 

Thanks, Q

[quankanne]

I can see how this is getting to you, again because my two sisters manifest serious physical problems when dealing with stress. In fact, Big Sis just emailed me that her doctor is ordering a complete battery of heart/stress tests just to rule out stuff. My guess is that all the crap she's having to deal with her daughter is literally breaking her heart ...

 

are you doing anything physical to work off the stress? Swimming, jogging, running, cycling, jumping rope ... anything? that might be a good safety valve to help keep things in check.

 

You know what?..it's been to long holding all this in. I sick of living with the stress and not doing anything about it... I think you're right in saying that this is a celestial wake-up call to take care of yourself. If worse comes to worst, invest in a "dammit doll" you can pound against the wall.

 

hope things go smoothly with the tests!

q

[SaintDragon]

You know what?..it's been to long holding all this in. I sick of living with the stress and not doing anything about it... I think you're right in saying that this is a celestial wake-up call to take care of yourself. If worse comes to worst, invest in a "dammit doll" you can pound against the wall.

 

 

LS is my "dammit doll" lmao:o

 

Seriously though, just the thought of dealing with my "root problem" gets me nervous. It's nothing that will be cured in a few months, but I know this is now make it or break it time.... The thoughts I have been having are not good and I'm tired of them. I want to get up in the morning happy and jump right into work or something fun without worrying or stressing saying "what if" then getting on the computer with yet another rant.

 

I miss the days of getting up at 8 A.M on a warm, Saturday morning and riding my bike.... I want those times back and 5 years of stressing myself is so friggin old now that I'm willing to do anything now to get rid of the feelings.

 

 

This little scare I had is going to be worth it in the end....I truly believe that and I finally feel like I am taking charge and doing something to help myself instead of aching for coddling to sooth my stress lol....

Edited March 1, 2010 by SaintDragon

[Citizen Erased]

With due respect.

 

We shouldn't be writing each other here ok...I don't feel like dealing with those others.

I have a host of yet more crap going on and need the place as before and I'm just any other whining(life sucks) guy on here so...I feel at home LMAO:o

 

Have fun on your trip!

 

Are you breaking up with me?

 

Thanks. Good luck with your tests