Does anyone here have Multiple Sclerosis?

[synchronicity]

Hi!

Just trying to meet others who may suffer from a chronic illness. I was diagnosed with MS in 2007 and I write about my experience on a health site. Just wondering if there were any other fellow MSers out there.

[SeaRain]

Hi synchronicity - I have fibromyalgia but the doctor still thinks he will find MS in me someday.

There are two groups here you might want to look into:

Chronic Illness and Depression
Health issues and Disabilities

We all try to help each other.

SeaRain

[Christopher K. Carlson]

Hey synch!

Yeah, I have it -- 18 some years now. How about you? (Oh, duh, it's right there in your Q -- 2 years eh? How you doing?)

Chris

[synchronicity]

So nice to meet you all! I will have to spend more time here to get to know people.

[Naidre ~ Wild Tide]

Hi Synchronicity..

I have MS, was diagnosed back in 2003 and the doctor figured I actually had it since around 1995. I am doing ok although my left leg started atrophying a few years back, starting on my left buttock. We moved to a 2nd floor apartment, stupid idea but not my decision and now my left leg is noticeably smaller than my right. I will have to go back on one of the ABC meds, not looking forward to that. I am willing to try the Betaserene again, only did a few shots because I had immediately became ill with chills, etc. I was on coapoxone and rebif. I did ok up front with those meds but over the long term I become ill. I always said that if start getting worse I will go back on the med and I have come to that time. Did your doctor tell you for approximately how long you may of had the disease prior to your diagnosis? Are you on any of the treatments or any alternative treatments?

[synchronicity]

Hi Naidre!

It is a good question as to how long I have really had it. I had optic neuritis ten years prior to my official diagnosis. It was probably starting then but I didn't know it. This disease sure is mysterious. I am not currently taking any MS medications...I have chosen to wait...it was a long thought out decision...but I feel good about it.

Let me invite you and others to the site where I am writing about MS...there is tons of support there...just follow this link!

[synchronicity]

do you know what sort of MS she has? I have the regular old relapsing remitting kind. I am honestly doing okay so far...lots of weird symptoms like losing my ability to walk well or talk but...for right now these symptoms go away.

Nice to meet you!

[Christopher K. Carlson]

I started with relapsing-remitting for the first 12-13 years after diagnosis, but it went progressive about 4 to 5 years ago. The MS Society site (or an English MS site, I forget which) has an informative table of the range of symptomatic effects -- damn there's so many!
But wouldn't recommend it if you think you might then imagine you're having one. I use it to check whenever I discern something new in me.
Chris

[SeaRain]

That is what my neurologist thinks I have. He is going to do another eeg and spinal tap. I thought that one spinal tap that was negative meant you didn't have it, but my syptoms are so similar to MS and so weird that none of my doctors know what it is. My loss of ability to talk has kept me from working as a teacher. I teach online now because I can work when I feel ok. I get dizzy for days at a time and then I am ok. I just think they should do the eeg when I am dizzy.

I'll check out your site. Thanks for sharing.

SeaRain

[synchronicity]

Hi....everybody! This is so great to meet all of you! I didn't expect such a big response.

wow...a spinal tap...I never had one. I refused. I have had an EEG though because it seemed as though I was having seizures. I still can't figure it out...things like blinking lights or repetetive noises will set me off and I will spasm on my right side. I am always conscious though.

Being dizzy stinks. I have felt that before. I have had some very bizarre symptoms I will have to share some time.

Hey that is a great idea to teach on-line. The technology opens a lot of doors that would not have existed some years ago.

I am very excited to meet everyone here and...I will definitely be back to visit you all here soon!

[Christopher K. Carlson]

To my understanding, the more conclusive diagnostic test is the MRI.

Dizzy eh? I reasonably developed Neuro Cardegenic Syncope (NCS) -- basically it causes a sudden lowering of blood pressure (to something like 70/30 or 60/30 -- at which point I lose consciousness; have passed out three times in past year). Very scary of course and comes on with very little warning (less than a minute). If I sense it, I immediately go horizontal and elevate my feet and then staves it off. Oh, and only occurs when walking and/or staying upright on feet for a long period (not while sitting or driving).

Cardiologist and Neurologist agree that NCS origin is with the MS (i.e., failed the Autonomic test -- Autonomic mechanism is what controls blood pressure). Fortunately it seems to be abeyed but Cardiologist suggests it will return again. What a bitch!!