Experience with MS

[MelBridgeman]

Just wondering if anyone here has experience with knowing someone young who has MS?

I have a friend, a female in her 20's who has a family history of the disease and is now starting show some signs herself...

At this point she doesn't want to think about it. She does not want to go to the doctor yet because her life is not in a great place as it is and is afraid of becoming depressed if she is correct.

Any stories? Thoughts? Advice?

[habernac]

my sister's mother-in-law has MS. She has more good days than bad. Physical exercise is her weapon. She keeps the beast at bay (for the most part) by remaining very active (she's around 60 years old).

[photon]

Not someone that young, but someone who was in his 30's when it started.. I came to know him right when he first had to start using a wheelchair, but he could still push himself, play games on the computer, do everything himself.

Now, probably 12 years later, he can hardly use a joystick electric wheel chair, is in a full time care facility, can't use the computer except for very very basic things like selecting which song to play and even that takes a lot of effort.

Yeah I don't know if I'd want to know either. I don't know if there's things they can do if they find it early to mitigate the effects or not, so I'm not sure if finding out earlier is important or not.

[pope04]

My wife was diagnosed with MS five years ago. She's now in her early forties. It started with numbness in her right leg. She's an RN, and she's done a bunch of research that pointed her in the direction of vitamin D and fish oils.

She's been taking large doses for years, and the disease hasn't progressed past that numb feeling in her leg. She's had a few MRIs and the lesions seem to be getting smaller. Obviously, you shouldn't take this as gospel. You should have your friend go to the doctor as soon as possible.

[Tron_fdc]

My mom has it, and so does her boyfriend. The whole left side of her body is numb, and it affects her speech and her memory. It's a strange disease, other than those symptoms she can still drive, goes to yoga, and leads a normal life. Hers was actually triggered in a swimming accident; she was doing a triathlon and someone swam into her lane, and hit her head first. She's been numb ever since.

Her boyfriend is in a wheelchair now; when they first met a few years back he could walk but it's progressed to the point now where he can't stand any longer. It sucks.

It's a tough disease, but I'd get it diagnosed. From what my mom has told me there are a lot of treatments available if you into them early enough.

[Buff]

I think my cousin has MS. It is possible that he may have even been born with it. He's had so many medical problems since birth so its hard to tell if its MS bringing him down or something else. He had some pretty risky surgery when he was born and was lucky to survive that. Doctors originally said that he won't live past 8. Then they said he won't live past 21. He's close to 26 now. What a trooper. He is an inspiration. When times are tough and you think of him, suddenly nothing seems to be so hard anymore.

[rubecube]

My grandmother died from MS about 13 years ago. I was pretty young at the time so I don't remember too much about it. I do remember that she seemed to go from walking normally, to walking with a walker, to using a wheelchair, to being confined to a bed at Rockyview for the last two years of her life and unable to control her body from the neck down until she passed away. This happened in a span of about five years.

I understand there's been quite a few advances in treatment for it since then and most people can now live with the disease for many years.

[Knut]

From an Eyecare perspective... one of the earliest signs is often Optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve). Someone with MS may expereince Double Vision, pain on eye movement and problems seeing color out of the affected eye. Most often this returns to normal during the dormant stages of the disease.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

Just wondering if anyone here has experience with knowing someone young who has MS?

I have a friend, a female in her 20's who has a family history of the disease and is now starting show some signs herself...

I was under the impression that MS wasn't genetic. Can anyone confirm this?

[CaptainCrunch]

My cousins wife was hit with it a few years ago. so far she's kept it at bay with the right medication, plenty of rest, proper eating, but eventually it will get her, its a matter of delaying it right now.

[Machiavelli]

There is strong evidence for a genetic association, based on twin studies, family case studies, and a correlation with certain HLA antigens (the MHC complex on chromosome 6). Also, it's mostly Caucasians that get it....thought to be a polygenic disease (i.e. many genetic factors).

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Hesla

From an Eyecare perspective... one of the earliest signs is often Optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve). Someone with MS may expereince Double Vision, pain on eye movement and problems seeing color out of the affected eye. Most often this returns to normal during the dormant stages of the disease.

So you are saying I'm not drunk- I have MS?

Seriously, is this something that is normally checked during a routine eye exam? I'm just wondering because although I had perfect vision on my last checkup, that was almost 20 years ago. I know my vision is fine, but I've also heard you should have it checked no matter what.

[KTrain]

Tell her to get checked out by a doctor ASAP. If she has MS there are lots of things that can be done to help keep it at bay. Especially since she's so young.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by KTrain

Tell her to get checked out by a doctor ASAP. If she has MS there are lots of things that can be done to help keep it at bay. Especially since she's so young.

Absolutely.

I have a co-worker that suffers from MS and he denied it for years.... until it has progressed so far that he HAD to seek help. They started treatment at that point and they have really slowed the progression of the disease, but much of the damage was already done. Had he seen a doctor right at the beginning it would have made a big difference in what he has been able to do. There are many things he needs help with that he likely could do himself had he caught it at the early stages.

[cyclone3483]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I was under the impression that MS wasn't genetic. Can anyone confirm this?

Genetics, gender, and environment are all factors. My sister, cousin, and two aunts have it. My sister developed hers in her late twenties and can not walk without a walker. My cousin got it around the same time and has barely progressed. The two aunts have also been very different (one in a wheelchair, barely functional at this point, the other still strong and active).

Women tend to get MS more than men (kind of the same thing as breast cancer, but not as big a difference).

And my sister also told me that environment can be a factor. She indicated that there were some areas of the world with higher incidence of MS than others. Unfortunately, all of North America is at the same higher level.

There are no cures as yet, but there are several different treatments, including vitamins and diet, to bee stings! My sister hasn't had good results, but others do.

I'd talk to the doctor right away and begin doing your own web research.

[cyclone3483]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Seriously, is this something that is normally checked during a routine eye exam?

Last I heard, there was still no one test that can identify MS. They basically eliminate all the other possibilities (like lead or mercury poisoning, or Lupus).

That's another thing. If this person with the symptoms has mercury fillings, get them out right away! It can be the problem OR make the MS worse (as my sister experienced).

[Knut]

Originally Posted by ken0042

So you are saying I'm not drunk- I have MS?

Seriously, is this something that is normally checked during a routine eye exam? I'm just wondering because although I had perfect vision on my last checkup, that was almost 20 years ago. I know my vision is fine, but I've also heard you should have it checked no matter what.

In Short.... yes you should have your eyes checked every 2 years, even if you feel your vision is fine. Certain eye conditions, and vascular conditions (High blood pressure and diabetes) can be asymptomatic, but have signs of their presence.

In regards to MS... Optic Neuritis is not something that is easily observable during an eye examination (as it occurs behind the globe on the nerve running to the brain)... MS is a possible explanation for the symptoms listed above. If someone were to come into my office with the symptoms above, i would be sending them off the specialist within a day or two for further testing.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Hesla

From an Eyecare perspective... one of the earliest signs is often Optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve). Someone with MS may expereince Double Vision, pain on eye movement and problems seeing color out of the affected eye. Most often this returns to normal during the dormant stages of the disease.

She has a problem with one her eyes, constant twitching and some bouts of blurred vision. I didn't get quite all the details but she now needs eye ware to drive and read, based on whatever is wrong in her one eye..again don't know the details.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

She has a problem with one her eyes, constant twitching and some bouts of blurred vision. I didn't get quite all the details but she now needs eye ware to drive and read, based on whatever is wrong in her one eye..again don't know the details.

Bouts of blurred vision and twitching are some possible signs...

She should go to her G.P. (or a walk in clinic if she doesnt have one). Also a full eye exam should be conducted as soon as possible.

[Robbob]

My sister in law was diagnosed a couple years ago (just hit her 30's). It wasn't easy early on her but once she accepted it it became a lot easier for her. I think stress made things worse for her and she had to change jobs. She is now in a better work environment and managing very well. She recently joined a experimental drug study which I think might be helping. Each person is unique with what they have to go through but from the impression I get through her early bout with it is excepting it is key. After that you need to take care of your body needs to help it. I know my friends mom manages (and has been managing) her MS for a number of years with B-12 shots.

I think going to the doctor would be a good idea even to get some certainty on it. My wife went through a barrage of test because she had some symptomns but after the MRI and CAT scans they eliminated MS.