A quick post about MS

[icysmoooth]

Hi all, I've been posting on here quite a bit over the past year. A little less more recently though. I know a lot of people on here worry about MS and I wanted to write a quick post on it in hopes some people may take some small comfort in it. I would like to preface this by saying most people that think they have MS do not and the likelihood that any one of you have this are slim to none. However, I too worried about MS and I went through the MRI's and it was discovered that I most likely do have it, going to an MS clinic to learn more tomorrow, still hoping for some good news though. The important thing I want all of you to know is this: There is nothing wrong with me, my life is completely normal, I have a young son, I am not disabled in any way, nor am I in any sort of pain. I know the fear of being in a wheel chair and all of the terrifying things people associate with MS but I want people to know that is not always the case. I follow an MS diet with 30 years of research behind it that has helped a lot of people. Please do not live in fear of this, odds are you do not have this. But it is not all doom and gloom and there are some really amazing breakthroughs going on right now. If there is one thing I have learned it is a positive outlook can work wonders and I want to share that with everyone as well. I have a sticky note on my mirror that I read every single day, every time I look in that mirror it says: "Reverse it. Beat it. Anything is possible" I believe this can also apply to Health Anxiety. I don't know if this will help anyone, but I hope it can reach at least one person living in fear :bighug1:

[dizzydaisy]

Hi, sorry to hear that you may have this disease but you have certainly got the right attitude to it. My brother was diagnosed with ms about ten years ago and to this day he remains very well. He does get tired very easily, and suffers with numbness in his feet and slightly drags one leg when he is really tired. He is very upbeat about the ms and knows that he is luckier than a lot of people with ms. I do hope that all goes well for you in the future too.

[JaneC]

Hi Icy,

Also sorry about your diagnosis, but you are absolutely right. My husband was diagnosed with MS more than 10 years ago and still lives a normal life, his only real symptons being bladder trouble, some cognitive difficulties and Memory loss (although to be fair he's over 50 and my memory is prob about as bad as his). Two of his brothers and a sister have it and two of them still work full-time and have busy family lives, although his younger brother doesn't manage to well.

People also need to remember there are different types of MS - not everybody has primary progressive.

I am sure my husband's positive attitude has a lot to do with the way he deals with the illness too. Stay that way and I hope you don't develop symptoms. If you do, I am sure you will deal with it. Wish you lots of luck :hugs:

[Ronny]

Hi Icy...Sorry you have MS,you sound like a very strong young woman,keeping positive and having affirmations and goals really does help with the way you think.These tools Will help with your MS,so keep smiling.I hope all goes well with you.:D
Rhonda xx:flowers:

[icysmoooth]

Thank you all for the support. I wanted to update this quickly since I've now seen a neurologist. He did an exam and Evoked potentials test then looked at my MRI. The exams and reflexes were all normal however he agrees there are brain lesions but disagrees with the radiologist saying it is MS. He however says he simply doesn't know if it is or isn't. So now I have to get an MRI in a year and go back to the MS clinic in a year. My worry is now this if it wasn't MS then why do I have brain lesions? I am worried it is something even worse. I was ok with being diagnosed with MS and was determined to fight it and lead a healthy lifestyle however now I feel lost and not sure what to think.

[Onwards & Upwards]

Hi

Sounds like you've kinda taken a step sideways!

You can't just wait a year to find out what's what, I would go see my GP and explain the worry and maybe you'll get some more info from him or you'll get to see another specialist.

I wonder if lesions can be left by normal things like past viruses?! I don't know if that's correct but it may be possible.

You def need to get some clarification asap, you can't live with that hanging over you!

[icysmoooth]

I did ask what would cause the lesions and also asked it is could be celiac but he said it didn't look like celiac and asked if I had migraines but I haven't and he said sometimes people just have them so I am not sure what to think.

[cattia]

Hi, sorry to hear that you have had such inconclusive news, it must be worrying. THis happened to a friend of mine, he had an MRI and was told that he had some brain legions. He had a follow up with the neurologist and they found some abnormalities but he then had a follow up a year later and was told everyhing seemed OK and was discharged. He is well and doesn't seem to have any prolems excpet hearing loss in one ear, which was what prompted the MRI in the first place. I wonder if brain lesions are more common than people think, but it is just that most people never have an MRI so would not know that they had them?

[Onwards & Upwards]

They do say that 2-3% of brain scans will show something completely benign, and can leave people with the feeling that they have a "ticking time-bomb", I wonder if you are one of those!?

But if you have to wait a year to find out more, that's no good for your sanity! I couldn't sit and wait, it seems like you're no further forward but on the positive side, you possibly don't have MS and the lesions could be nothing! I feel for you when you say you're not sure what to think now! :hugs:

[icysmoooth]

Thanks for the supportive posts, it is great to know I can always come to this site and find people that understand what I am going through. I have been doing so well with my HA too so I hate to be falling back into it. But, I hate not having an answer I do have to make an appointment with my doctor for ultrasound results so I might be able to bring it up then and get her take on it. The only trouble is it's always like I am being rushed when I go there so I never get to ask a lot of things I want to and that is frustrating.

[Onwards & Upwards]

Hey

You're not the only one who feels rushed at the docs, it's horrible isn't it! Some docs are better than others, of course.

I think it's such a worrying thing for you that you really shouldn't feel awkward or rushed about bringing it up with your doctor, just let her know that you feel totally confused and are really worried about what you've been told and you really need to get it sorted.

[icysmoooth]

I hate the feeling of asking questions at the doctor and them just brushing it off as nothing. I'm only 28 so as far as they can figure there can't be anything seriously wrong with me. It's frustrating, to say the least. I am hoping the doctor can help answer some of these questions, I don't want to go crazy over this next year lol.

[Onwards & Upwards]

I'm the same age as you!

I think you have good grounds for bringing this whole thing up with your doctor as you've actually had a scan and something has shown up so you certainly can't be accused of time-wasting.

I know what you mean about doctors brushing thing off as nothing...we put hours and hours of worry into every symptom and they just brush it aside in less than a minute, how dare they! Ha ha! :winks:

If you're doc does seem to brush it off when you go just be really honest with her and say how much it bothers you and you fear you will go mental if you have to wait a year, that isn't too much to ask of your doctor, your mental welfare is hugely important and it's not good for anybody to be left to stew! x

[JaneC]

Hi icy,

Sorry you've been left in limbo. I posted earlier on the thread about my husband having MS. When his MRI was inconclusive, neurologist subsequently sent him for a lumbar puncture, which confirmed MS. I have to say it was not at all a pleasant experience (the terrible headaches he had the next day rather than the procedure) but at least we knew where we stood. Maybe this is something you could consider asking about? x

[icysmoooth]

I think I didn't get sent for a Lumbar Puncture because there nothing really that indicated the need, all the exams the neuro did were normal and after looking at the MRI for a while he said there were lesions but they were small and "non specific" he also said "I think you are going to be fine". I think he really doesn't believe it is MS but can't say for sure because there are lesions. Nonetheless I also don't think my doctor will send me for a one either as I was saying before they kind of just brush it all off when I have an issue with something usually and my doctor will no doubt tell me to wait until I return to the MS clinic. It is worth asking about and I am going to but I don't hold my breath on them doing a whole lot more about it right now which is kind of frustrating

[cattia]

Is there any way that you could explain to your doctor how this is affecting your anxiety and maybe that way he could push for a further test that might be more conclusive? It depends on how sympathetic your doctor is and how good your health service is. My doctor has sent me for tests before now to reassure me even though he never believed that they would show anything (which they didn't)