Ms.

[Apollo]

Small question. Does anyone know exactly what constitutes an "episode" with multiple sclerosis? My symptoms fit *perfectly*, and since I've finally managed to catch onto a doctor with half a brain, I thought I might suggest testing for it. The criteria, however, involves separate "episodes", but doesn't seem to allude to what they would be.

Edit: Hey, that's fun - forum doesn't like me putting all caps for a title.

[powerbar]

I'm confused. Are you saying you are happy to get help from a doctor, or happy you found a doctor you can trick? Not bashing it, I've tricked a few of my own. If so, what are you trying to get out of it (just curious)?

[RaginCajun]

While I'm not too sure what these "episodes" are you're describing, I *HIGHLY* recommend getting tested for MS. A family member of mine was diagnosed about 18 months ago, and has said its one of the worst diseases they could imagine having. They kept thinking she they it too but her doctors didn't really believe it for the first year or two. Definitely try to catch it early if you can.

[Apollo]

I'm confused. Are you saying you are happy to get help from a doctor, or happy you found a doctor you can trick? Not bashing it, I've tricked a few of my own. If so, what are you trying to get out of it (just curious)?

Happy that I've found one who might listen and be able to help. All my previous ones were extremely useless - I left my last one after he suggested putting me back on minute doses of an antidepressant for chronic headaches (which I'm only knocking because we already tried it months ago). My new one is still quite opposed to my usage of painkillers but I'm not really open to changing that bit anyway - he does at least want to run more tests instead of just trying to shove down more anti-convulsants and tricyclics.

Although spending $100+ a week on codeine of all things is still quite a pain in the arse itself.


While I'm not too sure what these "episodes" are you're describing, I *HIGHLY* recommend getting tested for MS. A family member of mine was diagnosed about 18 months ago, and has said its one of the worst diseases they could imagine having. They kept thinking she they it too but her doctors didn't really believe it for the first year or two. Definitely try to catch it early if you can.

That's why I'm now putting effort into figuring it out myself, things - cognitive function, tremors, unexplained pain, speech - seem to be heading south fairly rapidly.

[powerbar]

Ooh ok gotcha, glad you finally found a doctor willing to help!

[Apollo]

Ooh ok gotcha, glad you finally found a doctor willing to help!

Still need to figure out if it's even worth bringing this particular idea up however.. no idea what the definition of an "episode" would happen to be haha..

[powerbar]

"Symptoms vary, because the location and severity of each attack can be different. Episodes can last for days, weeks, or months. These episodes alternate with periods of reduced or no symptoms (remissions).

Fever, hot baths, sun exposure, and stress can trigger or worsen attacks.

It is common for the disease to return (relapse). However, the disease may continue to get worse without periods of remission.

Because nerves in any part of the brain or spinal cord may be damaged, patients with multiple sclerosis can have symptoms in many parts of the body.

Muscle symptoms:

* Loss of balance
* Muscle spasms
* Numbness or abnormal sensation in any area
* Problems moving arms or legs
* Problems walking
* Problems with coordination and making small movements
* Tremor in one or more arms or legs
* Weakness in one or more arms or legs

Bowel and bladder symptoms:

* Constipation and stool leakage
* Difficulty beginning to urinate
* Frequent need to urinate
* Strong urge to urinate
* Urine leakage (incontinence)

Eye symptoms:

* Double vision
* Eye discomfort
* Uncontrollable rapid eye movements
* Vision loss (usually affects one eye at a time)

Numbness, tingling, or pain

* Facial pain
* Painful muscle spasms
* Tingling, crawling, or burning feeling in the arms and legs

Other brain and nerve symptoms:

* Decreased attention span, poor judgment, and memory loss
* Diffulty reasoning and solving problems
* Depression or feelings of sadness
* Dizziness and balance problems
* Hearing loss

Sexual symptoms:

* Problems with erections
* Problems with vaginal lubrication

Speech and swallowing symptoms:

* Slurred or difficult-to-understand speech
* Trouble chewing and swallowing

Fatigue is a common and bothersome symptoms as MS progresses. It is often worse in the late afternoon."

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000737.htm

Hope this helps!

[Apollo]

Yup I got a hold of the symptom list but they're fairly persistent, rather than being in short bursts or however they're supposed to be. The criteria is very specific in saying that there has to have been remission between episodes of symptoms (for some reason).

Will probably just bring it up when he gets back in a week anyway, sure beats doing nothing at all.

edit: Of that list, I ticked off 18/29. Not sure whether that comes close to being right or not. Meh.

[RobotPoop]

Definitely get tested for this shit man. These days they have a lot of medications that allow you to live a long and relatively normal life. The [b]KEY[/] is catching it early though. So don't sit on this, get checked out ASAP.

My aunt was diagnosed with MS but they caught it mad early and she has to take a fair bit of medication but the doc said she should be able to live to a ripe old age.

[Apollo]

Saw a random GP as was in desperate need of some anticonvulsants.. woman pretty much goes "nah it won't be that. lol."

So I guess that's that theory out the window haha.. back to the drawing board.

[stringtheory]

This Dr do any testing? Or did she just look at you and think this person is too young for MS? I read up on it a little and found out that they need to do a spinal tap and test the spinal fluid looking for the presence of oligoclonal bands (an increased number of certain antibodies) -- an indicator of increased immune activity in the spinal fluid. Also an MRI to look for lesions in your spinal cord. Of course I'm not a Dr but I hate it when a Dr just dismisses your thoughts out of hand without any sort of real explanation.

[IzzySnuffer]

As far as the medication, or at least so I've read, THC is about the best possible way to combat the symptoms.

[RobotPoop]

MS is not something that will come up on a check up. Tell that bitch to run the standard tests for it. MS has the stigma of being this deadly and extremely debilitating condition because it was impossible to detect until it was too late. The "scleras" are lesions in the brain which can lie dormant for decades until ample pressure is built up or they have grown into areas of the brain responsible for critical functions. In the last like 10 years though the medical community has made quantum leaps in their ability to detect MS. So tell your fucking doctor that you'd rather not play Russian roulette with your life and to run the mother fucking tests. Bitch smack if deemed appropriate.

[raffytaffylol]

I have a good friend who suffers from MS and if she didn't have a good insurance she would be paying out her ass for Interferon. From what I gather, that crap costs in the thousands per month for injection treatments.

[Apollo]

This Dr do any testing?

Nope. The appointment was only to get some more meds until my actual doctor gets back, which failed (8mg codeine tabs, ZOMG THANX LOL), although did get some weird anti-epilepsy stuff which seems to have calmed the spazzing down.

She reckoned she could somehow bring my neuro appointment forward even further which would be great, so at least that will be helpful.. otherwise I can't really get into anything too serious with her as I'm only seeing her temporarily..

[RaginCajun]

I have a good friend who suffers from MS and if she didn't have a good insurance she would be paying out her ass for Interferon. From what I gather, that crap costs in the thousands per month for injection treatments.

My mom went through this, and while we are insured, our provider put up the BIGGEST fight with us, trying to deny that it was a necessary medical procedure. After nearly a year they began to cover the injections, and were forced to reimburse my family for all the prior injections. Serves the bastards right, fuck United Healthcare.

[OxyFlower]

My father was diagnosed with MS when he was 35, after a few (I guess you could call them) "episodes" of his arm and foot going numb while he was driving.
You have to get a CT-Scan as well as a spinal tap (VERY uncomfortable!).
He also had to have surgery on his neck and steel pins placed in his spine.
He was on so many different medications over the years, I couldn't begin to list them all, but....
One of them was Vioxx, and he didn't know at the time, but it caused to him to have 6 heart attacks over a span of about 4 and a half years. Then he had to have a pacemaker.
A couple years ago, he died from heart failure. He was 48. We did get a large settlement from the drug company (myself and my sisters).
But MS is case specific, not all people suffer the same ailments, and also the varying degrees of them.
There are also stages of MS.
It's a mysterious disease