What is MS? /Symptoms/ Diagnosis Process What is MS? This is a good question. I was not even sure what the letters MS represented when I was first told. MS stands for Multiple Sclerosis. It is a progressive degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder that is not directly inherited, and not contagious. MS affects about 350,000 people in the U.S. today, with twice as many women as men, and about 200 new cases diagnosed each week. MS affects various parts of the nervous system by destroying the myelin sheaths that cover the nerves and leaving scar tissue behind called plaques. The plaques are the white spots that can be seen on an MRI. Disturbing any part of the myelin sheath can interrupt or distort nerve impulses. Symptoms vary from individual to individual. The symptoms usually depend on which portion of the nervous system is most effected. As you read the list of possible symptoms, please know that no two patients have the same symptoms, and that most people only get about six or seven symptoms throughout the whole disease. Also, you may not keep any of the symtoms that you experience and there is usually something you can do to help each one. Some of the symptoms are dizziness, emotional changes, eye problems, numbness in the hands or feet, loss of balance, loss of strength or coordination, muscular stiffness(also called spasticity), nausea and vomiting, slurred speech, cognitive problems, tremors, fatigue, breathing difficulties and for men - impotence. As I mentioned earlier, the symptoms for each person varies widely. Also symptoms can go in remission or disappear completely. As the disease progresses, a person can have trouble walking, paralysis, bowel and bladder problems and extreme fatigue. This disease is very unpredictable and can have periodic flare-ups (called exacerbations) which can happen frequently or only a few attacks over many years. It can progress rapidly and be severely disabling or most commonly, it progresses slowly. It can disappear for periods of time but occasionaly reoccuring in progressively more severe attacks. I think the hardest part in the very beginning is the uncertainty. It can take years to get this diagnosed. The symptoms for each person are so different. I know that I had lots of tests run and visited several doctors before I knew for sure. I think that for many, just having an answer is a relief. But even once you know you are not crazy, you still have to deal with a lot of uncertainty. They do not know what causes MS, what will happen next or when. I think that this is very challenging in the beginning. Also, do not think that every time something happens to you, it is MS related. In the beginning, I did this frequently. I assumed that every ache or pain was related to my MS. I just didn't know what to expect. Many times there are other very normal causes. A stomach ache can be just that. I soon learned to just deal with everything the best I could and to wait and see. The next day may be completely different. I think the smartest thing I was told was to "listen to my body". In the beginning, I didn't and this got me into trouble. But when I began to listen, to work out new ways to cope, to rest when I needed to, to stretch out any tight muscles, to exercise my body, and to feed it right, everything fell in to place. This disease can be dealt with! Find a good, experienced neurologist, take any necessary tests, get the best diagnosis possible and then get to work. Find all the answers you can, (there are a lot of resources available). Focus on maintaining a positive mental attitude and make any necessary changes to regain control of your life. There is an answer or way to deal with most things. I like to to think I am smarter than this disease and to look at this as a new, personal challenge. Yes this is challenging, but I know I am up to this challenge and you are too. Good Luck to each one of you! |
