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nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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does anyone have MS?
One of my best friends, who is only 30, has just been diagnosed with MS. She was getting blurry vision in her left eye and after a bunch of tests they discovered that it's MS. I'm not really too familiar with the disease and could use some encouraging words from people who either have it, or know someone who does. Thank goodness my friend has a really great attitude about it and doesn't want anyone throwing her a pity party.
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Posted 9/11/07 4:00 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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Lanabean
Yoginis
Member since 11/05 9202 total posts
Name:
Lana
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Re: does anyone have MS?
I'm so sorry; I don't know much about it but there is a magazine on Long Island called Inside MS that could be a good resource for your friend....
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| Posted 9/11/07 4:01 PM |
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nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: does anyone have MS?
We're actually from Westchester and she lives in the city, but maybe I can find something local to us like the magazine you mentioned. Or if anyone could send me a copy, that would be great.
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| Posted 9/11/07 4:05 PM |
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tourist
Member since 5/05 10425 total posts
Name:
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Re: does anyone have MS?
I don't know anyone personally, but my boss's sister was diagnosed with it, about 6 years ago.
In the beginning, my boss would go & help her take care of her kids sometimes, when she wasn't feeling well, but she is doing well right now. She doesn't work, but she goes about life--cooks, drives, travels, etc.
ETA- I think that magazine Lana mentioned is a national magazine, from the national MS society.
Message edited 9/11/2007 4:14:10 PM.
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| Posted 9/11/07 4:09 PM |
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nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: does anyone have MS?
As far as her initial diagnosis goes, she has a mild case. Unfortunately, she has no peripheral vision in her left eye at all. But the Dr's are hoping she will regain it with medication. So far they just told her to continue excersising to keep her body and her muscles strong and for her to eat a healthy diet, so that if she is to have an attack, her body will be strong enough to fight back. 
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| Posted 9/11/07 4:13 PM |
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MrsT
Enjoying wedded bliss.....
Member since 4/06 1323 total posts
Name:
Katrina
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Re: does anyone have MS?
My uncle's wife has MS. She was diagnosed many years ago and still had a long career in the military. She retired as a Commander. And she raised 4 kids with her ex husband.
She uses a wheelchair now (had only used a cane for a while) but that is due to a mild stroke she had about 18 months ago that may or may not have been related to the MS.
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| Posted 9/11/07 4:13 PM |
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MrsT
Enjoying wedded bliss.....
Member since 4/06 1323 total posts
Name:
Katrina
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Re: does anyone have MS?
Posted by nferrandi
As far as her initial diagnosis goes, she has a mild case. Unfortunately, she has no peripheral vision in her left eye at all. But the Dr's are hoping she will regain it with medication. So far they just told her to continue excersising to keep her body and her muscles strong and for her to eat a healthy diet, so that if she is to have an attack, her body will be strong enough to fight back.
She is getting massages and accupunture now and she says they help ALOT!
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| Posted 9/11/07 4:14 PM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: does anyone have MS?
My uncle was diagnosed with MS when he was in his early 20's...he is now in his 40's. He walks with canes (the ones that support his arms). He does have a wheelchair when he has to move long distances, and his car is hooked up so that he drives with his hands, not his feet.
He has 2 beautiful daughters who are now reaching late teens and early 20's. Right now, the MS is starting to get a little more progressive, so that is making him harder to get around. He has done every type of medication whether it even be in the 'trial' stages.
MS deteriorates your muscles, that is what will be her biggest obstacle, she just has to keep strong, and try to keep her muscles strong. My uncle swims regularly, to keep his muscles mobile.
I'm sorry for your friend, my prayers ar with her and her family and friends. 
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| Posted 9/11/07 4:19 PM |
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Re: does anyone have MS?
You can prob find a lot of answers here: National MS Society
One of my college advisors had/has MS, she was a wonderful woman. I often wonder about how she's doing.
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| Posted 9/11/07 4:21 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: does anyone have MS?
Posted by MrsT
My uncle's wife has MS. She was diagnosed many years ago and still had a long career in the military. She retired as a Commander. And she raised 4 kids with her ex husband.
She uses a wheelchair now (had only used a cane for a while) but that is due to a mild stroke she had about 18 months ago that may or may not have been related to the MS.
This type of degenerative MS is one of the less common manifestations of the disease. It's the one people are most familiar with, too -- mainly b/c you'd likely never know people with the other type even have MS.
It sounds like the OP's friend has relapsing-remitting (I've also seen it called remitting-recurring) MS -- This is just a guess, but normally when people say "it's a mild form" this is what they mean. If it is as I suspect, she will never be disabled or in a wheelchair, nor will she deteriorate over time. She will have episodes that can last a couple weeks to a few months or longer, and then have remission periods that can last for years.
The most difficult part about it is the medication. There are no oral meds for r-r MS, so the meds are injectable. Some are weekly, some are daily, some are 3 times a week, etc. The side effects (especially at first) can be bad. Most people complain about feeling like they have the flu. Some have much more severe symptoms. Some people simply don't tolerate them well and feel sick most nights that they do have to take their meds. Other people tolerate the meds pretty well and have almost no problems. They are making big strides in MS medications, slowly but surely. The good news is that these meds are generally very effective for keeping relapses away for years at a time. If your friend has this type of MS (that one of my dear friends has), she is likely to live a relatively normal life, can still have children, etc...
Feel free to FM me with any questions or to talk. A good friend of mine was diagnosed about a year ago and I did a ton of research and reading!
Message edited 9/11/2007 4:35:06 PM.
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| Posted 9/11/07 4:22 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: does anyone have MS?
Posted by nferrandi
One of my best friends, who is only 30, has just been diagnosed with MS. She was getting blurry vision in her left eye and after a bunch of tests they discovered that it's MS. I'm not really too familiar with the disease and could use some encouraging words from people who either have it, or know someone who does. Thank goodness my friend has a really great attitude about it and doesn't want anyone throwing her a pity party.
FYI, contrary to popular belief, women are most likely be diagnosed with MS in their 20s and early 30s.
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| Posted 9/11/07 4:23 PM |
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nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: does anyone have MS?
Posted by Kara
This type of degenerative MS is one of the less common manifestations of the disease. It's the one people are most familiar with, too -- mainly b/c you'd likely never know people with the other type even have MS.
It sounds like the OP's friend has remitting-recurring MS -- This is just a guess, but normally when people say "it's a mild form" this is what they mean. If it is as I suspect, she will never be disabled or in a wheelchair, nor will she deteriorate over time. She will have episodes that can last a couple weeks to a few months or longer, and then have remission periods that can last for years.
The most difficult part about it is the medication. There are no oral meds for r-r MS, so the meds are injectable. Some are weekly, some are daily, some are 3 times a week, etc. The side effects (especially at first) can be bad. Most people complain about feeling like they have the flu. Some have much more severe symptoms. Some people simply don't tolerate them well and feel sick most nights that they do have to take their meds. Other people tolerate the meds pretty well and have almost no problems. They are making big strides in MS medications, slowly but surely. The good news is that these meds are generally very effective for keeping relapses away for years at a time. If your friend has this type of MS (that one of my dear friends has), she is likely to live a relatively normal life, can still have children, etc...
Feel free to FM me with any questions or to talk. A good friend of mine was diagnosed about a year ago and I did a ton of research and reading!
Thanks so much for all of the info. I know that they had her on a 3 day IV to help her eyesight and it didn't do anything. She's now taking something orally, but I'm not sure if it's for the MS or for her vision.
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| Posted 9/11/07 4:25 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: does anyone have MS?
Posted by nferrandi
Thanks so much for all of the info. I know that they had her on a 3 day IV to help her eyesight and it didn't do anything. She's now taking something orally, but I'm not sure if it's for the MS or for her vision.
If this is a very recent diagnosis, she is likely not even on the meds yet.
Her current episode could last a while. Unfortunately, the doctors cannot predict how long an episode can last. Hopefully (and likely) if the blurred vision is due to the MS, it will go away - or at least get better - when this episode is over.
I'm sure they use plenty of other medications on people with MS to treat the symptoms and the disease. I'm not an expert at all. However, the medications for remitting-recurring MS that are used to help prevent episodes are all injectable. If I remember correctly, my friend didn't start these meds until she was out of the hospital - and it took a few months to straighten out which one she tolerated well and the dosage, etc.
Obviously, I don't know details about her medication and medical history, but I know it was a long process getting the medications sorted out.
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| Posted 9/11/07 4:28 PM |
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leighla
Support Cancer Research
Member since 5/05 16353 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: does anyone have MS?
My sister has MS. She's had it since she was 20. She's 27 now.
If you have any questions feel free to FM me.
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| Posted 9/11/07 5:20 PM |
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