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Did something "trigger" your MS?

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Posted 12/6/2006 7:12 AM (GMT 0)
I've heard of people having their first attack of symptoms after something traumatic, like a car accident.  I believe my MS came out of  hiding after losing weight very rapidly.  Of course, I could be wrong.

Shar 

Posted 12/6/2006 11:03 AM (GMT 0)
In my case, it came on gradually, over a number of years.....increasing difficulty walking, problems with balance, fatigue....  There was no traumatic event that I can trace it to.

Posted 12/6/2006 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
I believe mine was a combination of weight loss too fast and having a hysterectomy.  It doesn't seem like everyone has an "event", but some of us do.  Hope you are doing okay.

By the way...I could use the rapid weight loss again.  It's all back and it brought friends...lol

Posted 12/6/2006 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
I was hit by a car when I was 15,I had a seizure immiedately following from the head trauma. After being hit,my migrianes started. Shortly after that I had bell's palsey. I was 19 when I went blind for about 30 minutes...22 when my legs stopped working for 4 monthes...23 when I had the shingles...and 26 when my face hands and feet started going numb. I think everything started AFTER the car accident,being hit. I do believe this played a role in my MS...triggering it,not causing it.
Posted 12/6/2006 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Shar

Good to see u again! Hope u'r doing well.

I too think my "whatever" came on from an event. I had a hysterectomy that turned out sorta funky and never really got over it. I do believe the 'never really got over it' was this junk showing up. In the process of having my surg i needed a blood transfusion which we came to believe was tainted and that i'd contracted a blood disease. In the end..and after SEVERAL tests to confirm and make me believe it...it turned out to be false. I really believe that was the first turning point for me and this stuff.

No, many here do not have defining times or events where ms shows up in their lives, but many here do. I think it goes back to the stressers on the body and how we cope. I tend to keep mine inside and it will show up in one form or another, so maybe in the form of this? Either way, it WILL show up if it's there. Yay us? :(

rhonda
Posted 12/9/2006 7:50 AM (GMT 0)

Hi guys,

Thanks for your interesting responses. 

"Either way, it WILL show up if it's there. Yay us? :("  

 I'm not sure if that was supposed to be funny or not Rhonda, but it made me laugh anyway.. lol. 

"By the way...I could use the rapid weight loss again.  It's all back and it brought friends...lol"

Lol My5cats!  I can relate.. I recently started back on my weight loss program.  I was very gun shy until neuro said it would be ok.  Turns out I'm a very emotional eater, so I'm struggling, but have managed to drop about 5 pounds so far.  Yay!  50 more or so to go.. lol

I'm doing pretty well Rhonda, thanks.  I haven't had a new relapse in a few months now (thank you Betaseron) and still hoping I'll see more improvement in my right arm, but as time goes by I think it's less and less likely.  The fatigue is still the worst, and I'm still thinking of trying the Carnitine out.. I'll let you guys know if it's worth the money. yeah

I read your post about the blood infection... good for you for being so proactive, we almost have to be our own doctors, don't we?

Take care

Shar


Posted 12/9/2006 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
I was a happy housewife, part time working.  All I did was go to grocery store, take off my sunglasses, and thought I'd must have looked directly into the sun, ( like a flashbulb going off).  Which wasn't the case

=it was the start of optic neurtitis, which is textbook 1st symptom of ms and that's what it was.

That was 17 years ago so 'textbooks' may be different now.

You had to have 2 seperate incidences to test for ms, 6 months later I'd lost the use of my leg, had an mri, was diagnosed and disabled.

Posted 12/9/2006 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,
I agree with you all on something traumatic happening that triggers MS. I was in a almost fatal car accident at 15 (1972). I had factured skull, broken jaw, legs were almost off etc. Anyway, I recovered but was never the same after that. Looking back I see that I had symptoms as early as the 80's.
It wasn't until 2003 that all hell broke loose and I thought I was going crazy. It was a nightmare as the 2nd trauma happened (long story). All those "little" things I had I mentioned to my Docs who blew them off, so thinking they knew better than me I just ignored them too. Although my Prim Doc put me out on short term disability in 2003 (combo of 2nd trauma and poss stroke) it was a nightmare.
Now I know I wasn't going crazy but I truly believe that severe trauma can trigger MS.

Anyone on beterseron gain weight? I have and I feel like a butterball. My BF is a professional Photographer and works with Models etc and sometimes I feel that I should send him on his way, he says he supports me BUT I am the one who owns the house and has the mortgage etc and I think that maybe he has it too good here.

Sorry if I didn't make sense or I sounded down, didn't mean too, just needed to talk to someone.

Thanks for being here!
Carla
Posted 12/9/2006 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
Alot of meds cause weight gain and most ms folks are on numerous rx.  I was on so much-all prescribed by neurolgist that I was in 2 seperate delirum comas.  The 2nd one lasted 3 weeks and when I came out of it was over 20#'s lighter.  Due to the comas I stopped ALL rx and am now 80#'s lighter to the weight I should be.  Good bye 'fat clothes'!

Have since found out alot of symptoms were either caused by meds or excaberated by them.  I still fall down but nothing like when medicated.  I've personally found it is easier to understand my symptoms and try to live with them than overmedicating>gaining weight>thinking my symptoms are worse than they are caused by muscle relaxers or such.

Everyone has a different ms and needs different resolutions. 

Posted 12/19/2006 4:05 PM (GMT 0)

I can pinpoint the date my symptoms began: April 25, 2006. I had dinner with friends. I had clams. I felt nauseous, went to bed and my life changed. I woke up with back ache and each day things became worse. Within a week I had numbness and the M.S. hug. I've had CTscans, MRIs of my entire spine (I have a lesion at T8-10 and brain lesions), VER, and more blood work than I care to think about. Had the lumbar puncture Monday and am waiting for word on outcome. I haven't eaten clams since! A kinesthesiologist told me that I might have suffered mercury poisoning. No prior symptoms...primary progressive? This forum is giving me a lot of information. Thanks!

Vickie - Michigan

Posted 12/22/2006 8:00 AM (GMT 0)
Howdy,

it's been a while since I have stopped in. I am glad I did because I came across this question.

 

I am CERTAIN that an injury triggered my MS. Months before symptoms began I stepped on a size 0 crochet hook that had fallen hook side up on the carpet. It punctured the center of my foot about a 1/2 inch and upon impact with the hook my whole body went numb. No Neuro believed my theory until I told my current Neuro and Optoneuro. They said that injury can trigger the autoimmune response and then it refuses to shut off.

 

I am slated to begin filming for a segment on the Discovery Health Show Mystery Diagnosis. My Dr.'s and myself will be explaining the timeline between the onset of my illness a month after the injury until diagnosis.

 

SF*

Posted 12/22/2006 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Soulflower!

Wow!! Please let us know when to tune in so we can all watch! (I love that show! ;) )

rhonda
Posted 12/24/2006 1:27 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Rhonda,

I will keep you updated. Talk about shocked when they contacted me tongue .  I do know that the segment will air during the 07/08 season. The whole process is long, detailed, and tedious (to me confused ).

rhondab said...
Hey Soulflower!

Wow!! Please let us know when to tune in so we can all watch! (I love that show! ;) )

rhonda

Posted 12/24/2006 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Soulflower!

Thanks! I'm sure we'd all love to see it! I'll watch for u'r updates. :) Have a great Christmas!

rhonda
Posted 12/24/2006 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
Interesting to read of your beginnings of MS. By the way, those of you who can pinpoint a time when you noticed MS symptoms, had you taken antibiotics before/within that time of being diagnosed? Perhaps after your accidents, surgery, ...whatever. Wouldn't that be interesting?.....

Posted 12/27/2006 3:35 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed on 12/12/06.  My symptoms go back to 2003 (trouble with my right leg).  I most definitely think it was triggered by finding my mom dead at her home in 3/03 (sudden unexpected embolism-she was 64, I was 26).  I lost my sister to diabetes 5 years prior, she was 28 when she died.  I think all of the grieving and shock must have something to do with it.
Posted 12/27/2006 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
I had no trigger, nothing. I was just sleeping, enjoying some good dreams and woke up to a numb leg and arm. No accident, nothing.....
Posted 12/27/2006 6:36 AM (GMT 0)

I got really hot cutting my grass and had an allergy attack october 2005. Two days later I had a bad left side headache that night. When I woke up next morning the right side of my back, right foot and right arm were numb. Then you go through the same routine that most of us have been through or are going through when your learning, wondering and a little scared.  In the end you realize that you just make a few adjustments in life and it doesn't seem so bad...24 and starting the battle of MS.  However, I'm happy I had a quick dx.

My MRIs later showed that I had 7 lesions in my brain, one being an active exacerbation, 2 in the spine and the neck was fine. The Dr. estimated I had MS for 3 years and never knew.  I also had a lumbar puncture a lumbar puncture and VEP exam. Since the episode I've had continous changes in my body, but I am greatful to be able to walk without assistance.

I've just learned whats hard on my body and stay away from it.

Question: Anyone used a foot massager to stimulate your feet? Does it help???

Chin up!!!

Posted 12/27/2006 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi theLight,

 

   You had asked if using a foot massager helps.  If you are talking about numbness, it doesn't really but pain it does.  It also depends on the type used also because some of the cheaper variations, there's lots of different ones out there, makes pain worse depending on the vibration.  Hand massaging seems to work best overall, although I'm sure everyone is different.  Good luck, hope you find something that helps. 

 

Kimber

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