My dear friend was diagnosed with MS

[Heidisue]

I was just wondering how I can learn more about this. Any good books out there, who else has experience with this?

 

[Heidisue]

I was thinking about putting a basket together to let her know I care and am thinking of her. I was going to include a cold pak to keep her cool, a yoga tape to help her breath deep and stretch her muscles, a journal to write down her emotions and keep track of how her progress goes, and a hammer or something to help her pound out her frustrations. What do you think?

 

[spyrosmom]

Hi!! I don't have any immediate 1st hand experience with this. But my prev boss, a lady in her mid 40s had MS, and you would never know unless she told you. I know she had to take shots once a month, and the next day or 2 she'd be really tired and achy, but the rest of the time you'd never know. She seemed just as active as the rest of us. I believe she was diagnosed about 12 yrs or so ago. She has a young dau, who's prob 12 or so now, and I know she's very concerned about being around as her dau grows up. But she takes good care of herself, and to my knowledge they haven't discovered any more lesions. She has a very positive outlook on things and tries to keep her head up. I know before she left work, it was getting very stressful for her and it was affecting her health. She was starting to have some probs w/ her back muscles, but she's taken a new job since, and I saw her a few weeks back, and she looks 5 years younger and says feels so much better. But I don't really think being diagnosed with MS is a sentence to doom. I saw her going thru life just like anyone else, and if she was in a lot of pain or anything, she hid it very well. I do know she didn't have much strength in her hands - couldn't open jars and such - but everything else seemed fine, as outside observer. I worked for her for 2 yrs before I knew. So tell your friend best wishes, keep the stress down and head up!!!! It will be OK!!!

 

[beckymd]

Here are some good sites for information on MS

http://www.nationalmssociety.org

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/multiplesclerosis.html

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/multiple_sclerosis/multiple_sclerosis.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/multiple-sclerosis/DS00188

These are all reputable sites and should provide good information.

-Becky
2nd year medical student (almost 3rd year)
Florida State College of Medicine

 

[Heidisue]

Thank you so much spyrosmom. That does help so much just knowing that people who have it can be okay. She caught it early on so hopefully she will be one that only has symptoms once or twice a year. Thank you for your support. It really is comforting. My friend does have to take shots everyday I guess. Hopefully she will be able to slow them down once a month like your friend.

Becky, thanks for the websites. I will be checking them out now. I have been on the National MS one but haven't been anywhere else yet. Thanks again.

 

[tneah]

My husbands brother has been living with MS for years now. He is a hairdresser and sometimes he mentions he gets a little shaky.
But other than that, he is symptom free--he incorporates alternative medicine along with traditional.
He exercises everyday and is in wonderful shape. Your friend is lucky to have such caring people around her, I am confident she will be healthy and symptom free!

 

[Heidisue]

Thank you tneah. It's always encouraging to hear about those who really do live normal lives and once in a while have symptoms. I am so glad that your husbands brother is doing well. My friend will be doing shots every day. She is my exersize budy so she will be trying to stay active. This summer might be a little rough though. I've heard the heat doesn't help. Thank you for your support. It means a lot.

 

[Jacque1038]

A couple people in my life have autoimmune issues. They run in my family and a one of my close friends at work has lupus. The people I know live a normal life they just have some down days. My coworker usually only takes off of work maybe one day every few months. However she does go through a lot of differant treatments. My family member goes through periods were she is tired and sleeps a lot more than normal. She also has trouble finding shoes that do not bother her feet because of the feelings she gets in her toes. Unless you knew them really well you could not tell that either of them had any problems.

There is a lot of information out there on autoimmune diseases. I am sure you will have no trouble finding a good book to read to help you understand what your friend is going through. Good Luck