So my step daughter may have Multiple Sclerosis

[ismnotwasm]

My husband has been living with it for 30 plus years. He does pretty good, all things considered. We KNEW about the genetic correlation, but we also knew it's relatively rare.

She called up and said her right side had been numb for 3 days, and her vision on her right side had become blurry. She went (She's only 20 and we practically had to break something to get her to go) to the hospital ER and they admitted her. So far nothing definitive, but "We think your daughter may have some sort of demylenating process, it's not necessarily MS, but we're treating it like it is to be safe" Steroids of course.

Of course she works at a job with no insurance.

One of those diseases you wouldn't "wish on your worst enemy"

My wild child. My free spirit.

Right now I'm thinking of my husbands indomitable spirit, how he gets through horrid symptoms, and even more horrible depression and keeps on keeping on. If you ask how he's doing, he says "I'm still vertical" Most people don't understand. Right now I'm hoping and praying that my daughter doesn't have too either, but if it turns out that way, she has a hell of a role model.

God bless all of the other-abled, disabled, overcome all odds people who have lit a path for the ones that follow.

[twilight_sailing]

1. (She's only 20 and we practically had to break something to get her to go)

I like you. :)

[villager]

2. best to you -- a close friend of mine has it -- fellow writer

we exchange emails quite often. Then, when I don't hear from him for a few days in a row, I begin to worry...

But he does well, actually --if you "didn't know" he had it, you wouldn't know, really....

[LiberalEsto]

3. blessings of healing to her

I hope all goes well.

My sister-in-law has lived with it for many years and found that cutting down on bread and carbs helped her.

[Sanity Claws]

4. Sorry to hear

I've heard that MS is more common in the northern latitudes and some scientists believe MS may be due to lack of sun, lack of vitamin D.
Where are you folks located?

[Richard D]

10. I second this

Research Vitamin D and MS. Some interesting possibilities there.

[endarkenment]

5. Im sorry for you and your daughter.

Serious illness is an incredible challenge as you well know. Having to deal with our idiotic heartless healthcare system on top of the very real physical issues just makes the ordeal that much worse and needlessly so.

Good luck and take care. As you say, your husband is the role model for your daughter to learn from.

[blm]

6. My niece in her mid30s has MS. She is now bedridden in intensive care at this stage

but she fought it valiantly for the last 15 years.

IMPORTANT for you to know - In Canada you can get medicial marijuana to stop the deterioration of her muscles. It was diiscovered years ago that marijuana slowed down and in some cases halted the disease, but feds squash that information. Canadian health system is completely on board with the treatment.

Best wishes to you and yours.

[davidwparker]

7. Also, pursue some homeopathic doctor. I have a cousin and the doctor

told her it was MS and it seems to be a misdiagnosis. She changed her diet and those MS-like symptoms went away. She was eating too much tuna and it sounded like mercury poising that Bobby Kennedy was talking about on Ring of Fire.

I could be MS, but definitely pursue other eastern-medicine type practices as well and don't just take the opinion of one doctor.

Good luck and God bless.

[onecent]

8. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your daughter and

family.

[kimmerspixelated]

9. There's a great product-tonic

called Frequensea from Forevergreen. It has marine phytoplankton and it has done wonders for a lot of folks, no matter what the malady. It is worth a shot. Most diseases can be fought with extreme nutrional therapy. Best of wishes.

[Redstone]

11. It's a hard thing to have to deal with (as you know), but not always that bad:

A conversation I had with my doctor in 1978:

Doctor: I'm afraid that you have MS.

Me: So why does that make YOU afraid? (I really said that.)

Doctor: It's not funny at all. You need to take this seriously.

Me: OK. What's the treatment?

Doctor: A course of steroids. Intravenously. Then wait and see.

Me: Do you have a gun?

Doctor: What?

Me: I asked you if you have a gun.

Doctor: Why do you want to know?

Me: Because that's the only way you're going to make me let anyone pump steroids through my veins. My grandmother had a knee that bent backward because of the steroids they gave her for asthma.

Doctor: What if I did have a gun? (He was a cool doctor, so this was turning into a Marx Brothers routine...)

Me: Then I'll go get a gun, too. Do you have a cannon? You'd better bring one if you think you're gong to make me do this.

Doctor: No. No artillery.

Me: Then no. No IV steroids. I'll take my chances.


Had the last serious episode two years later, and now over 25 years with only two chronic problems: Heat intolerance, and a lack of balance. (And a couple of minor episodes, but we don't talk about those, do we? DO WE? No, we don't.)

I do hope your stepdaughter's case works out as well.

Redstone

[Skittles]

14. wow, Redstone

you rock! :thumbsup:

[Redstone]

15. There's NOTHING I won't laugh at. I don't know if that means I "rock," or if it just

means that I'm an oblivious idiot.

I suspect the latter. But thanks for the comment anyway.

Redstone

[Skittles]

16. you simply are not predictable

gawd I hate predictability :)

[hashibabba]

18. It means you ROCK! Laughter has important healing benefits!

[shaniqua6392]

12. Blessings to you and your family.

You are in our thoughts and prayers. Please keep us posted as to the diagnosis so we can possibly offer help and/or suggestions for you. DU members can be a great source of information to those in need.

[tblue]

13. Bring her to California. I think we're gonna have univ. health care, more or less

and we're a nice blue state, too. Blessings to you all. My heart and thoughts are with you.

[fudge stripe cookays]

17. I'm so sorry ism.

I'm dealing with MS myself. My thoughts are with you. It's not an easy thing to deal with, especially when it's someone you love so much.

[hashibabba]

19. Try nutrition and diet in addition to what they can do for her

medically. You can go to www.vitacost.com and put MS in the search field and click on "Health Library" then Go. My mother has cousins and their children who have had it for years. What we put in our bodies is important and we have nutrients and foods that will lessen the symptoms and hopefully at least slow progression of the disease.