what is an ms episode?

Jena

New Member
hi,

i was wondering what an ms episode is? i had started another post. i went to dr. had high white blood cell count, not very high 12,000. i heard normal range is 7 - 10,000.

once we began talking and i told him what i'd been experiencing for 2 years on and off and shrugged it off he said possible ms and decided to refer me out to a neurologist.

i said i had experienced;

frequent urination
exhaustion on and off; just overall weakness at times;
blurred vision as of late increasing; used to happen a little at night nothing big thought i was just tired
extreme dizziness; or feeling sort of spacey from it; sort of like i could drop at anytime when it happens
numbing in my fingers periodically certain fingers just go numb blood sort of drains out of them;
cramps in my feet and in my calves very bad periodically;
headaches at times seem to accompany the dizziness at times;
memory loss seems kind of bad as of late more than ever; short term memory most of all;
naseau alot during different times of day;
my bones aching

dr. said are you pregnant at first. i said no way. then he said neuro guy sounds like ms.

anyone else have this stuff also? and what is an ms episode?
 
Jennifer,

I'm not sure what your doctor meant by a "ms episode." I think you should call him and ask him about it.

Do you have an appointment to see the neurologist he is referring you to? in my humble opinion, I definitely think you should go.

I wish I had some more info for you. I hope the doctors are able to find out what is wrong ASAP and you're soon on your way to a speedy recovery!!! WFEN
 

SRL

Active Member
Here's a link to the symptom list at the National MS Association site. Their list would probably be a better guideline as it would encompass more people then a small sample elsewhere.
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis

This site says that when symptoms occur, it's called an MS episode. When they go away, it's called remission.

You do need ongoing with a neurologist, first for a diagnosis then for followup treatment. There are mimics to MS, such as Lyme Disease and Meniere's Syndrome, so be sure that your diagnostician is thorough.
 

Marguerite

Active Member
You need a neurologist to check you out and to keep following your progress.

I get similar symptoms, except I haven't got the visual problems. Also, the frequent urination - infection needs to be ruled out. I have the opposite problem - I told me (new - she doesn't know me well yet) GP that I describe it as my 'prostate trouble' - she laughed and said that women don't have a prostate. I said, "I know that; but it's the best way to describe the symptoms."

My understanding of what an episode of MS is - it's when the symptoms which have been stable for a while suddenly change and seem to worsen. For example, my symptoms are always present but generally much the same. When I had a 'turn' a few months ago and my arms suddenly felt 'dead', I had to get it checked out at the hospital. The hypothesis was that I had a mild MS episode.

It's a loose term, medically it doesn't mean much.

Most people with MS get by really well, they cope without too much interference in their life. A lot of people have the idea that MS is always totally crippling, completely limiting and if you've got MS you're automatically a nursing home candidate - not so.

I rest when I can but I can't just lie down and let life pass me by, I have too much to do. I know I would perhaps be more comfortable if I rested and let everyone else run around after me. The trouble is, that isn't living. Instead, I do whatever I can, within my limitations. When my memory stopped being so good I began to write things down. I keep all appointments in a diary. I follow written instructions. I do lots of puzzles to keep my mind as functional as possible. I also plan in 'me' time where I can, so if I need even a few minutes' respite, I have something I can do, such as go weed my herb pots.

Some people when given a diagnosis such as this change tack and treat themselves as invalids, or sick people. I found out early on that if I'm active, I get tired more. But it also means that when my body forces me to rest, I have a sense of satisfaction that I accomplished a few things.

I could go to bed and stay there until I recover or improve; or I could keep doing what I can. Of course I get tired, the pain levels are worse, but at least I'm living.

It does mean I had to let go of worrying what other people think of me. I have people offering me a hand or an arm to lean on, but although I value the offer, I need something more rigid or I fall. If I need to sit on the ground or in the gutter to rest, I will do so. When my legs feel a little stronger again I can get up and go on a little more before I have to sit again.

Over the years I've learnt to listen to my body, which allows me to get away with taking more chances. I have a better 'feel' of how far I can walk, for example, on any given day. While walking in the city with friends last Sunday night, I felt unsteady on my feet. So I took off my footwear and walked the streets of Sydney in bare feet. It must have looked odd, since I had dressed up to go to the city, but my appearance was no longer important. It was more important for me to keep up with people.

We adapt. We have to, or we don't cope. And there is life beyond such a diagnosis, not just mere existence. For a while I wondered if I could ever come to terms with this, and I don't think I have. But I do find joy in life, I've found many other outlets to express this and to share it.

Go see the specialist. He will do further tests and hopefully give you some really good pointers on what to do now. Do what you can, don't sweat the rest.

Marg
 

Jena

New Member
thanks to both of you.

marg yes sounds like you are making the best of it. it does seem to change your life yet at the same time it sounds as though listening to your body is very important.

i go through similar stuff constant urination i have no infections so it's not that had that checked already. the memory loss seems to be getting alot worse as of late which is problematic so i've started writing stuff down as well.

i have days where i'm great and totally functional yet there are other days when i get up and my body just hurts then i take my day on as always and wind up having to sit somewhere in a mall or i've done the curb thing too lol.

who knows everything else with me is fine physically and medically so it seems like the only thing that fits the bill. i guess i'll find out.

only problem i have now is that my insurance will be cancelling very soon on teh 15th so i have to go to neurologist in the next two weeks. then if it winds up i do have ms i will probably have to apply for some type of medicaid or something until i begin working full time again. i've decided to work from home for difficult child and also do real estate i have an interview monday.

thanks for sharing all of that with me. it's not so scarey anymore just a little surprising. so how did you know that you had it? were there certain signs?

thanks,
Jen :)
 

KTMom91

Well-Known Member
Jen, thanks for sharing your symptoms. I've been experiencing most of them, and have had no idea what's wrong with me. SRL, thanks for the links. I'll do some research. We don't have health insurance, but once Hubby's job is permanent (he's temp to hire now), I'll jump through the hoops and get to a neurologist.
 

Jena

New Member
hey your welcome. we tend to ignore these things i think we're sooo busy with our lives and our little difficult child's that we ignore our own bodies and i know i attributed all of it to stress and anxiety. that seems to fit all.
 

Marguerite

Active Member
Jen, I don't have an official confirmed diagnosis of MS. I've been given a number of different labels over the years and none of them fit very well, so technically you could say that even after 24 years, I still don't have a confirmed diagnosis. For a long time the diagnosis was Guillaine-Barré Syndrome overlapping with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but the specialist who gave me this label is now retired and isn't around for other doctors to argue with. My current neurologist won't confirm MS but says it's his working hypothesis, the best fit.

The first signs for me were weakness in my right arm, nerve pain and pressure pain, 'brain fog' and with each attack, more of my body was affected. As I said, it's now been almost 24 years since the first onset, which for me followed an allergic reaction to immunisation for tetanus.

It's forced me to change direction in life, to slow down, and to learn to listen to my body. A big drawback is a tendency to become too self-absorbed, so that is something I guard against. Originally I tried to rest more until I began to recover; but then recovery didn't happen in full, so instead I've learnt to get back into life as much as I can so while I'm waiting to improve I'm at least still involved in things as much as possible.

Marg
 

Jena

New Member
hi marg

i'm sorry to hear that you are struggling like we do with our difficult child's diagnosis. ugh is all i can say. yet it sounds like you have the right mindframe that being listen to your body know when to slow down and be involved in everything you can. the arm thing certainly does sound like it and the brain fog.

with me it's alot of dizziness and memory loss body aching numbing feet and fingers.

ok bedtime now i wanted to say hi quick.
 

tryinghard

New Member
Jennifer,

You have described my symptoms (on and off) for the last eight years! I have had two full body scans to see if they could detect any MS activity and they both came back perfectly NORMAL! Well obviously that was GREAT news but it still does not explain what is wrong with me. I KNOW it is not in my head because I had all these symptoms before I jumped on the internet and found they were symptoms of MS. I have stopped going to the doctors and no longer tell my husband how I feel. I am so tired of feeling horrible and no one being able to tell me what is wrong!

In fact just today a plate completely slipped out of my grip and went crashing to the floor. It happens a few times a year. The last two weeks I have been very spacey too. I hate that feeling and no one has any patience with me when it is happening.

Please let me know if any of the doctors you go to come up with something...Good luck!
 
F

flutterbee

Guest
I don't know about you guys, but I have walls that jump right out in front of me. And I'm pretty sure the kids are laying trip wire and that's why I trip. I'm really not tripping over the carpet. :crazy2:

My least favorite though is when I grab something out of the oven without an oven mitt. Then stand there for a few seconds thinking, Wow, that's hot! and wondering what to do about it. Then after I finally throw it down on top of the stove and run my hand under cold water I go right back and grab the damn thing again. Not that I've done it a few times or anything. :bag:

It does make things interesting, though. My son told me something and I responded and he said, "I've told you this at least 5 times before, Mom." And I asked, 'Really? Tell me again.' And he does and then I say, "I know. You've already told me." pffffffffttttt He's so gullible.

Or my daughter today told me something I had told her. And I said, 'Really? Are you sure? Was I there?' Then she rolls her eyes and makes some comment about me not remembering anything and I told her she needs to work hard at school so she can become a neurologist and fix me. And then make lots of money, too, and buy me a pretty house. She then told me, "I'm not spending my money on YOU." Really then, I guess I'm going to have to rethink your guitar lessons. Rotten child.
 

tryinghard

New Member
wyntersgrace!

OMG that is me to a tee! My family gets so mad at me because they say the tell me things over and over and then I ask the same question again! HONESTLY I do not remember AT ALL. It kind of worries me too.

It makes me feel so much better that it is not only me!

I love this board!
 
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