MS is also Bi-Polar?

[Spuk]

A family member boldly tells me this week that she read where people with MS ALSO have bi-polar disease! She said MS is the SAME AS BI-POLAR??? Please dear GOD tell me this Wrong!  I am so shocked by the comment I can't begin to think about having Another illness to treat! Please...anyone...help!

[DeeBeeMee]

Where did she get her info?  Never heard of that.  

I'm sure there are some people who may have both MS and bi-polar disease (or a host of any other diseases), but that doesn't mean it's automatically the case.  

People who make such blanket statements should be made to cite their sources.

[essdipity]

Please waste no more time or tears on that comment. It's totally wrong, and sounds downright malicious.

If you want solid and accurate info on MS, the Nat'l MS Society's site has that. Also, please try MedHelp's patient MS forum, especially its Health Pages.

ess

[Lulu54]

Hi Spuk,
This person is absolutely wrong.  MS is a disease of the central nervous system while Bi-polar is a psychiatric diagnosis.  They are not connected.  That said, it is always possible to have more than one disease present at  a time.  

Come on over to the patient run MS forum here at medhelp and we can kick this around more if you would like.  

be well,
Lulu

[Dr. Daniel Kantor, MD]

MS is NOT bipolar.

While there may be an association in some people where they have both diagnoses, MS is your body attacking itself -- both the myelin (white matter covering of the nerves) and the axons (the nerves) themselves.

Bipolar disorder is clinical depression plus an episode of mania.

[jed9999]

Hi--I just read where they got this misinformation. If you go to MSWorld (MSIF) it's under the introductory article. Cognitive problems are listed under pain.

  See :
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis-MS/MS-is-also-Bi-Polar/show/797633


What a typical misinterpretation!  It's excellent info on cognitive problems in MS. Jane

[Weakandfalling]

Not to worry!  My son is bipolar, but he certainly does not have any signs of MS whatsoever.  Unlike me, he does not think sleep is necessary.  I'm actually envious of his ability to function on little or no sleep!!

WAF

[catasawrus]

i have bi polar and ms and i can say with 100% certainty that they have nothing to do with each other. my psychiatrist sees no link, i was there doing a medication check looking at ms medications and my bipolar 2 weeks ago, and the neurologist agrees. but they can present similar stuff every now and then. eg being moody or cranky is an experience common to both but in the person diagnosed with bi-polar and for the one with ms then ms is the cause not bipolar and vis versa....well that or a big night out last night lol
i hope your not mortified just because its bi polar, i have that as forementioned, and its got good effective treatments goin for it. id take bi polar over ms anyday. but i didnt get a choice so im happy cruisin along with both. i now work in metal health too fyi.

[Priscilla83]

I was diagnosed as having ADEM in 1999 after having high fever. It was completely healed within months. Not on any medicaitions. In Oct 2008, I got my 1st MS attack followed by the 2nd in Jan 2009 and again in May 2009. I understand that there are cases where ppl with ADEM may end up with MS in the future but based on clinical findings and the symptoms, I have doctors saying my ADEM was monophasic and completely healed and these recurrent attacks and symptoms (fatigue in heat, weakness  in limbs, cant do any sporting activities like before, even the fact that I now need interferon) are MS. My insurance company is trying to argue that ADEM and MS are the same so they don't have to pay me. Can you pls comment on this, thast ADEM and MS are technically different?