Continued... for my friend

[Fuel1212]

I was on last week asking about certain symptoms my friend was having. He recently had a spinal tap and blood work. The dr says they are 95% sure it is MS. Are spinal fluid and blood work that confirming? He is supposed to have 2 mri's late next week.

He is really suffering and things are getting worse for him? Should they be so laxed with this? Shouldn't they start treatment immediately before more damage is done?

Last.. If you are from IL especially the Naperville area, I would love to get the names or resources for MS specific docs in the area. PM me please.

Thanks for all your help!

[Fuel1212]

Thanks all! I think prayers and support should help also.

I will keep you all posted. I hope you all are doing well!

Thanks again
Fuel

[Deb61]

You have gotten really good advise, so I don't have anything to add.  I just wanted to reinforce what a valuable friend you are.  It sure helps to have good friends when going through tough times like this . . .

Thank you so much for keeping us posted!

[sllowe]

Hi there,

Thank you for keeping us posted. Sorry for his dx, but glad he knows early so he can be treated and hopefully slow any progression. He can totally be a mechanic with MS. He'll know his limitations soon enough and work around them when he has too.

With a good friend beside him like you, he's going to get through all this.  Being the sole provider of his family - it's going to be very important he and his wife attend some newly dx'd seminars. You should go too - That way, you'll all do this all together. And, the kids will fall in line w/your lead!

thank you for being a part of our community
-Shell

[Lulu54]

Fuel,
If your friend has not already done so, he might want to look into disability insurance.  Because he has now been dx'd that is going to cost more.  And he might not even be able to find it, but it would be worth looking into.

Depending on the course of his MS, this type of work may become very difficult for him to do.  Automobile work can be physically demanding and involves hand dexterity to hold those tools and strong legs and back to move into the right position to work on these machines.  But I'm sure you have already thought of these points.

Tell your friend that we are here if he or his wife want to pop through and chat with us.  The weekends can be pretty slow but it picks up through the week.  

be well,
Lulu

[Fuel1212]

Lulu- Thanks a bunch! This is all good information. I know that my friend and his family especially his wife will be interested in hearing this information.

As far as the Neuro goes, I guess they are pretty happy with her so far. We will see how the treatment goes, and I will keep all of you in the loop.

My concern with this is that he works on cars and is the only provider for his wife and 3 children. I am hoping this disease will not take that away from him. :(

Thank you !

[Lulu54]

And for the neuro in IL -  are  you still looking for recommendations ?  You can always filter our community members list and look for people in your area and write to them with your question.

How about it folks - is anyone from the Naperville area and able to help?

[Lulu54]

Hi Fuel, We haven't officially met yet, at least I don't think we have.  You and your friend are fortunate to be going through this together.  

The A drug he will be doing is Avonex.  It is given as a shot, intramuscular, once a week.  You will want to search here and read some tips about taking Avonex.  There are some side effects and he will want to minimize those as much as possible.  I believe almost eveyrone does this injection before bedtime and tries to sleep off the flu like symptoms that most people get from it.  There is also the complication of depression and his liver function will have to be screened regularly.  

None of the disease modifying drugs (DMD's) are available throguh regular pharmacies - they are all specialty drugs.   Whatever company that he deals with for his presciptions will work with him to keep his supply on hand.  

As for the age of his lesions, I would be curious to know what the neuro bases this on... if they are enhancing (means active) that would be one clue.  That the lesion on his spine is younger than the ones on his brain means that this MiSerable disease is still progressing and needs to be agressively treated to slow or stop it.  

I hope some of this is of use to you - please come back and ask all the questions you can think of.  We're happy to help fill in the blanks.

best wishes to both of you,
Lulu

[Fuel1212]

Not sure if any of you subscribed to this, but my friend was confirmed with MS :( They found a lesion on his spine as well as about 3 on his brain. The Neuro said that the lesion on his brain were older? What does this mean? Is this a good thing.

He is supposed to start a shot a week of something that starts with "A" I guess you can't get it at pharmacies.

All in all he is feeling better and most of the numbness has subsided. Lets hope this treatment works!

[Fuel1212]

Cool, that's what I am looking for. I will see what I can find. I figure, I am on the computer all the time, and enjoy researching so why not help others especially friends!

This site has given me new hope in man kind. Maybe its just where I live, but it seems like a rat race... survival of the fittest out there. It's nice to come to a warm loving place, where people care.

Have a good weekend all

[The_Lorelei]

Hi, Fuel!

The MS Society is great for finding more information.  I know that when I was looking for a new doctor that specialized in MS they were able to email me a listing.  You may want to try giving them a call.  Here's their website http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx   They can also give you names of MS resources or assistance in the area.

I also just wanted to say that your friend is very lucky to have someone like you in their corner.  I hope that whatever your friend is suffering from it gets resolved very soon. Best wishes!

- Dawn

[Fuel1212]

Ess thanks, we'll pray MRI comes out good.

If anyone from IL reads this, please feel free to recommend a good MS doc if you know of one.

Thanks!

[essdipity]

Hi aga in, Fuel. You're a very good friend.

Spinal fluid and various blood work are not conclusive in themselves, but together with other findings can make MS a very likely possibility. MS is a clinical diagnosis, after all. The right findings on his upcoming MRIs will likely seal the deal.

I know your friend is suffering, but I don't think the medical world is being lax with him. He is having tests and workups on an excellerated basis. Even though his pain may be increasing, this does not mean he is getting irreversibly worse from an MS perspective. Once he is diagnosed, he will likely be prescribed one of the disease-modifying meds, but these do not stop MS in its tracks, nor do they lessen current symptoms. There are, though, meds for symptoms which can help him feel better as he goes through this process.

Unfortunately this can be a long and tedious deal. Please read up on MS treatment, and be there as a comforting and diverting presence for him.

Sending good wishes,
ess