MS and feeling okay?

[luvnGod]

Hi Everyone!

Again, I am a bit new here, so sometimes feel very silly asking questions, but I have been experiencing some awful things for the last 3 months and this past week have slowly felt like myself again.  My energy has come back a tad bit, some of the numbness and heaviness in my face is gone, the pain in my face has only hit me a couple of times compared to daily, my legs haven't spasmed near as much and a lot of the tingling and numbness in my leg and arm haven't been so bad and my lower back pain hasn't plagued me in the last 4 days!!!  I feel so badly talking about feeling a little better when I know you all are suffering.  Just wondering, can this happen with MS?

I know I've read about the relapsing-remitting, but is that what happens?  A couple of my close friends that have seen me "not acting right" as they say, have expressed, "Good it must not be MS, because you seem to be feeling a bit better."

Also, another question, have any of you had the pain, numbness, tingling, tightness on one side of your body and all the sudden a week or so later it has now moved to the other side of your body?

Thanks everyone ahead of time!  God put it in my heart when I discovered this board that it will become a family for me and I truly believe that!  Love to you all!

[jensequitur]

>  A couple of my close friends that have seen me "not acting right" as they say, have expressed, "Good it must not be MS, because you seem to be feeling a bit better."

As I think you know, that's just silly - spoken out of ignorance.  As everybody else here has said, RRMS is a disease of relapse and remission.  Often I don't know that I'm in a flare until I start getting better - then I realize I'm better!

[luvnGod]

Thank you so much to everyone responding!  What beautiful, amazing people you are!  

I have had so many ups and downs the last several weeks/months and this forum has helped me tremendously!  To give you a bit of background....I saw my family doctor in November who felt my symptoms were consistent with MS.  He then referred me to a neuro and I saw him on Dec. 1st.  I had an MRI of the brain on December 6th, VEP and EEG on Dec, 7th and according to the neuro's receptionist all came back okay.  

I follow up with my neuro on January 12th to discuss a treatment plan.  I know my reflexes and several things were off during the physical exam, so I'm not sure if he's going to go ahead and treat for MS or he has something else in mind.  Still in limbo.  

I've had feelings for a quite a while that MS is a strong possibility, but regardless of what happens and amongst the frustration I'm doing my best to "Let go and Let God!"

Thank you again for all of your responses.  I feel truly blessed to have found you all!
Stacie

[Sparkysarah]

Hi there

Just to welcome you to the forum and to say what a lovely post and you will find friends here..that is for certain!  I think that Alex has hit the mark in her explanation of what happens with inflammation.

Nothing is unusual with MS, everything is unpredicatable and how it presents is individual to each of us. I have experienced symptoms first on one side and then on another at different times and this is far more likely than both sides being affected at the same time.

Make the most of the good times and celebrate..I think it is a matter of getting to know your body, the new you and understanding when you are going through a good patch.

Take care and keep well.

Best wishes

Sarah :)

[HVAC]

There are to things that happen in MS one is inflammation. When there is inflammation you have symptoms and when the inflammation subsides then the symptoms subside.

The other thing is nerve damage. Once nerves are damaged those symptoms do not go away. At first in nerve damage the nerve is like a wire whose coating is damaged and it short circuits. Later the wire gets cut all together and the signal is broken.

The three places this disease attacks and it is different for every one is the brain, the optic nerve, and the spinal cord. The brain is actually the best place to have damage because their is more room to make new pathways.

The tricky thing with MS is you have progression with or with out symptoms. Also MRIs  show little of the damage. Most damage is gray matter damage which does not show up on  most MRIs. I have had MS for over 40 years and only have three brain lesions and a Progressive form of MS that is mostly nerve damage.

The good and bad news is no two cases of MS are exactly alike. You will not get every symptom of MS. No one not even a Doctor can predict how your MS will go. If you have RRMS and they get you on a DMD you have a very good chance.

Yes it is possible for symptoms to jump around. I am glad you are doing well. Never apologize for feeling better. Enjoy every good moment you have.

Alex

[figuerpa]

Ditto on what wiggles said

Don't ever feel bad about telling us that you are feeling well, it is always refreshing to hear someone talk about something good instead of all the problems we have. Don't get me wrong we are here for ranting and asking questions it is just nice to hear a good story.

I am so glad you are feeling better, I post on here when I am feeling better cause it is awersom to hear that news!!!!

Take Care and do what wiggles said, try to educate your friends and let them know how it made you feel when they said that. They werent trying to be rude but some people just don't get it. Maybe have some MS papers and articles laying around your house for them to look through to try to get a better understanding of what is going on if they pick it up and read it that is.


Paula

[Nunzia32]

Hi! I just joined the site as well. In reading your post I would say you had an excaserbation(hate that word can never spell it). Since your symptoms lasted for more than a day or 2. If something like that happens again contact your neuro & get on IV steroids, it will help.
As far as symptoms moving from 1 side to the other, that has happened to me in the past w/ flair ups - if I get stressed or over heated. They go away after a day or so.
I have learned to speak very openly w/  my MS neuro & nurse. That is the only way to get the proper help & treatment. It was difficult for me to really say how I felt to the doctor, I don't like to complain. But it only hurt me, so now I tell all my doc's just like it is.
The National MS Society has a good site w/ educational info, that may be of some help to you.
I wish you all the luck on your journey. Have a wonderful Christmas!
Smile & have a Happy day.
Nunzia

[wiggles94]

Hi and welcome,
I found this board in Oct (was dx in Feb) and have found smart/compassionate people - and no questions are silly!  This MS stuff is CRAZY!  

Glad to hear you are feeling better, and in RRMS that is what happens.  Friends mean well when they make comments like you stated in your posting, but they don't understand this disease.  If you feel up to it, and they are open to it, you could educate them.

As to your question about the pain, numbness etc moving to the other side of the body - I have not personally experienced anything that dramatic.  My pain/numbess, tingling hit the same places pretty consistently.  But everyone's MS is unique and it's very hard to compare with what others are experiencing.  

I would suggest that you keep a journal of what you experience so you can share it with your neuro.  It will help them treat you as you move forward.

I love your last paragraph!
Feel well and glad you're here (but not glad for the reason! :()
Carol
PS - It's a celebration when someone is feeling well!  YAHAOHAOAHOHAH