Fevers causing MS attack?

[markaysha]

When I was 30 (I am now 70)  I had a very high fever, numbness and pain in my legs, weakness for a month - symptoms that much later I realized must have been my first MS episode.  Since then, until 8 years ago, I never, ever had an exacerbation.  In the last 8 years, I have been hospitalized 3 times because of fevers, which cause me to totally collapse.  Twice I was given amoxicillin for other medical problems, and it gave me a fever!  I didn't get the connection until the second time.

Question- Do I have primary or secondary MS, and is it common for fevers to affect MS people this way?
Question - Shouldn't people with MS be warned about drugs that can cause fever?

[supermum_ms]

Hi again,

I am pleased you came back :o) thank you for clearing up my confusion about already being dx with MS.

So if I've got it right, what your saying is that you are dx with MS, 10+ years after that first fever episode by an MRI BUT in all years since being dx with MS, you have only ever had reactions to 'fevers' and never had a true relapse at all.

Then i can only come up with a few possible explanations, fevers significantly increase your core temperature and MS research has shown that even a small increase in core temp will negatively affect a person who has MS. This in the main will bring about what's called a pseudo exacerbation, it's a temporarily worsening of their MS symptoms (sx's) whilst their temp is increased but once their temp is cooled back to normal, their sx will settle back to their prior normal again. A pseudo isn't the same as a new attack or exacerbation but it's a direct result of having demyelinating lesions.

If your treating neurologist hasn't revoked or rethought your dx because from what you've explained so far, your not exactly typical, then i'd have to think that you probably don't have the most common type of MS relapsing remitting (RRMS), especially if you have never ever experienced a relapse. PPMS is then a possibility, especially if its been a slow progression of worsening and adding sx's from the beginning and your sx dont ever go away or get better.

[A relapse is the return of prior sx's, the worsening of sx's you already have and or experiencing a new sx and it needs to only lasts as little as 24 hours or more.]

Without ever having experienced relapses, that would make secondary progressive less likely because its a transition from RRMS but i really think if you are really concerned about what type of MS you have, even if you are questioning your dx after so long or what ever . It is probably better if you contact your neurologist to discuss any of these thoughts because it is something your neurologist really should be able to help you with.

Cheers..............JJ          

[SarahL2491]

maybe a new MRI to see if new lesions present?  
still don't think the fever caused the MS

Don't understand the primary or secondary MS question.  
There is RRMS which is what it sounds like you have

Other forms of MS are always there, no remissions.  Please read our pages to the right of the forum for tons of information covering the types of MS and the symptoms that accompany them.

I too am 70 and have MS, have had it for years but couldn't prove it, and am looking at a foot brace but use a cane.

Do you see a neuro on a regular basis?  Take a DMD drug?  If you think these fevers contribute to your relapses, then your neuro needs to be aware of your concerns!

Welcome to our forum and we hope you share more about your condition with us

[markaysha]

I obviously forgot to mention that about 10-12 years after that fever at 30, I was diagnosed with MS through an MRI.  Now (at 70)my right leg is very weak and I use a walker.  But I have never had a full blown exaserbation, just reactions to fevers.    Fever is one of the side affects listed for Amoxicillin.

[markaysha]

I obviously forgot to say that about 10-12 after that first fever/weakness at age 30, I was given a diagnosis of MS after an MRI.  Now I use a walker, but I stil have never had a full blow exaserbation.

[SarahL2491]

I agree with JJ, I just don't see MS anywhere from what you have told us.

I also have never heard of Amoxicillin giving anyone a fever!

Can you tell us more about yourself and why you think you have MS?

You'd need MRI and tons of blood work and rule out over 30 mimic diseases to get a diagnosis, if then.

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

I'm sorry but i'm a little confused, your first question "Do I have primary or secondary MS?" Have you already been diagnosed with MS or are you wondering if you 'could' have MS?

There isn't anything that you have mentioned to indicate what type of MS (if any) that you may possibly have. Fevers are not specifically a sx of MS, although infections have been known to cause pseudo (false) flares or if bad enough can help push someone into a relapse.  

What you described happened 40 years ago sounds more like a viral infection to me, and with a 32 year gap between having something similar happen to you, its possible that it is unrelated to what has happened to you, 3 times in the last 8 years.

Sorry for the confusion but i'm having difficulty working out the connection to MS with what information you've provided, forgive me its an incredibly HOT day over here!

Cheers...........JJ