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Does this sound like MS?
I am trying to figure out what is wrong with me and I thought some of you might could help me rule MS out or in. I have not been to the doctor yet. We use natural remedies and I haven't had to go to the doctor for anything in years except to have babies. I will be treating myself with herbs and natural/alternative therapies once diagnosed and we don't have any doctors around here that would be understanding of that (at least that I know of yet). A pharmacist friend of mine suggesting researching the symptoms of MS and comparing them to mine. It seemed to fit better than anything else I had come up with.
Symptoms: Slurred speech, sluggish motor control (typing and handwriting getting slower and more labored), rapid weight gain, arms and legs fall asleep while breastfeeding (didn't happen with first three babies), occasional flare up of joints (diagnosed with bursitis in hip after first baby, pointer finger joint flares up often), lately noticed tiny black spots in right eye, severe dry mouth at night, after a long time of walking, folding laundry, or eating, my legs, arms, and mouth get unusually tired of the activity.
Onset: Age 32, a couple months after third baby was born and lasting for about 1 month, repeated a couple months after 4th baby was born and is kind of taper off now after a month or so.
Reasons why I think it's MS: based on my research, these things fit my experience:
"Between attacks, symptoms may go away completely, but permanent neurological problems often occur, especially as the disease advances." Wikipedia
"The relapsing-remitting subtype is characterized by unpredictable relapses followed by periods of months to years of relative quiet (remission) with no new signs of disease activity." Wikipedia
"Deficits suffered during attacks may either resolve or leave sequelae, the latter being more common as a function of time. This describes the initial course of 85–90% of individuals with MS. When deficits always resolve between attacks, this is sometimes referred to as benign MS." (mine seem to completely resolve for two years) Wikipedia
"Pregnancy affects the susceptibility to relapse, with a lower relapse rate at each trimester of gestation. During the first few months after delivery, however, the risk of relapse is increased." (both of mine started 2-4 months after delivery) (hormonal link as cause of MS?) Wikipedia
"MS usually appears in adults in their thirties but it can also appear in children." Wikipedia
(I am 32. Another source said onset was between 20-40 years old.)
I know some of these symptoms may be completely unrelated, but I am just putting all of this together. Any information will be appreciated. Thanks.
KAH
Symptoms: Slurred speech, sluggish motor control (typing and handwriting getting slower and more labored), rapid weight gain, arms and legs fall asleep while breastfeeding (didn't happen with first three babies), occasional flare up of joints (diagnosed with bursitis in hip after first baby, pointer finger joint flares up often), lately noticed tiny black spots in right eye, severe dry mouth at night, after a long time of walking, folding laundry, or eating, my legs, arms, and mouth get unusually tired of the activity.
Onset: Age 32, a couple months after third baby was born and lasting for about 1 month, repeated a couple months after 4th baby was born and is kind of taper off now after a month or so.
Reasons why I think it's MS: based on my research, these things fit my experience:
"Between attacks, symptoms may go away completely, but permanent neurological problems often occur, especially as the disease advances." Wikipedia
"The relapsing-remitting subtype is characterized by unpredictable relapses followed by periods of months to years of relative quiet (remission) with no new signs of disease activity." Wikipedia
"Deficits suffered during attacks may either resolve or leave sequelae, the latter being more common as a function of time. This describes the initial course of 85–90% of individuals with MS. When deficits always resolve between attacks, this is sometimes referred to as benign MS." (mine seem to completely resolve for two years) Wikipedia
"Pregnancy affects the susceptibility to relapse, with a lower relapse rate at each trimester of gestation. During the first few months after delivery, however, the risk of relapse is increased." (both of mine started 2-4 months after delivery) (hormonal link as cause of MS?) Wikipedia
"MS usually appears in adults in their thirties but it can also appear in children." Wikipedia
(I am 32. Another source said onset was between 20-40 years old.)
I know some of these symptoms may be completely unrelated, but I am just putting all of this together. Any information will be appreciated. Thanks.
KAH
Hello, and welcome to the MS forum.
You could well have MS, but you could have other conditions too. Only the medical establishment can perform the needed tests to find out what's actually going on and eliminate the MS mimics. That can be a long and tedious process, but many of us have found it well worthwhile in the final analysis.
If you're asking whether you can treat MS with so-called natural remedies, the answer is basically no. You are free to try whatever you think might help, but I have to tell you that others have done that without good results.
Wishing you well as you sort out what's going on with you.
ess
You could well have MS, but you could have other conditions too. Only the medical establishment can perform the needed tests to find out what's actually going on and eliminate the MS mimics. That can be a long and tedious process, but many of us have found it well worthwhile in the final analysis.
If you're asking whether you can treat MS with so-called natural remedies, the answer is basically no. You are free to try whatever you think might help, but I have to tell you that others have done that without good results.
Wishing you well as you sort out what's going on with you.
ess
Oh, and fatigue! Fatigue of this new thing added to the fatigue of keeping house while nursing a newborn! Can't overlook that!
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