Jack Osborne

Question

I just heard on the Today Show that Jack Osborne, 26 year old son of Ozzy and Sharon Osborn has been diagnosed with MS. This disease doesn't care if you are rich or poor, famous or not.

OzzyFan · Answer

Although not the cause of MS, yeast overgrowth is related to the disease's worsening.  If the history includes antibiotics, a diet including lots of sugary or refined, processed foods then a corrective diet could alleviate a lot of symptoms.  Check out a book called the yeast connection handbook by Crook, md to find out more about this which could help lots of people who are unaware.

Althia · Answer

Feb.2007:  weakness and numbness on my right side.  Hospitalized for 3 days and all I got was"we think it may be a type of demylinating disease".  Good thing I had been a RN for 20 yrs.+, so this mumbo-jumbo I understood.  March 2007: After a failed LP where a very experienced neurologist could not get any fluid-my back and lumbar muscles seized up. April 2007: Shortly after this I was fired from my job and lost my health insurance.  It would take another 8 months-Dec 2007- to get a final diagnosis--I had MS!  At least during the previous 3 months I was under the care of a wonderful MD who choose to treat me as if I had already been diagnosed and my symptoms were attended to. Now 4 years later and a RN career gone-but i still have the knowledge- I manage from day to day, each day different from before, new symptoms may or may not pop-up;  not to mention the numerous pills taken 3-4 times a day( for various symptoms) and injections (to ???? keep the MS relapses at the door)!  This disease really *****.  Everyone is different and people need to realize that no two of us are that same!  

Jack: My heart aches for you and your family; and my prayers go out to you too!  Educate yourself as much as possible, ask questions and make informed decisions. Enjoy your new baby, family and life. I wish I could say that each day things will get better; some will be good and some won't. Just try to understand that you did not do this to yourself and you have your family and US(Your MS brothers and sisters)-a new family behind you!

kwarendorf · Answer

Time Magazine went right to the source and posted as simple and accurate description of MS as I've seen in the mass media. They spoke with Dr. Timothy Coetzee and Dr. Rosalind Kalb from the Nat'l. MS Soc. 

You can seed it here:

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/06/19/jack-osbournes-ms-after-the-diagnosis/#ixzz1yKu61suH

http://healthland.time.com/2012/06/19/jack-osbournes-ms-after-the-diagnosis/

Kyle

thenea · Answer

I hope I didn't come off a insensitive and I'm not trying to downplay Jack Osbourne's plight, but as some of you already mentioned, half the battle is dealing with the incredible cost of MS.  Thankfully, at the very least, I had free access to this community.  I wouldn't have had the slightest clue about how to proceed, where to get assistance, etc.  High-fives for everyone here.

Also, is anyone else cringing over the entertainment news coverage of MS in the last 48 hours?  So much misinformation!  I have RRMS and I swear they make it sound like a diagnosis will ultimately end in a life of paralysis, blindness and excruciating pain.  It really is a shame they don't highlight a broader spectrum of the MS community and instead piece together clips of the most debilitated individuals they can find, exploiting them for dramatic effect.  Sheesh.

debgen · Answer

I am so happy to read everyone 's reaction to the news. I had the same feelings watching Sharon O. and Dr. S. It actually makes me angry because Jack will have the money and opportunities for the best care, while the press will portray him as a brave warrior battling this crappy disease. Truthfully I lthink we are all battling this together, most of us without the resources that Jack will have. You are all hero's!!!
Xxx
Deb

bubbles_04 · Answer

Ojibajo and Jacksmom516, I am so saddened to hear this. I really do hate the healthcare system in the US. I really think a national healthcare system is critical. Having a life long illness is enough to worry about without healthcare bills on top of that. You should have treatment and you shouldn't have to worry about how you will pay for it. I have good insurance but still worry everytime I get a letter from the hospital or my dr. Not how we should live our lives.

As for Jack Osbourne, I am very happy he came out. I hope that by being so honest about the disease and their emotions surrounding this situation, they will being more awareness to MS and everyone suffering with it.

Jacksmom516 · Answer

Yes MS su_cks and it su_cks for us all but the basic fact that when it strikes someone who can afford treatment and a less stressful environment it may actually suck less!  I work 7 days a week to pay for my treatments.  I am lucky I found a PT clinic that pays for my PT.  I have not had to put out any money, but my deductible and copays force me to work all the time with no end in sight.  I know the stress of working and worrying about money is not good for my MS but the alternative is not good either.  Going off my meds or not having a place to live would probably be more detrimental to this disease than working all the time!  So I do what I do and luckily the MS has been laying low right now!

doublevision1 · Answer

I don't think I realized you had to go off your DMD.  That is very tough and I'm really sorry that you have all this additional stress on you.

Ojibajo · Answer

When I was told they suspected that I had MS, my employer had just changed to a high deductible ($3000) PPOM. I am still paying off last year and I the bills are currently floating in for this year and I can't afford to pay them. I went off of my DMDs because my deductible hadn't been met and they are $3100/month. This disease has put me into a personal financial crisis and some days I just cry because I don't know what I am going to do. Other days I tell myself that crying isn't going to do any good. But it is a burden that hangs over my head like the blackest storm cloud.

doublevision1 · Answer

http://todayhealth.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/18/12281791-lucky-for-jack-osbourne-ms-prognosis-better-than-its-ever-been?lite

doublevision1 · Answer

And yes, again with Snyderman and her misinformation.  We discussed this last year and before that in '08.  

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/Today-Show/show/1543608

She is (or was) a head & neck surgeon, not gynecologist, but your point s well made Ojibajo, that she's clearly outside of her area of expertise when discussing MS.  

Interestingly, there is a piece on the Today Show website which appears to be a summary of today's segment along with more info from the neurologist who spoke in the pre-recorded clip that they played.  His name happens to be Dr. Snyder.  Anyway in that piece on the website he makes the point that MS in men is NOT rare.  Perhaps this was specifically said to counter Snyderman's erroneous remarks.

supermum_ms · Answer

I saw this on ninemsn news last night, recent changes now allow additional facebook commentary, i was somewhat annoyed at the stupid comments people tend to make when they know absolutely nothing but feel compelled to blow their hot air of self importance, at the rest of the world. A few myths etc but the people making the most noise were more focused on the American medical system, lol i really wanted to knock some heads together for missing the point - MS cares not who you are!

One of the issue i see with any dr in the public eye, it doesn't matter what their speciality is or was, if something comes out of their mouth, its taken by the majority of the people watching, as factual so they are duty bound in my opinion, to know what they are talking about before they open it.

Sharon put the emotional eliment into the public eye, parents all over the world bleed for our kids, money, social status etc makes no difference, we are all the same, when they are hurting, we hurt along with them. I am as sorry for their pain as i am for anyone, anywhere, MS su_cks!

Cheers........JJ

doublevision1 · Answer

When I was dx'ed I was very scared and very tearful. I grieved a LOT.  I remember being very grateful and acutely aware of the fact I was lucky that at least I didn't have to worry about finances, especially when I found out the astonishing cost of meds, which are not even as high here as in the U.S.  The idea that I would have to pay out of pocket for any of my care was and is unfathomable to me, and not having that stress and worry allowed me to focus on coming to terms with my dx.  The Osbournes are certainly very fortunate to have the means to deal with this and not go broke over it.  So many others are struggling and that must make the whole ordeal that much more overwhelming.

Lulu54 · Answer

I can sure understand the tears and fears of seeing that type of medical bill. I am so glad you found a way to keep it from hanging over your head. This is definintely not a cheap disease and managing the finances takes a lot of time and energy that I wish we could spend elsewhere.

thenea · Answer

"The one thing that people like Jack Osbourne and other celebrities have to their advantage is that they can probably afford their treatment. "

I was watching Sharon on The Talk today as she burst into tears, her entire panel choking up.  All I could think about was the day I was diagnosed.  I didn't cry when my neurologist told me I had MS, I cried when he told me how much the Betaseron would cost without health insurance.  I cried even harder when I received a $17k hospital bill for the 5 days I spent getting one test after another, MRIs, an LP and IVSM.

Luckily I was able to get assistance for both that bill and my medication but it's amazing how much time I spent preoccupied with my financial status and how little time I spent grieving or going through the motions when I first found out I had MS.

Ojibajo · Answer

We need to remember that Dr. Nancy is a GYNOCOLOGIST, so her experience with other things is probably limited to her medical school days, umteen years ago. So it seems to me that a lot of the things that she says about things not OBGYN related to to be sort of the "Old School of Thought" stuff. Do women get MS more then men? Yes. Are men with MS rare? No.  I have heard about keeping a symptom diary and I tried for a while, but honestly I am too busy and too forgetful to keep up with it. I don't think that it has helped me avoid symptom triggers. It has helped me to remember what BAD shape I was in last year and how much better I am doing now.

Sadly I think that there are a lot of people, even doctors who have "old school" beliefs regarding MS.
 
Even my neurologist I don't think is particularly well schooled on MS. I complained about trouble hear and she said, "That's not a symptom of MS"  Well no, that's not a common symptom but hearing issues in MS are not unheard of.


I don't know if Dr. Nancy truly feels we can CONTROL the path of the disease, or if she just used a poor choice of words. I certainly can't CONTROL my disease, but I can try to avoid SOME of the things that make my symptoms worse such as heat. Unfortunately I can't afford work. :) I can try different things to manage my symptoms.  I have found that massage helps with my spastisity. (<-- Does anyone know how to spell that word?).  But none of them will change the course of my disease.

The one thing that people like Jack Osbourne and other celebrities have to their advantage is that they can probably afford their treatment. 

I'm actually thinking about writing Dr. Nancy. I think members of the medical community should be better educated and more careful of what they say. MS is already so misunderstood and inaccurate generalizations by medical professions don't help our case much.

Lulu54 · Answer

Dr Nancy strikes again - the conversation they just had on Today had her usual generalities that give such a wrong perception of MS.  Including :
-It is rare for Men to have MS
-MSers have to keep detailed diaries of their triggers so they can avoid  them
and
-There is a  mind- body connection and MSers can control their disease by being athletic, having massage and doing meditation.

I know these few minute spots don't allow the complete story of MS, but I sure wish they would stop putting out there that people with MS can control their disease.  IT perpetuates the myth that 'if you only try harder'  ..........

I'm sorry Jack Osbourne has joined the club and hope his MS responds to all the therapies.

Lulu54 · Answer

I just heard that same story coming up on the Today show.  You are so right that MS  does not discriminate and is an equal opportunity disease - everyone is susceptible.