Possible ms pls help..

[harrie]

I had possible ms diagnosis 5 years ago as it is in my family, i am on rebif interferon,  i have an 8 mth old baby, i am at work full time & the last few days, i have felt numbness in my upper left arm, i am really scared to go back to neuro in the case of him confirming ms based on this. i exercise a lot & don't know if the numbness is from to much exercise & the fact that i think i am burning myself out.
also i am panicking thinking what if i cant look after my baby, can you please advise..i feel like i am at breaking point....i don't even know if i am doing the right thing continuing to work..

[supermum_ms]

I'm assuming that this neuro isn't an MS specialist, because the "..need 3 episodes for a final dx" comment doesn't fit in with the Mcdonald Criteria which is recognised world wide for an MS dx. Truth is, only 1 'clinical' episode is needed, if there is also enough evidence on MRI to meet time and space eg person has clinical episode of optic neuritis (ON) + MRI evidence of 2+ T2 brain lesions 'and or' at least 1 new lesion that lights up 'and or' 1+ spinal lesion.

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple-Sclerosis/Diagnosing-MS---The-McDonald-Criteria-Revised-2005-CHART/show/506?cid=36

The McDonald Ctiteria is a 'guide' to aid dx, its been revised numerous times because MS is difficult to dx. The guide when it first came out actually made it harder to get dx, it was interpreted to the letter and MS doesn't play out that way. There was also a reliant on MRI evidence and lesion counting, the revision tried to minimise this but unfortunately it still happens despite their attempts to fix it.

Do you actually know what your MRI report says, and maybe more important would be if you have had any other MRI's since the first 5 years  ago and if there were chances etc?

I'm really sorry your in this possition! :o(

It does seem odd, for any neuro to put someone on a DMD for 5 years but still keep them in the 'possible MS' catagory. I really think it maybe time for a second opinion, so you know for sure if you do have MS or not. Getting MS confirmed by a neurologist that specialises in MS, sort of seems like it should be a prioriety after all this time. I dont know how long your neuro is going to keep you hanging, but still treating you for a disease he/she isn't willing to call, i think you've been hanging for too long already!

Hugs...............JJ

[harrie]

Thank you for replies, i had one clinical episode & the neuro said i had mild evidence on mri & based on my family history he had thought it was ms, he changed my life that day, it was only when i contacted him 2 years ago he told me i would need 3 episodes for a final dx, so im just living each day as it comes, im trying to relax as things could be so much worse.

[HVAC]

If you have MS and I do not know if you do people often have relapses after having babies. Pregnancy actually helps MS symptoms and then after the hormones go back to normal MS rears its head.

On the upside there are many parents out their with MS who do okay. Many people who know they have MS have children. MS is not a great disease but it does not mean your life is over or you can't have a good life. I have had MS for 47 year and live a pretty happy life. I did not have real problems until I was 47 and I have learned to adjust to all those. Projecting into the future and deciding all kinds of bad things were going to happen was my only real bad point. Things happen to me as they happen and I deal with them.

You have just had a baby and normal women have issues after such an event. My best friend had her first seven month ago and she does not have MS and she is tired and has muscle pain and she has no illness.

Only a Doctor can say whether you are having normal post pregnancy things or MS so it is important to check it out.

Alex

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome to our little MS community! If you have done so yet, please have a look at our health pages. You'll find them just to the right of your screen, you'll find many answers to your questions and they are well worth the time to read.

To be honest the only reason why i hadn't responded yet, was my confusion, sorry but usually if your on one of the DMD's (disease modifying drugs) which is what Rebif is, then usually you already have a dx of MS, or at the least CIS (clinical isolated syndrome) and then again its still rare to get put on a DMD with CIS, hence my confusion.

There must of been clinical and MRI evidence beyond having a family member with MS, to suspect you may have MS. Having someone in your family with MS, even if thats a first relative eg Mother, doesn't increase the stats very much at all, not enough for concern that MS is hereditary like other autoimmune conditions.

Ok, getting back to your question, its possible that your having a relapse, if this is the first since starting Rebif, a 5 year gap would suggests that the DMD is probably working for you. It is 'very' common for women to relapse, in the months after they have given birth, major decisions are not good to be making if your in relapse. Its better to wait, not react through panic and be more your self first. So i wouldn't be quitting work with your current sx, being a stay at home mom is a full time job, i worked with my first & stayed at home with my second. Sometimes depending on the job, it just maybe harder work staying at home, think about it with a clear head.

I know you dont want to contact your neuro but i really think you need to let him/her know your current sx's, you have options like IVSM seroids to shorten the attack. So take a breath and make the call!

Again welcome!

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