Stress and MS

[nncdalton]

I was wondering if stress can really make us worse. I have had a stressful job for a few years now but I think that I have done fine with it, I would get frustrated but not emotional. Then my husband had to move to Europe for 18 months. The company was not going to let him go unless I was OK with it because wives usually relocate too. But my husband and I had discussed all fo the options and at the time thought that this would further his career ALOT and that mine was just taking off and that our relationship and love for each other was strong and it is, no problems there,and he does come home quite a bit.
BUT
Since he has been gone I have had a broken hip that had to be replaced due to osteonecrosis which can be caused by steroids. I have broken 2 toes. I have lost one of my cats to cancer. My dog punctured his testicle and got an infection and almost died the same day that my husband was flying home for the holidays. He flew United and the flight number was 903 which freaked me out ( I know that it is stupid and superstitous). I was so upset that night waiting for my husband and my dog to be OK.
The next week I had the worse episode that I have ever had.
Am I just having a hard time because this is the first time that I have been alone in the real world, or is the stress of this whole situation making me tired all of the time? I don't want to do anything once I get home from work but watch TV and sleep.
I am not writing this for sympathy. I want to see if others have gone through bouts of extreme stress and then had a body malfunction or an episode. I took care of my mother for 2 years while she died of cancer and I did not have stress like this. I feel that I am overwhelmed sometimes. I am on Cymbalta and something for my nerves but even with all of that I still feel stressed, especially after this last episode because it was such an insult to what I was already dealing with and it is also a slap with the MS hand reminding me that it's still there too.
Sorry to unload, but I am so in need of some support.

Christy D

[rendean]

Hi,
I currently do not have an MS diagnosis as yet but so have many of the sympotms. My life is great but is not without stress. Fulltime job in a law office, 2 in college and a teenager at home.  When my spech started slurring in the past month or so my neurologist said it was due to too much stress on an already taxed neurological system. He wrote a letter to my boss to lighten my work days and several other adjustments have been made with the help of my wonderful hubby. It worked! Now, my speech is pretty clear, overdo it and back comes the slurring and dysarthria (medical term for it ).

So, yes I agree. Stress exacerbates the MS symptoms.

Take care,
Rendean

[Jitterbuggin]

I don't know much about MS yet since I am just going through testing, etc.  But I do know about stress.  I think that when you were caring for your mother it may have been easier since you had your husband by your side to listen to the issues of the day.  Just talking to someone (like here) who understands helps with stress.  Sometimes when I just vent to a friend I feel soooo much better, even if my situation hasn't changed.  So if you can't be wth your hubby, make sure you have a support system of some type...whether it's family, friends, church, a counselor, or your on line buddies who care, and talk and let go of the problems of the day.  I was going to mention that pets are relaxing and help with stress...but then again with your dog and his testicle issue...

I get that!  I came home to 3 cats, one of whom decided not to use the litter box for some unknown reason and left me a present...a smelly one at that.  So forget the pet idea, sometimes they cause stress!  LOL

I don't have any magic answers, but just know that others care, will keep you in their prayers, and wish you the best.  

[jensequitur]

I don't know about you, but the littlest things seem to stress me out.  Stuff that wouldn't have bothered me five years ago really drives me nuts now.  I know that I'm susceptible to emotional lability, so I guess it's in that category.

[opie74]

Christy,

God love your heart!  It sounds as though you really need a vacation.  Can you go visit your husband?  If his company was willing to relocate you, do you htink that they might pay for a visit?  Can you get time off from your job?  Your plate is entirely too full.  

When I quit my job, I was in alot of stress.  I had a7 moold and a 2yr,7mo old.  I was working too many hours, and Lived for the weekends.  I would pray for my friend to keep them on Friday night so that I could get some sleep.  I became an emotional wreck.  I held it together at work, though.  I never let my employer or students see me sweat!  That was not the health thing to do, but you know southerners and appearances.....

I will be praying for you. My situation was not as bad as yours, but I did learn that stress does a number on MS.  I had an increase of 5 lesions in that year alone.  Please take some time to recharge you pattery.