MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Hi ladies, can any of you tell me how often you have Brain & Cervical Spine Scans done. Is it every 3 or 6 months. My Neuro now wants me to have scans done in August when it will be near my 6 months since diagnosed, however, I am questioning this as I thought yearly would be more appropriate as I didn't think that things would change so quickly, but maybe I am wrong. Thank you. Kins

Ladies may I ask which Neurologists in Dubai you have been to or maybe we are not allowed to mention on these pages. The medications you have been mentioning I have never heard of, I am just taking Lyrica, but too sure if its helping the pain so much as I would like it to. It would be interesting for me to see what another Neuro would say, most probably further tests first.

Bag Lady & Roman 72 : So sorry to hear that you also have MS, and as I have just been diagnosed recently with MS, I am only now beginning to learn about the disease. However, any further information you may have will be great. I feel that the other ladies on the thread are much more knowledgeable about MS than myself. I never really thought there would have other people on the thread in such a short time of my enquiry last week. Thank you.

Hi ladies M_King : Avonex has never been mentioned to me at all, however, when I was diagnosed with MS, the Neuro did say that it was mild & not active at the time of the MRIs. Although it seems there are other tests which can be done ie LP, to tell you the truth I would be scared to have this done, I did go for a 2nd opinion here in Dubai, but the doctor could not confirm unless an LP was done & also the Evoked Potential Test was done also. At the time in March I thought this is going to be test after test, & therefore, I have not done these tests yet or not sure I will do them.It really is a very costly affair having these tests done, but if it becomes necessary then I will have to do them. Its the bottom of my spine that gives me the problems effecting the whole Pelvic area. However, I think the advice which you got from your Doctor is good advice in that the medicine should be taken now so that your 'not that bad' in your 60's or 70's. Are there many side effects from Avonex? quite honestly its the side-effects of medicine (all medicines) that scare me. AmyAus82: My doctor didnt say which type of MS I have, I didn't know that there was different labels to MS ie RRMS etc. I am taking Lyrica, but in a very small dose as the Neuro knows that I have had a bad side effect to the first medicine which he gave to me. The Lyrica dose I am taking is okay for me, I take it at night time so I am not sure how it would be in the day time, I will have to increase the dose at some point, but I will worry about that later, the first medicine was Cymbalta 30MG and it was awful for me, the Doctor was surprised I think, but I suppose our bodies all react differently. After the MRIs were done, I was shown the white lesions on the brain & the cervical spine, but the doctor said it was not active at that time & he was very happy with that & said Steroid Treatment was not required & also he did not 'think' the MS would progress further, whether its because of my age as I said I have been diagnosed later than some people or so he said, although its not unknown for older people to show the disease, but they may have had it for 20 years & it had not shown itself. The Swank Diet is very interesting, I just don't think I can follow a diet but if the need be then I would certainly try. Through Amazon I have book which is written by Judy Graham who also has MS, it is such a great book & I have been able to relate to many of the things she has written about MS. It has helped me understand more about the disease. I also bought the book 'Cooking Well for MS', so many nice recipes & also gives tips when eating out, shopping guides, cooking tips. My diet doesn't change too much, but I have always been careful what I am eating even before the diagnosis, I eat lots of fish especially Salmon & Chicken with lots of vegetables, usually the vegetables are steamed or maybe stir fried with a little olive oil. I take my Fibre especially for breakfast, I usually have porridge (being that I am a Scot) it has always been my favourite breakfast taken with either bananas or prunes. The Neuro advised me to take the Omegas, Evening P.O. D3, Calcium & B Vitamins, so I am hoping that they are helping in some way. M_King & AmyAus : All your information that you are giving me is so interesting to me as I had said I was only diagnosed few months back & therefore, I have to admit I was not knowledgable about MS. With all your information & my books I am certainly being educated about it. It seems there are only so many questions we can ask the Doctors. If you ladies have read any books about MS I would be interested to know there titles, thank you so much.

Ladies, thank you all so much for your replies with advice regarding MS. Amy, I am very careful with certain foods as they can have an effect on my body too. Holistic style therapy massage sounds interesing, I must read about that. I have read that Reiki & Reflexology can be helpful. Presently I having Physio, it helps but there again I am just not too sure. I did see that Jack Osborne has been diagnosed with MS, such a young age too. Terrible Two's, thank you very much for the website, I went onto it this morning & I find it very interesting, I may just give them a call. M_King, I agree its exactly how I have been feeling not so much scared but definitely so many questions . I still do most of the things I did before the diagnosis albeit maybe a bit slower, which I just don't like. I haven't heard of Avonex, presently I am just taking pills, I had a really bad reaction with the first tablet, but the one I am taking now has been okay, but not 100%, there again maybe none of us can ever be pain free with this disease on a daily basis. I did stop them for a few days, but then I realised I still needed them, so have to accept that for the time being. Did any of you ladies have your diagnoses here in Dubai or elsewhere UK etc. I had the MRI's (so many) but I have been told in the UK the first test they do is the Lumbur Puncture. I haven't mentioned this to the Neuro, but would be interested to know.

Hi nice to meet you too, thank you so much for your advise & also the website which I will have a read of. Your absolutely right this disease comes & goes its like a roller coaster ride. I keep saying its not fair, but I don't wish it on anyone else either. I have been diagnosed later in life and its a bit difficult to accept. It seems there is not much option here either with regards to medications, it is very limited although I really don't want to be relying on too much medication. Definitely it is a challenge to deal with, also your correct, when the days are good I do things when I can rather than wait till the next day because we never know how it will be. Let's hope some day there is maybe a cure, who knows. My daughter is in the UK & sends me some information about MS when she hear's or read's about it. I have also bought a couple of books so that I can maybe try to understand the disease a little better. I do appreciate your replies to me and certainly would be interested in getting any further info that you can send to me.

Thank you so much for your warm & caring reply.