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Scared By Poss Ms Diagnosis

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SaraL

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Jan 2004
Posts: 1
Location: UK
Scared By Poss Ms Diagnosis
Posted: 01-06-04 08:30am

I have just returned from the dr's after being told that I may have ms and that I need an mri scan to confirm - I am scared! I dont know very much about this condition and up until now I was being told that I had shingles, although I never got the rash!

I have had a numb/tingling sensation around the left side of my body in a band from my spine to the middle of my chest for about 4-5 weeks. This has recently spread down the left side of my body as far as my knee, but the spread has remained on the front only.

I had a similar experience for about 8 weeks just over a year ago in the band around the left side of my body as described above, but this never spread and was also put down to the shingles virus, although no rash occurred.

I have to wait 6 months on the nhs for an mri scan and in the meantime have months of anxiety and worry!

Coincidentally, both these episodes have followed periods of stress in my life.

Does this sound like ms or does anyone have any idea of what else this could be?
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Jayce1

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Jan 2004
Posts: 1
Location: uk
In the Same Boat..........
Posted: 01-14-04 17:44pm

Hi, just popped on this forum for the first time! Your story sounds very similar to mine, I too am also from the uk.....If you want someone to talk to who knows how you feel i'll be happy to listen. Maybe you have msn messenger? Jus' lemme know if you wanna chat!
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litekpr2

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Feb 2004
Posts: 23
Location: USA

Posted: 02-21-04 00:33am

Hmm, could be ms, but remember that there are a lot of illnesses which can display the same symptoms as ms.

I just wanted to reassure you that even if you get a positive diagnosis of ms, it's not a death sentence. It will not even appreciably shorten your life span. New data about treatment or prevention is being researched and discovered every day. This disease is so variable no one can tell you what your experience with the disease will be. It could very well be that you might not have any more symptoms (called being in remission) for the next 20 years. On the other hand, some patients have a far more difficult time with frequent and/or disabling symptoms.

What's more, ms is treatable and there is very good data showing the improvement rate with the specific injectable drugs and they are usually covered by your insurance. Sure, giving yourself injections is a hassle but before you know it, it will be as routine as brushing your teeth.

I've been diagnosed with ms since june 1998 and been on one of the injectable drugs (copaxone) since feb 1999. I have had only one really bad "exacerbation" or "relapse" and that was before I started the medication. None since then.

So don't dread the future since you don't know what it holds. Just take life one day at a time and enjoy what you have in the present. After all, no one knows what will happen tomorrow, even people who don't have ms.
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cordelia

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Feb 2004
Posts: 6
Exacerbation Vs Relapse?
Posted: 02-23-04 19:27pm

What is the difference b/w exacerbation and relapse?
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litekpr2

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Feb 2004
Posts: 23
Location: USA
Exacerbation = Flareup
Posted: 02-23-04 21:08pm

In common usage, the two words are used interchangeably. They mean the same thing, at least in terms of ms. They both describe a period of time in which symptom(s) that you do not normally have trouble with will pop up and give you trouble, possibly to the point of needing medication(s) just to treat individual symptoms. Any "new" symptoms have to be present for at least 48 hours for an actual "exacerbation" to be declared. With treatment or without, this symptom (or set of symptoms) will almost always weaken eventually and hopefully go away with no residual damage. When this happens and assuming there is no residual damage leftover, the "exacerbation" is said to be over and you are back in remission again.
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