depression too....Re: MS fatigue

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I didn't intend to slight the depression. I don't have it like you do my friend, but I have had depression at times and it's awful. love and hugs Sharonjoin me on Facebook:Sharon Mars wobbletowalk@...This email is a natural hand made product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects. To: MSersLife Sent: Tue, February 2, 2010 2:10:41 PMSubject: Re: MS fatigue

I have Provigil, Sharon, but don't feel it really puts a 'dent' in my fatigue. So, I just have the pills as back-up; if I get really desperate I guess I could try and take 2 of them.The depression isn't pretty either!love to you my friend, Kate Symptoms of MS, early and later> To: Group > > > Since we have some new members I thought I would send this to > > the group again. It in our group files (as are lots of other > > good info).> > > > > > Sharon> > join me on Facebook:> > Sharon Mars > > wobbletowalk@...> > This email is a natural hand made product. The slight > variations > > in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and > > beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.> > > > > > > > > > from: http://www.reutershealth.com/wellconnected/doc17.html> > > > WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS?> > Early

Symptoms > > Onset of symptoms typically occurs between the ages of 15 and > 40 > > years, with a peak incidence in people in their 20s and 30s. > > Early symptoms include the following: > > · Optic neuritis. Optic neuritis is inflammation of the > > nerves in the eye. Vision, usually in one eye, becomes unclear > > or doubled, and there may be a shimmering effect. Pain or > > nystagmus, involuntary jerking or movement of the eye, may > also > > occur. In many patients this is the first symptom of multiple > > sclerosis. Some experts believe this condition may actually be > a > > form of multiple sclerosis even if the complete syndrome > doesn't > > evolve. In 20% of people with this condition, MS develops > within > > two years after the onset of optic neuritis. In 45% to 80%, MS > >

develops within 15 years. > > · Fatigue. Fatigue is typically worse in the afternoon and > > may be accompanied by an increase in body temperature. > > · Heaviness or clumsiness in the arms and le gs. (The first > > symptoms for patients with primary progressive MS often > develop > > slowly in the upper legs.) > > · Tingling sensations. > > · Poor coordination. > > · Lhermitte's sign. This is an electrical sensation that > runs > > down the back and into the legs, which is produced by bending > > the neck forward. > > Later Symptoms > > As the disease develops over months or even years, symptoms > can > > occur in practically every region in the body and may include > > the following: > > · Spasticity.> > · Imbalance and dizziness. > >

· Tremors.> > · Facial pain. > > · Spasm-related symptoms. Among the other types of pain and > > spasm-related symptoms that can occur during attacks are > > burning, itching, aching, speech difficulties, and quivering > > sensations. They usually occur in the extremities and last > > seconds to minutes. Some people report itches lasting as long > as > > 30 seconds. > > · Speech difficulties. > > · Difficulty swallowing. > > · Symptoms in the gastrointestinal, urinary, and genital > > tracts. > > · Emotional mood swings . > > HOW SERIOUS IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS?> > Long-Term Outlook > > Multiple sclerosis is not a fatal disease, although in severe > > cases it poses a risk for life-threatening complications. It > > also shortens the average life span by

about six years, and in > > nearly all cases, the negative emotional impact of this > disease > > and its symptoms is considerable. Women tend to have a better > > outlook than men, although the severity of the disease varies > > widely from patient to patient and is unpredictable: > > · About 10% to 35% of patients have a very mild form of the > > disease, with little if any disability, no need for > medication, > > and a normal life expectancy. People who have only optic > > neuritis and symptoms that affect the senses have a better > > outlook than if symptoms are more widespread. > > · About 70% of patients will experience some degree of > > progression. MS, however, can sometimes remain asymptomatic or > > becomes only mildly symptomatic even long after initial plaque > > formation. An important

long-term 2000 study used a scale > called > > the Kurtzke Disability Status Scale to predict disability. It > > suggested that progression to moderate disability is often > very > > slow in patients with relapsing-remitting disease compared to > > patients with chronic progressive disease. Once a patient > > reaches a score of 4, however, the disease worsens at the same > > rate in patients with either form of the disease. [ See Box > > Multiple Sclerosis Disability Score and Disease Progression.]> > Specific Complications of Multiple Sclerosis > > Because the effects of nerve injury are widespread, the many > > complications can be very severe. Although not all patients > > experience all of the following problems, any of them can > > negatively impair quality of life. > > > > Loss of Mobility and

Spasticity. Nearly every patient loses > some > > mobility, which may take the form of less or impaired motor > > control, muscle weakness, impaired balance, and, importantly, > > spasticity. Spasticity is one of the primary symptoms of MS. > It > > is characterized by weakness, loss of dexterity, and the > > inability to control specific movements. It is usually more > > severe in the legs and torso. (Ironically, mild spasticity > > actually helps improve muscle tone in the legs, which is > > important in supporting the patient's weight when walking.) It > > should be noted that mobility can be affected by many non-> > physical factors, including mental well being, social > networks, > > fatigue, and even the weather. > > > > Fatigue. Fatigue is one of the most common and debilitating MS > >

symptoms. In one study, nearly half of all MS patients > > experienced fatigue at least once a week. It may be mild or > > completely debilitating. Psychological factors, including > > feelings of poor control over symptoms and a hypersensitivity > to > > physical sensations, appear to be important components in > > producing fatigue. Heat also increases the chance for fatigue. > > > > Pain. According to one survey, about two-thirds of MS patients > > experience pain at some point during the course of the disease > > and 40% are never pain free. According to one 2000 study, half > > of MS patients report difficulty working due to pain and 44% > > have trouble sleeping. MS causes many pain syndromes; some are > > acute while others are chronic. Some worsen with age and > disease > > progression. For example,

trigeminal neuralgia is severe > facial > > pain, usually on one side, that can be very severe and may be > > triggered by an event as mild as a breeze or teeth brushing. > > Other syndromes associated with MS are powerful spasms and > > cramps, optic neuritis (pain in the eye), pressure pain, > > stiffened joints, and a variety of sensations including > feelings > > of itching, burning, and shooting pain. > > > > Urinary Dysfunction. Urinary problems from bladder dysfunction > > occur in two-thirds of MS patients. Some patients have > > difficulties in urinating at will, called urinary retention. > > Often it takes the form of urge incontinence (also called > > hyperactive or irritable bladder). People with urge > incontinence > > need to urinate frequently or are unable to reach the bathroom >

> before leakage. In such cases, the bladder is overactive. When > > it reaches capacity the nerves appropriately signal the brain > > that the bladder is full, but the urge to void cannot be > > voluntarily suppressed, even temporarily. Complications in the > > urinary tract also produce a high rate of urinary tract > > infections. > > > > Bowel Dysfunction. Bowel dysfunction, which can include > > constipation or fecal incontinence, is a serious problem for > > many MS patients. Constipation may be caused by the disorder > > itself or by medications used to treat spasms or other > symptoms. > > > > Sexual Dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction is a common problem, > > occurring in over 70% of patients. Men are likely to have > > impotence and women, problems with vaginal lubrication. It > > appears to

be highly associated with urinary dysfunction. > > > > Difficulties in Swallowing. A third to a half of MS patients > > experience difficulty in chewing or swallowing, problems that > > may be caused or made worse by many MS medications. > > > > Speech and Hearing Problems. Problems in speech may occur > > because of difficulty in controlling the quality of the voice > > and articulating words. (Problems with language itself, > however, > > are very rare in MS.) Hearing problems also occur in MS and > may > > affect speech. > > > > Mental and Emotional Problems. Cognitive problems, such having > > trouble concentrating and solving problems, affect about half > of > > MS patients. More people with MS leave work because of such > > difficulties than because of physical problems,

according to a > > 2000 study. In about 10% of cases mental dysfunction may be > > severe and resemble dementia. (The interferon medications may > > improve these symptoms.) > > > > Such impairments may be related to depression in some cases, > > which has been reported to occur in 25% to 50% of multiple > > sclerosis patients. There is some evidence that depression in > > multiple sclerosis is not only due to the psychologic impact > of > > MS but to the disease process itself. In addition, in one > study, > > depression had biologic effects (increasing production of > > inflammatory cytokines) that could exacerbate the disease > > itself. Treating depression then may even help reduce the > > disease process. Physicians should assess patients for > > depression, even though there may be no obvious

signs of it. > > > > Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis (loss of bone density) and > subsequent > > fractures are common and under-recognized problems among MS > > patients. Osteoporosis is caused and worsened by immobility > and > > by some MS medications. Fractures caused by falls can be far > > more serious in MS patients than in the normal population, > > leading to problems including deconditioning or even inability > > to walk, obstruction of the intestines (from pain relieving > > medications), and respiratory complications. > > > > Problems in the Lungs. As the muscles that control breathing > > weaken, the ability to cough is impaired and the patient is at > > higher risk for pneumonia and other complications in the lungs..> > > > > > > > > > >

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