Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 Barb Stanley, Hi, welcome to the list, sorry you had to find us. If someone with MSA goes downhill rapidly as you mention, it is USUALLY some sort of infection. It can be a UTI, blood, yeast or pneumonia type of infection, but you should get him checked out for infection ASAP. Temperature is not a good indicator of infection as MSA patients usually have some autonomic failure which upsets their temperature regulation. If he has an infection and they can clear it up, he may have years left. How long has he been unable to walk? How much trouble with speaking does he have? How bad is his movement? These may be indicators of how far advanced he is, but NOT a good indictor of time left. Take care, Bill Werre ======================== " bstanley@... " wrote: > Hi, > My name is Barb Stanley and my 75 year old dad has just been diagnosed with MSA. Based on his current symptoms and medical history, it is believed he has has MSA for about 6 years. That's about the time his first fainting spells began, along with the shuffling of his feet and constipation. And now that he's been diagnosed, we're (my mom and I) reasonably sure all his many other symptoms must surely be MSA related. Complicating matters is the fact that he also has multiple myloma which was being treated with Chemo. We kept attributing his weakened condition to the Chemo, but have since learned otherwise. His oncologist was the first to suspect MSA. Since 1 May, he has gone from walking with a cane to being unable to work at all, and has trouble even sitting up by himself. Because the Chemo does make him sick, we are with holding those treatments at least for the time being. Mom and I just don't know what to expect, and since his doctor has not treated a lot of MSA patients, he > doesn't know for sure either. He told us that " it's just a matter of time, " but can't say how much time. Can anyone tell us what we can expect as far as progression of the MSA. While it progressed very slowly over the first 6 years,we're concerned that if it progresses as rapidly as it has over the last month we may lose him fairly soon. Any info " you " can provide would be greatly appreciated. > Thanks > Barb Stanley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 Bill - My dad has been unable to walk for about 3 weeks and has limited movements of his legs, feet, and torso - i.e., he can't pull himself up in bed. He did have a pneumonia type infection which originally put him in the hospital at about the same time he was diagnosed with MSA. Has some problems with speech - can't get the words out, and some bouts of being unable to catch his breath Thanks so much for your input - I'm glad I found the group - it's good to have folks to talk to that can relate Regards Barb Stanley recent diagnoses > Barb Stanley, > > Hi, welcome to the list, sorry you had to find us. > > If someone with MSA goes downhill rapidly as you mention, it is USUALLY > some sort of infection. It can be a UTI, blood, yeast or pneumonia type > of infection, but you should get him checked out for infection ASAP. > Temperature is not a good indicator of infection as MSA patients usually > have some autonomic failure which upsets their temperature regulation. > If he has an infection and they can clear it up, he may have years left. > > How long has he been unable to walk? How much trouble with speaking > does he have? How bad is his movement? These may be indicators of how > far advanced he is, but NOT a good indictor of time left. > > Take care, Bill Werre > > ======================== > > " bstanley@... " wrote: > > > Hi, > > My name is Barb Stanley and my 75 year old dad has just been diagnosed > with MSA. Based on his current symptoms and medical history, it is > believed he has has MSA for about 6 years. That's about the time his > first fainting spells began, along with the shuffling of his feet and > constipation. And now that he's been diagnosed, we're (my mom and I) > reasonably sure all his many other symptoms must surely be MSA related. > Complicating matters is the fact that he also has multiple myloma which > was being treated with Chemo. We kept attributing his weakened > condition to the Chemo, but have since learned otherwise. His > oncologist was the first to suspect MSA. Since 1 May, he has gone from > walking with a cane to being unable to work at all, and has trouble even > sitting up by himself. Because the Chemo does make him sick, we are > with holding those treatments at least for the time being. Mom and I > just don't know what to expect, and since his doctor has not treated a > lot of MSA patients, he > > doesn't know for sure either. He told us that " it's just a matter of > time, " but can't say how much time. Can anyone tell us what we can > expect as far as progression of the MSA. While it progressed very slowly > over the first 6 years,we're concerned that if it progresses as rapidly > as it has over the last month we may lose him fairly soon. Any info > " you " can provide would be greatly appreciated. > > Thanks > > Barb Stanley > > > > If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may > unsubscribe by sending a blank email to > > shydrager-unsubscribe > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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