Blood Test May Predict Course Of MS

Scientists have discovered a blood test that could predict the course of multiple sclerosis (MS), or even indicate who is likely to develop the condition after a first MS-like attack.
The results of the study suggest that differing antibody levels produced in response to the common virus Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), may predict the course of MS.

Dealing with Depression and life

I am dealing with my own depression which often cause several environmental, emotional and financial situation but let's not forget Multiple Sclerosis(MS)also be a factor. I have been taking nutrition along with my medications to help control my depression that is usually caused by MS medication and other medications I am taking.

Other causes of depression are complex and involve a combination of biologic, genetic, and environmental factors. Anyway, whatever the cause, I am dealing with it.

Another issue is not helping me which is sexual. MS symptoms such as fatigue, pain and numbness can also create sexual problems for men living with MS. I can see my wife is trying to figure out “what we did wrong” or “what I could do better” when she is analyzing our problem. I have read that I am not alone since I have heard that men with MS are probably already experiencing some degree of anger, embarrassment, fatigue and grief over the changes in their bodies, so there may be some rough spots starting a conversation about sexual dysfunction. That's not easy.

Its a struggle but I am hanging in there.

Hot weather and Multiple Sclerosis

Weather is considered a possible influence on a wide variety of health conditions by weather factors may make existing pain worse. Some people with MS report that their symptoms get worse in hot weather or when they become overheated. Heat intolerance in MS shows up as a "pseudoexacerbation" -- the experience of having symptoms appear or worsen due to heat exposure. This is different than a true relapse. A True relapse is an exacerbation (also known as an attack, a relapse, or a flare) is a sudden worsening of an MS symptom or symptoms, or the appearance of new symptoms, which lasts at least 24 hours and is separated from a previous exacerbation by at least one month. The most common disease course in MS, called relapsing-remitting MS, is characterized by clearly defined acute exacerbations, followed by complete or partial recovery with no progression of the disease between attacks.

In the case of a pseudoexacerbation, when the body’s temperature returns to normal, these symptoms disappear. No damage, such as inflammation, demyelination or new lesions, has been done during these pseudoexacerbations. It's important to remember that summer's heat could trigger a brief pseudo-relapse. While the symptoms are real enough, they are temporary and subside when the triggering event, such as heat, has passed." Once the triggering event is past—e.g., the body temperature returns to normal, the symptoms subside as well. Some people with MS report a worsening of their symptoms during or after periods of intense stress.

Favorite child of a man who fired a son whose only transgression was developing multiple sclerosis.

Article from the Wall Street Journal in April 24, 1997.

Wall Street Journal

For years, the heir apparent was Joe Jr. He joined the company straight out of college in 1967 and worked his way up to chief operating officer. But because of his advancing multiple sclerosis, first diagnosed in 1983, he tired easily. He arrived at work late and left early. His father wasn't pleased; he wanted a strong successor. "He just came in my office one day and said it was time to go," says the son, who was out that same afternoon, in 1988.

MS Network

Lisa Emrich, Carnival Founder came up with a wonderful blog and she provides a wonderful list of bloggers who has Multiple Sclerosis (MS). You can find her MS bloggers here: MS Bloggers

I am trying to forget that I have MS (Multiple Sclerosis)

Thinking about it makes me feeling....I am not sure what to feel but negative whatever it is.......

Some 22 members of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Mets fans have marked Opening Day at Citi Field with a pregame protest over the nearby subway station.

World of Ignorance

What does it really mean? World of ignorance. We know we can maintain our integrity only by admitting our ignorance; and that very ignorance will encourage us to search for better understanding carefully.

The author who wrote about Hellen Keller explained Hellen's struggled in this world for her as a deaf and blind individual who was trying to live her life in this world. In this world, Judgemental is one of many obstacles that many with Disabled have faced over the years such as discrimination, attitudes and especially, ignorance.

Another issue is bias. Bias is a term used to describe a tendency or preference towards a particular perspective and ideology. A bias could lead one to accept or deny the truth that is often very "one-sided" while ignoring the other.

What is this thing called knowledge anyway? What is this thing called ignorance? Can we know anything with one hundred percent certainty?

This quote come to mind:

The pleasures of ignorance are as great, in their way, as the pleasures of knowledge. ~Aldous Huxley

And this quote:

It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument. ~William G. McAdoo

Our society is saturated with ignorance. I like this quote, It is a mistake always to contemplate the good and ignore the evil, because by making people neglectful it lets in disaster. There is a dangerous optimism of ignorance and indifference. Helen Keller

Helen Keller was a pioneer of education for the deaf and blind and an open advocate for women's rights. She is best known for overcoming her own challenges with being deaf and blind and advocating better educational and working conditions for the seeing and hearing disabled. She even received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work on educational and working rights for the deaf and blind around the world. Her name and likeness repeatedly crop up in everything from children's picture books to episodes of South Park. Banal jokes about Keller and her disabilities are common among schoolchildren and on the Internet.

With ALL disabilities, the world is full of ignorance and only handful of the world truly understands what people with disabilities really go through in their lives.

Drug Offers Hope For Multiple Sclerosis Sufferers

The findings were published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.Article

Sounds promising that this drug not only stops MS from advancing in patients with early stage active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) but may also restore lost function caused by the disease.

I want restoration. :) Let's see and as usual... WAIT.

Allergies and MS do not help me at all...

I hate it when my body is not functioning well even when I am still able. I am trying a different allergy medicine and see what happens. So far it is working and I am getting more alert and feels like I am up and running again.

ADA Law Expanded

Last Thursday, the Senate approved major legislation that would expand protection against workplace discrimination for people with disabilities and overturn several Supreme Court rulings that have affected many. In the past decade, the courts decisions have created "catch 22" where people with serious conditions could be forced to choose between treating their conditions and forfeiting their protections under the ADA, or not treating their conditions and being protected by the law. They were unfair to the people with disabilities. The bill is to ensure protections for people with disabilities who are trying to keep their jobs. The Supreme Court has ruled that a disabled person using medication to control his condition or a device to mitigate his impairment (such as a hearing aid), is not considered disabled. I wear hearing-aids and I am legally deaf but when the courts say that when I am wearing hearing-aids, I am no longer considered "disabled". Therefore, congressional bill HB 3195, "The Restoration Act of 2007," was introduced in the House and passed this year, clarifying the ADA to restore it to its original intent. The pros and cons of ADA implementation should be of interest to all persons with a disability and we are to understand the new law after the President signs the bill.

This bill also defines that a condition can be classified as a disability even if it is in remission or occurs episodically which often refer to people like me who have Multiple Sclerosis. I am healthy and most of the time, I am fine except when I have a relapse.

Multiple Sclerosis and Hearing Loss (Deafness)

I found an interesting article since I have both Multiple Sclerosis and deafness. I went to school with this girl named Muffy and she also have multiple sclerosis and severe hearing loss. More about Muffy and her famous mother lent her name and voice to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

I wondered how many out there who are hearing-impaired (or deaf) and havd Multiple Sclerosis(MS)?

ARTICLE By George Cook, Au.D., CCC-A

Lately, I have been getting numbness, tingling relating to MS

on my left elbow to my two little fingers. It started back a few months ago and it gotten better but still there. Other than that, I am doing fine physically and mentally.

Hopefully the summer will be over soon so that I can enjoy being outside without getting hot.

MS drug may work against viral infection: study

A drug that Novartis AG is testing in people with multiple sclerosis also has the potential to treat certain viral infections, perhaps including the AIDS virus, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday. Reuters News

Interferon beta-1a and Chinese hamsters

Because of Multiple Sclerosis, I have a very active immune system. Taking interferons change the behavior of the immune system by reducing the number of T-cells which are transported from the blood stream to the Central Nervous System (CNS) which reduces the number of inflammatory T-cells (TH-1) while at the same time allowing the TH-2 cells which reduce inflammation to dominate the central nervous system. Interferon beta-1a is identical to the naturally occurring protein found in the human body. This kind of interferon is manufactured by extracting the drug from Chinese hamster ovary cells which I take Biogen's Avonex which is a 30 mcg of interferon beta-1a which is injected once weekly and the most common side effects (for me) are the flu like symptoms. Avonex is manufactured by Biogen that will help modify the course of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple Sclerosis and Poor Communication?

No, I am not talking about poor communication between people but rather poor communication between our body parts. The protective myelin coat that surrounds nerve cells have been destroyed by an over-active immune system. In Canada, May is MS month that Canadian Institutes of Health Research(CIHR)researchers is educating the public MS from a kid's perspective. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is, essentially, is important for Canadians (as well as everyone else around the world) because Canadians have an extremely high rate of MS.

Prozac may help slow multiple sclerosis

This is an interesting The anti-depressant Prozac may help curb disease activity in the relapsing remitting form of multiple sclerosis, a Dutch study said. I am taking generic form of prozac and I believed it has helped me in many ways ever since I was diagnosed with MS.

Six Year anniversary Today

I was diagnosed by my doctor on April 22, 2002 that I have Multiple Sclerosis. The day I won't forget.

Jim

Doctor shares her experience living with multiple sclerosis

This is an interesting article "When you're told you have MS and you're 34, that's a big deal," said Dr. Kym Orsetti Furney, of Charlotte.

Tomorrow, Six (6) years later...............

Tomorrow will be my 6th year anniversary of learning that I have MS and it is important that my attitude towards life is important. One of my many main issues is sex. Lower sex hormones, such as testosterone, is proabably partly responsible for lack of sex drive for men. According to studies I have been reading, the men's average blood testosterone level was on the low side of normal. Anyway, I am not looking forward for this summer because my MS experience can result a temporary worsening of my MS symptoms when the weather is very hot or humid or both. An elevated temperature can impairs the ability of a demyelinated nerve to conduct electrical impulses because myelin is the protective sheath that surrounds and protects nerve fibers. The destruction of myelin causes the formation of plaques of the abnormal areas (around the body) on the nerves that slow nerve impulses and produce the symptoms of MS. MS is a disease that immune system attacks and destroys nerve cells, nerve fibers, and myelin, which is the fatty covering that surrounds nerve fibers and cells in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin is like a electric wire cover which electrical signals to and from your brain along wire-like extensions of the cells called axons, or nerve fibers. Myelin is the fatty substance that coats and protects these fibers, similar to the way insulation shields electrical wires. Like electric that the myelin separates nerve pathways from each other, allowing nerve impulses to travel from one location to another throughout the nervous system. One of the basic explanation for MS that I can clearly understand was this: “Multiple” refers to the multiple sites where nerve loss, or demyelination, occurs. “Sclerosis” refers to scar tissue, or “sclera” which can block or obstruct the flow of messages between nerves and muscles

I have to stay cool in an air-conditioned environment during periods of extreme heat and humidity. Therefore, my electric bill be higher and I am not looking forward to seeing the bills this summer.

When being outdoors or in a warm place, I need to invest (which I do not have the funds at the moment) get cooling products for me to wear such as vests, neck wraps, bandanas, etc. At this point, I will have to make sure I wear lightweight, loose and “breathe-able” clothing that is loose, well ventilated, lightweight, light-colored loose fitting clothing constructed of breathable fabrics. Roomier garments allow air to pass over my body, which aids sweat evaporation and cooling. Items made of polypropylene wick moisture away from my skin.

Anyway, I am learning to be content as much as I can even though there's a "human flesh" in me that wants more in order to be comfortable. I am going to repeat what I wrote in my journal:

“Okay, I have hearing loss (deaf) and multiple sclerosis, and those are the ways of life for me. I take silence and pain as come and I have learned master them in my life. My disabilities do not have me. I have the disabilities and I accept them because I know who I am from the inside. Everything has its wonders, even silence and pain, and I learn whatever disabilities and difficulties I may be in, I am happily content.”