Re: Multiple Sclerosis

Your story sounds so familiar. My MS symptoms started in 2000 as I look back. I was first diagnosed with carpal tunnel, then a pinched nerve in my neck, then sciatica from my three C-sections and finally MS in July of 2007. It was a stunning blow as a mother of three and a wife. Then I had to regroup for me and my children. I started Rebif the next month and had been taking it fine until I noticed bruises on my legs (not the injection sites) and severe depression. With children we have to acknowledge this diagnosis and keep going to the best of our abilities. I now have mobility problems and hopefully will be starting PT soon. I am a case manager for home health but am currently seeking a job that requires little to no physical activity for me. The field visits and the long drives are too much for me. Keep your head up and pray.

Re: Multiple Sclerosis

I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis Aug 2006, while I was travel nursing in AZ. I spent about 5 days in the hospital, getting tests and IV solumedrol, PT, etc. First sign was in May 06 when I woke up one morning with numbness in my entire left side. A few days went by, I kept the idea the it was just a nerve irritated.

I went back to work about a week after getting out of the hospital, I had made big improvement. Well in reality I wasn't doing as well as I thought, I worked different hospitals till I figured out what I was going to do. There were many places to work within the same health system.
I realized in Sept 06, that I just needed to go home to be with family to help us (husband, two boys) till I got stable.

I started my last job Aug 07 and was doing really well, nobody could tell that I had MS. Then April 27 08 came, had some flaring symptoms causing me to leave work around 1 or 2pm Sunday. Next day I was in the hospital, MRI and Solumedrol IV to be done, also some PT.

Gosh, what a mess I am. May 1st I had a Pain Treatment physician see me b/c of all the pain I was having in my lower back, hips, legs. I got a epidural steroid injection in the lower lumbar area. Return to visit the neuro doc, now a nerve conduction/EMG test (had one in AZ) well now I have neuropathy in both legs, great news for me. Also was diagnosed with a bad disc in that lumbar area, by next pain appointment I was to have another epidural steroid injection which during procedure scar tissue was found.

I haven't worked since April 27th, I am getting disability through personal benefit through the hospital. I have stress about what job will I be able to do now and where will it be??? I am too weak and have pain that restricts me to work on the floor with patients. I also can't imagine the stress, walking, others to go back nursing on a unit.

Re: Multiple Sclerosis

Originally Posted by anjane

Your story sounds so familiar. My MS symptoms started in 2000 as I look back. I was first diagnosed with carpal tunnel, then a pinched nerve in my neck, then sciatica from my three C-sections and finally MS in July of 2007. It was a stunning blow as a mother of three and a wife. Then I had to regroup for me and my children. I started Rebif the next month and had been taking it fine until I noticed bruises on my legs (not the injection sites) and severe depression. With children we have to acknowledge this diagnosis and keep going to the best of our abilities. I now have mobility problems and hopefully will be starting PT soon. I am a case manager for home health but am currently seeking a job that requires little to no physical activity for me. The field visits and the long drives are too much for me. Keep your head up and pray.

I take Rebif and it leaves me red spots, sometimes I have side effects which is awful. Depression is common with multiple sclerosis and the meds can also make it worse. I was taking celexz, which was prescribed Aug 06 after my diagnosis. I fell so far down then it hit me what was going on and the major life changes. I had so much pain and depression that eventually I started emotionally changes. I would take meds all the time, pain meds/anxiety medication/sleep aids, I just stayed in my room, in my bed for a while. May 07 came and I did break down, I overdosed and was sent to mental health hospital for 8 days.

Be very careful with medications, be cautious about side effects.

Re: Multiple Sclerosis

Originally Posted by MB37

Thanks for the reply Jules! I actually went to my NP today, and she said that there were no lesions on my MRI. I know that's not conclusive evidence of not having MS, but it's improbable now. We still don't know why my foot is numb, but they did a ton of lab work today (including B12, Lyme, Guillian Barre, EBV and a CMP and other stuff). They're going to copy me with results, so I can at least look up what they mean if it takes a little longer to get an appointment. I also scheduled an EMG and got a referral to a neurologist, but i have to wait for their scheduling person to contact me. I guess my mother has had a few episodes of random facial and extremity numbness, and she was never able to get a dx - the symptoms always resolved on their own though. Maybe there's just some type of tendency for nerve problems that runs in my family? I'm going to try to power through clinicals next week, and hopefully I'll eventually start to get some feeling back...thank you though.

Sorry about you having to deal with those health issues. other tests that can determine if it is MS or maybe something else is a lumbar puncture. Also what all had a MRI? MRI has to be with contrast and lesions can pop up anywhere. My first MRI in May 06 turned out the be ok.....but by Aug 06.. BTW insurance is also a pain, individual plans will be turned down due to MS. Getting a good neuro is the key!!!

Re: Question re: Copaxone-HELP!!!

Originally Posted by kmrmom42

Thanks so much dijmart and robinbird for your replies about Copaxone. I guess I am just going to have to get used to it! I definitely learned that it is better at room temp than straight out of the fridge but it still hurts quite a bit. Oh well, I guess I just have to grin and bear it!

Yes, room temp is best. I am on Rebif, which can be left out of fridge for one month. I always take ibuprofen to help reduce side effcts. Heat is also helpful. I give manually, it allows me to control giving. OK, I have to give it slow or the med will hurt/sting, guess because I am a big baby when dealing with these injections.

Re: Multiple Sclerosis

How is everybody? I have moved from Florida back to CT because I now have two new grandbabies! Problem is the stress of a new job, uncertain living situation etc. is making living with MS a bit more challenging lately. I am sure once things settle down things will get better but for now I just have to hold one of my beautiful grandsons to feel stronger!
I was just wondering how the others on this board with MS are doing?

Re: Multiple Sclerosis

I was diagnosed with MS the March before I began my ADN program in 1982. I do not know what it is like to be a nurse without a chronic illness. I have always worried about my future. Will I be a good student? Will I be able to graduate? Will I find a job? Will I be able to work as an RN? Be a good mom to my kids? Remain married? Be able to pay my bills? Live in a decent home?

I have managed bit by bit over the years - sometimes only by the slimmest of margins. I have learned that the real hard parts of life just always seem to work out. If you look at where you are and where you have been, you've undoubtedly done well for yourself. And the chances are pretty good, that, despite your MS, you'll continue to do so.

This past spring, April 2008, I finally had to leave nursing behind. I continue to worry about my future - will I be able to accept this loss with grace? Pay my bills? Be a good mom, grandma, and wife? Stay in my home? Keep contractures and decubiti at bay?

Despite my worries, I am looking forward to my future. I am pretty sure that I will continue to hang in there and manage bit by bit. Having MS has made me a very determined woman. I bet you can make the same claim!

Cynthia

Re: Multiple Sclerosis

Hi all. I was diagnosed with MS in 1998. I have been taking Avonex and have been very lucky. A good Neurologist is very important. Also, join your local MS Chapter. My MS Chapter has been excellent and provided me with so much information. I just switched careers and graduated from an accelerated program with my BSN. I don't have a position as of yet, but while in clinicals, I was lucky and suffered few problems. My biggest problems with the MS have been the fatigue and heat. While some things can be challenging, I do not look at it as having a disability. I will work with the abilities that I have and make the best of it. Kudos to all who work in nursing and have a chronic disease. For all those who have problems taking their injections, my solution to this problem has been to ice the area before the injection, then I don't feel it. I have found this effective as I have been doing it for many years. I wish long happy careers to all those suffering with any chronic disease.

Re: Multiple Sclerosis

I posted earlier this year about my diagnosis. Since then I have move from the warm and sunny south to the northeast in search of cooler weather that will make my MS symptoms more bearable.

I started working in the OR of a large hospital several months ago. Things were going just peachy until I relapsed last week, complete with balance and gait issues. I'm still having spastic gait issues with my left leg and feeling horribly guilty that I'm not at work right now.

Logically, I know that if I saw someone near my sterile field walking the way I am I would shoo them away and would not let them carry or open anything sterile. The other part of me feels guilty that I've had to take 2 weeks off from work because my legs don't work right.

I have this underlying fear that the OR environment is going to result in repeated exacerbations because of the stress. (Even though I love it, over all). Not to mention how my orientation process is going to work out since I'm missing 2 full weeks. (I'm hoping my gait will get better and I can go back to work in 2 weeks).

I hate these unexpected surprises.

My plan was to go on and finish my bachelor's and obtain a Masters so I can eventually teach, but the future seems so uncertain that I'm playing with the idea of getting an accounting degree. At least I know that I'd be able to sit at a desk and type all day.

Re: Multiple Sclerosis

Hello, I have an mri of the brain on tuesday.And I am scared to death! I have been having the funkiest symptoms for the last month (looking back I have had some before, but attributed it to different things). It all started with the balls of my feet buzzing like a cell phone intermittently. Then burning down my Right arm and leg, from there it has been a different problem every day. The burning is on both sides, upper and lower, different times. One day my left thumb will hurt like heck, the next day it will be my right foot. The fingers of both hands are always numb and tingly. Pain up and down the entire spine, different days, different places. sometimes not at all. My right leg is always affected one way or the other. And I am a bit unsteady when I am standing, and if I walk without concentrating. Also, over the last 4 years I have been having problems with reading. The words just kind of jump everywhere. Also (symptom?) I frequently switch intended words for something completely different. My kids think it is kind of funny, I will say "put the milk in the dishwasher" instead of the refrigerator.
So that being said I do have a MRI of the brain on Tuesday, and I see a Neurologist in 3 1/2 weeks. But I am freaking out a bit. I am planning to start clinical in the fall, and I have to work full time while I do it. I just need to finish my RN before I get something like this! ( I am an LPN now) I also just bought a new house. My income is not optional.
So if anyone has some suggestions, some encouragement, some prayers, Please send them my way. I know it is not official, but it is all I can think of.
Thank you,
Sharon