Waklert 150mg: Boosting Wakefulness and Focus

[alih]

I imagine on this forum there are a fair few wise folk who know more about this than I do. A dear friend has been diagnosed in her early 40s and I am keen to support her in the best way I can. I know medicine has come on loads since I was a young 'un so if anyone has any experience of things like prognosis, life expectancy, treatment and any bright ideas for supporting someone who is far away and has 2 young kids, I would be very grateful.

 

Thanks as always in advance.

[Valkyrie]

Somebody I used to know thought she had MS - she was having tests at the time, but decided if they turned out to be positive, she wouldn't give in without a fight. I don't remember much, but I know she was eating lots of green peppers - which are good in any case. I'm sure there are plenty of books available. She eventually found out that she didn't have it, but a virus which seemed to have all the MS symptoms. Took a while for her to find out. She did say she felt a lot better after eating so many peppers though!

As you say things have certainly changed so much with regard to treatments, so sending hugs for you to pass on - and keeping positive is always good for the health.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

[Snowy]

So sorry for your friend - that is a very scary diagnosis. But I know several young people who have had it and it can vary so much between individuals. Some only get mild ongoing symptoms and can still live a very long and normal life. So it does depend on how severe your friends condition is. I used to have a young girl on my team who was diagnosed. She went on to have a family and is now a health and safety manager in the NHS. I imagine the early days will be most scary as she comes to terms with her diagnosis. Just be there to support her! xx

[Cinnamon]

One of my best friends has MS, she was diagnosed as a teenI think.

 

I know that it effects her very little,as there are varying degrees of it.Sometimes she will wake up & her arm will be totally numb & she can't drive that day,or maybe she can't speak without slurring a little.

 

She is a vibrant & hugely energetic woman with a fab job, she has just taken a law degree,has 4 children under 16 (2 under 5) & a hectic lifestyle & she has always said that her MS has to fit around her,not the other way round

[Purplemaniacs]

My MIL had MS, sadly she had it in one of its severest forms, not the normal episodes and then a period of improvement.

 

I hope your friend has it in a milder form and is able to continue with a normal life for a long time to come.

 

If you would like to know more about how it affected my MIL please PM me.

 

Just be there for your friend on the end of the phone, someone to talk to is a great support and be there for her family, MS is so hard on the family.

 

Best wishes

 

Chrissie

[Seagazer]

My uncle has had it for about 40 years, he does have a lot of pain but to be honest hasn't helped himself by putting on an awful lot of weight. He also has a lot of other health issues too though. He has been able to drive and get around until just recently (not connected).

 

A woman in one of my computer classes had MS and had had it for some time, I really liked her. She has a great spirit and sense of humour. She doesn't let it rule her and gets on with life. She used a tens machine type thing all of the time strapped to her arm.

 

I hope your friend has the mild form of it. I think there is a society that she could contact and get help from. I know my uncle has special MS nurses that see him.

[alih]

Thank you all so much for your quick replies! I am waiting to hear from my friend the details of her diagnosis but it's reassuring to hear there are many who live long and well with this disease. She is very healthy, sporty and slim and eats really well, and very positive so I'm sure all that will stand her in good stead.

She lives in L.A. though so communication is less frequent than we would like. Maybe it's an excuse to go and see her!

 

Fingers crossed now for a mild form and good prognosis.

[docsquid]

My Mum was diagnosed at 19 with MS and I never knew her without it. She had quite a high-powered job as a PA at Shell, until she had me. She was a bit affected, mainly her balance, which meant she couldn't always play games with me, or ride a bicycle. But mainly we just did normal family things, including walking.

 

She returned to work as a Civil Servant when I was about 11 or 12, and took part in the first Civil Service trials of word processing. When my Dad died, her MS started to get worse, and her walking got worse, but she carried on working in a wheelchair, driving a modified car. She fought every day, did exercises every day, learned to swim when she was 50, went out and visited art galleries and went to concerts with friends and so on right up to her final year. She died aged 77 of kidney cancer, unrelated to the MS.

 

In terms of treatment, there are better treatments now for classic relapsing-remitting MS, but for the most part it is recovery and maintenance of function by appropriate physical therapies - getting this kind of support from specialist neurological services and nurse specialists is important. Unfortunately there is no evidence (I mean proper evidence, not anecdote) to support the use of any kind of diet, although there are countless books about countless cranky diets and vitamin supplements that do very little to help MS sufferers, but do a lot to make their authors money. Mum tried loads of them. None of them made the slightest difference.

 

However keeping to a healthy diet (five a day, oily fish etc) and keeping a healthy weight is going to keep you as fit and well as possible and able to cope with MS however it manifests.

 

There are a lot of people with MS living normal, active lives and there is a lot of hope.

[Helly Welly]

Contact your local branch of the MS society. My MIL used to work for them and they doa fantastic job. You don't have to have MS to ask for help dealing with it.

[alih]

Docsquid, thanks for such a wonderful post - it's good to know people can live positive lives. My friend is having daily injections, and is a very fit, healthy woman in general. She says it's her right leg that causes her problems so she can't go running any more but can ride a bike. her kids are supportive and understanding within their age limit so she sounds in very positive form.

 

thanks again all for your posts.