Bamagal1

By Bamagal1 Friday, November 14, 2008

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I am 51 years old and in June of this year I had an MRI with results of 6 or so white matter leisons. The test was repeated in August and thre were no changes, however I have started to have a lot of lightheadness and stiffness which my doctor prescribed Baclofen. He has not called this "officially MS" as of yet, because I will have a final MRI in early December.

My issue is that I have a wonderful man in my life and we are talking marriage. I haven't told him about my MS suspicions yet. Any comments or suggestions??

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Julie

11/14/08 1:40pm

Hi Bamaga:

I'm sure this is frightening for you. Has your doctor mentioned MS as a possibility? Has he mentioned other possibilities too? I would think your partner would want to help and comfort you, and that would be helpful to you as well. But I understand the fears you feel too.

MS can trigger so many reactions, depending on what people know about this disease.

If your partner isn't already aware that you're dealing with a health issue, wouldn't you want him to know so he can support you? You don't necessarily need to mention your fears of MS specifically; perhaps you could say that you're worried that it's something serious.

But certainly, if your marriage talks are serious and your doctor thinks MS is a distinct possibility, I wouldn't hide this. That wouldn't be fair for either of you.

Just my two cents.

Take care.

- Julie

Bamagal1

11/16/08 11:42am

Hi Julie,

Thanks for your comment. I agree that disclosing is the right thing to do, but I haven't gotten the diffinitive diagnosis from my doctor yet. It takes so long to get in

and see him as he is supposedly well known in the MS community. I was fortunate just to get the appt back in June of this year when the "white matter lesions"were found. I go back for the 3rd MRI on December 4th and I hope to get some kind of dx then. It would be wonderful for it NOT to be MS but I just have too many of the symtoms I am afraid, so that is what I expect to hear.

My mom went with me and she also had an MRI and hers was the same "white matter" as well. She is 73 years old and we have dubbed ourselves as "The autoimmune Queens" hopefully she can get diagnosed as well.

I haven't told my college age son, Joey who is 21 years old either. I don't want to worry or burden him until I can get an answer...that is the dilema I face...waiting for an answer.

Thanks so much for your response and I will keep you posted.

Bamagal1

Lisa Emrich, Health Guide

11/15/08 10:22am

Hi Bamagal,

Welcome to MS Central. Your fears are completely normal. Nobody 'wants' to have MS, but nobody really wants to be in limbo either. MS is just one of many conditions which causes lesions in the brain. Like Julie asked, Is your doctor considering other causes?

Certainly, if your boyfriend know that you're dealing with 'something' healthwise, it would be good to bring him in. Not necessarily to discuss MS and the worst that could happen with it, but to provide support and understanding through the not-knowing stage.

My advice would be to share details with your boyfriend, especially if you guys are talking marriage. Marriage requires open channels of communication, and MS within a relationship requires even wider open channels of communication. (see posts by Jake and Mandy on this site - husband/wife team)

About the spasticity, Baclofen is commonly used for that and actually I use Baclosen now. It has helped a great deal.

Please update your story on occasion. We're here to support and learn from each other.

Lisa

Bamagal1

11/17/08 5:13pm

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for your response...Limboland is so very accurate at this time and that is what makes me keep from telling Tom and my son, Joey (who is away at college) the truth about what may be going on with me. I keep hoping that the diagnosis will not be MS but I do have so many of the symptoms that I just feel that is what I am going to hear.

I have so much planned for the holidays and don't want to have to slow down, I have always been a healthy person until all these strange symptoms began maybe a few years back. I just thought it was stress or arthritis because of the stiffness that I have been experiencing in my back, fingers,knees, and calves. Drs really assume too many minor things and ignore the more serious stuff and before you know it youdo have something significant.

I keep hoping that this will not be what I think it is...later

Thanks for listening.

Denise

Bamagal1

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