Hi Mary

I have wondered about this too.  When you find out that you have MS one of the first questions which came to my mind was, "Am I going to die from this?"  It seems that the answer which is most given is that you don't die from MS but that you can die from the complications of MS, for example, respiratory failure due to bronchopneumonia.

In The Free Health Encylopedia on-line,  I found this quote about mortality rates and MS: 

"Less than 5 percent of people with MS have a severe progressive form of the disease that leads to death within five years. At the other extreme, 10 percent to 20 percent have a benign (relatively harmless) form with very slow or no progression of symptoms. On average, MS shortens the lives of women with the disease by about six years and men by about eleven years. Suicide is a significant cause of death in people with MS, especially among younger patients.

Most people experience the severest disabilities of MS within five years of diagnosis. After that point, disabilities do not continue to worsen significantly. If no disabilities appear within the first five years, they are unlikely to occur at all."

So it seems that MS can shorten one's life but the literature is not always clear as to how.  I am personally hopeful that with all the new research and new drugs coming down the pike, that many of us will not have to endure the end stages of MS. 

Lastly I am going to give you a link to a doctor's answer specific to  discussing what constitutes the "end stage" of MS.

It isn't a topic which is pleasurable to discuss but I am sure it is on everyone's mind who has MS or has a loved one who has this disease.  Thank you for your question.  I know you had asked this some months ago.  I just came aboard recently and am trying to answer any unanswered questions. 

Hope this helps.