My husband with RRMS has about 15 blood aunts and uncles. He has 5 siblings and about 74-75 first cousins. One paternal aunt and one paternal uncle (had 9 kids 30 grandkids) had MS. However, none of their decedents, none of the siblings and none of the 70 sum cousins have MS EXCEPT my husband.

We had one medical professional say we had 0% increase chance of MS in kids, another said .3% and another said 3% chance our kids would get MS. The low incident of the disease among so many blood relatives in my husband's family also seems to indicate low increase risk of the disease.

I am aware of my kids getting MS as being a possibility though, no matter how small it is. So I have had them on D3 for a while, see the research below. I am also doing allergy / food sensitivity checks on them to reduce unnecessary chronic inflammation of GI and up-regulation of immunity by eliminating problem foods. This is all I can do, so now I don't worry. It will happen or it will not. I have no regrets because I have done all I can do to reduce their risk of this disease and others.

Maybe discuss some of these options to reduce risk of MS and also reduce activity in MS if someone already has the diesease. DOING something at least reduces the feeling of helplessness. Maybe discuss talking to someone about the topic with him too.

I hope he does not have and will not get this disease. STRESSING over it will not help him either way...tho that is easier said than done.

Best wishes to both of you,
EP

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Research that shows Vitamin D3 REDUCES the chances of this disease: Munger, KL, LI Levin, BW Hollis, NS Howard, A Ascherio. 2006. Serum 25 Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis. Journal of American Medical Association. 296:2832-2838.
~~ This research showed for every 50 nmol/L increase in vitamin D levels there was a 41% decrease in the incidences of MS in white males and females.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6191131.stm
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Increased-vitamin-D-may-protect-against-multiple-sclerosis

More info on Vitamin D3 lowering incidence of other diseases.
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/loved-ones-who-support-someone-with-ms/discussions/messages/14690178


"Conclusion Vitamin D3 add on treatment to IFNB REDUCES MRI disease activity in MS."
http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/83/5/565.short

There is a study currently being undertaken in Tasmania (Australia) to evaluate the preventative value of Vit D.

So, the above post is well worth considering. Start Vit D now.

Also, I would encourage him to keep a journal of any symptoms.

It's impossible to tell a teen not to stress. It's second nature to them!

Encourage him to talk about his fears - if not to you, then to another family member or friend.

There must be some technology he could use to explore his fears (facebook?) Isn't that what the younger generation do?

My 12 year old son already has an auto-immune disease........ HSP (Henoch Schonlein Purpura). It normally has an initial episode, and then kids don't have many problems after that. They outgrow it by late teens or early twenties.
My son's first episode was when he was 8. Major rash all over his body, so painful clothing hurt and it even hurt to sit in a bathtub of plain water. He had protein in his urine which was monitored closely. It went away after a couple months.
Second episode was when he was 9. Rash only appeared above his lip, looking like a Kool-Aid mustache. This time though, he had joint pain and was unable to walk for a couple weeks at least. He slept all the time and was absent from school 79 days. It took a good 4 months for it to go away this time.
Third episode was at 10 years old....... couldn't eat and had digestive problems. They did an endoscopy and a colonoscopy, finding the rash internally. He was put on a mild anti-depressant and something to help with his stomach as well. This lasted for several months.
For the past 2 years now, due to the HSP, he's developed anxiety and depression. Both are controlled without medication. He misses much school each year and I battle with the school and teachers each time. He has more anxiety than I am aware of according to his therapist. He worries that if I miss one Rebif injection, I will die. He worries that HE will get MS. He had numbness and tingling in one of his legs earlier this year, and we saw the pediatric neuro. Not MS. He gets little muscle spasms here and there, and once again, not MS. I try not to bring any attention to my MS issues because of my children, but they can pick up on the smallest things.
This issue with his HSP can repeat these cycles over and over again. I'm praying it ends sooner rather than later.

So, with all of that being said, I am a parent who worries too about him getting MS especially with his personal health history. He is 3% more likely to get MS than the average child because I have it. Do I give him Vitamin D? Absolutely. Is there anything I can actually do to prevent him from getting MS? Nope. Take the burden OFF of yourself..... this isn't your fault and you can't PREVENT MS or none of us would have it to begin with. Get him counseling so he can talk with someone about his worries without the fear of burdening you with any more issues. And, lastly, live life for TODAY because TOMORROW may not come for any one of us whether we have an incurable disease or not. I'm still working on that one myself....easier said than done. I feel for you because I'm in your shoes. Hang in there!

Hugs,
Amy

And P.S. - don't make a big deal about his symptoms in front of him. Keep track of them, write them down, and ask his doctor about them, but not in FRONT of him. If he thinks you are worried, he will worry that much more and this will just feed his fear.

Can someone post a link of exactly which vitamin d supplement they are giving? I have spoken to my kids' pedigree about this and she blows me off each time.

That was supposed to say pedi. And not pedigree. Ugh

I have been a high quality of vitamin D3 for 15 yrs and attribute it to me doing well. I get it from my health food store, about 2000-3000 units daily of D3, Also encourage him to get out in sun, don't smoke, limit soda and sweets, limit junk food and no factory farm meat, no processed food, limit toxns. Best to you, Esther

I had numb spot once briefly and no other signs for years. That might be his only problem ever. Please dont worry. He can do well. Smoking and obesity have been proven to increase risk. I am former smoker of 30 yrs (started at 12-- stopped at 42 yrs.). Working w/ toxins triggered my MS. So take good care of him.

Thanks to all who replied. I now feel like I can DO something (D3 and reducing toxins). This is truly a wonderful support site. I posted the same post on the MS website and got only one brief reply.

Thanks again.

For the time being there is no solid and proven evidence to what causes MS; hence there is not a proven method on how to avoid it. Right now it is just theory and conjecture.

Perhaps some day it may have a connection to the lottery ticket that you buy but until then, it is theory and conjecture.

It is a known fact that the more you get vitamin D, either from the sun or by supplements that the less chance you will get MS. The closer you are to the equator, the less chance you have in getting MS. Also, it has been shown by study that those taking vitamin D have a better chance with their their MS, whatever type they have. I can only say that it has helped me. It is in the MS magazines all the time about how vitamin D helps. Even my neuro recommends taking vitamin D. So, it is more than a lottery chance. It is more like a sure thing.

I picked up some Vitamin D3 today for my children. I figured I may as well buy it and then come home and see what amount everyone was using instead of waiting and then having to go back to the store. I googled Vitamin D toxicity, just to see if there was an amount that could actually be dangerous and sure enough, even though it is rare it is possible. How did everyone decide what amount to give their children? Our pediatrician is of no help with this, so I couldn't even ask her for her opinion.

Although my kids both tested, and within the normal range, they were at the low end of that range. Our pediatrician recommended 1000 units a day, and that has brought them both up to the higher end of the range.

My Doctor said minimal vit D blood level for adult MS patient should be above 40, the higher the better - I take 5000 IU vit D3 a day. A responsible pediatrician should research this or consult with a pediatric neurologist-a board certified specialist.

That should be info easily accessible to families worried about MS imho

Melanie

I completely agree with Melanie. Due to Michael's very rare HSP and the fact that I have MS, we have a whole team of doctors for him......pediatric neurologist, rheumatologist, gastroentroligist, a whole team at Children's Hospital, Integrative Medicine and his regular pediatrician. If nothing else, seek out the pediatric neuro. The integrative medicine has helped him learn ways to control or adapt to his pain without any drugs. This has been a 5yr long road for us and I hope that yours can end sooner with an opinion from a specialist that it's highly unlikely that your son has or will get MS. Stay positive!