Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
This community is a place where members can discuss current events and weigh in on what's going on in the world.
As of 6 yrsI have 15 white matter lesions found byMRI,Radiologist suggests MS by location and ovoid shapes. I've always had migraines, 5 TMI's ,many seizures. Ok my Neuro says I don't have MS. I haven't handled money in years, can't count, spell, simple problems, drive, brain and legs do't connect,numbness, drop things,fall(especially stairs),pretty much can't chew gum and walk, LOL I hate it when I am ready to latter burst,but have to sit and concentrate to get the muscles to let me. These things aren't a constant, some get better for a bit. Very sophisticated finally by yet another Rhemotologist I have Lupus RA,sjhogrens, connective tissue,fibro..This all added to 40 years of collecting other auto-immune (ulcerative colitis, endometriosis, thyroid disease,,and more). Supposedly I've Shogrens since a teen $ that is why I've worn a to denture since 25 yrs old. Great dental insurance then, LOL,so bottom fronts caps and a lot of work Last dental treatments 5 years ago. I get bad sores $ ulcers in my nose $ mouth supposedly from Lupus, so 6 months ago ( after 2 rounds chemo Rituxan, weekly shots methotrexate, followed by many months infusions Benlysta). OK, now fast recap of last 6 months or so: August first broken front cap. Sept.hospital for phenumia (I just thought it was Lupus Like I thought when I had bad case of shingles). October till now all my teeth have snapped at base or just shattered. Now I have to go to the surgeon on April 7 and have all 12 teeth pulled at one time. I'll be wide awake and only novacaine.Then wait two weeks for the swelling to go down then the dentist says if I come to his office twice a week he "might" be able to have my bottom denture made in 3 weeks, Guys I'm only 57 and will have no bottom teeth for 5 weeks if I'm lucky. And my husband says isn't great that we'll be on vacation(Time Share) for 4 days (only the Poconos-1 hour drive from home). Yes honey....when I as really thinking:right now I have no front bottom teeth, others broken a th gum, including two molars,so all I've been eating for months is Campbell's chicken noodle soup. From all these steroids I gained a solid 50 pounds & gonna have to put on my suit , and a damn sundress, dress is staying on my butt in the pool for sure. I don't want to ruin my husbands good time soI trying to just roll with it. But this is gonna be dam bass hard to smile and pretend to enjoy this trip to look like crap, feel like crap, no front teeth,and not enough back to even chew pizZa! Then home on wends and dental surgeon the next day! Everyone of us knows what real pain is((the last few months 3,or 4 toothaches allthe time-exposed nerves and my mouth all cut up from all these broken shards in my mouth cutting my tongue like a million razor blades)BUT 12 teeth pulled at once with only novacaine!!! I seriously can't catch a break and I feel like I would love to cry like a baby! I'm clear headed today so in think the spelling was ok, but if you guys read all this, please know how grateful I am. And what about the beginning of this novl, does it sound like MS? My Hemo (I have ITP), said he thinks it possible that it could be Lupus and MS. I thought I go the PRO's you guys.My deep, deep gratitude, Blessings, nd hugs, Debbie
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Usually I get a daily influx of emails on health topics. An article from Dr. Mercola really stood out recently though because it mentioned that fat cells have their own mitochondria. Not only was this the first I'd heard of this, he also mentioned that fat serves a purpose in our metabolism. Another new factoid for me. The bottom line for me was to appreciate that even our fat cells play a...
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I just do not feel well and I really think that it's because I cried yesterday on my way to work about my Aunt who is in the hospital. I don't think that we will have her much longer. She is very frail. Now she needs help eating. So, this is the third time in a year that I felt this way after crying. I think crying releases toxins into my body. I also worked up a sweat at the gym...
I hope that I can help with some of your concerns. You seem to have a lot going on.
Between the lesions, your symptoms, and the problems with your teeth, MS sounds like a very reasonable diagnosis (but I'm not a doctor). Has your neuro ordered a spinal tap? That's how mine was confirmed. I would either insist on it, or find another neuro that will do it. The spinal tap should either confirm or rule out MS.
The teeth - I had been seeing the same dentist for 25 years, then moved and found a new dentist that I really like. He said that people with MS are more prone to problems with their teeth because of our compromised immune systems. I did not know that before.
Teeth again - I would ask why they want to use novocaine instead of knocking you out, like they do when wisdom teeth are removed. I just had two teeth removed, so novocaine was fine, but for 12 teeth?
You are your own best advocate. Ask questions. If you don't understand, ask again until you do.
I've been wracking my brain trying to think of what I can do to help. I came up with a very short list of foods for you to eat over the next five weeks.
baby food
ice cream
jello
pudding
milkshakes
mashed potatoes
gravy
soups - whirl in a blender to puree
almost anything that can be pureed
I would also suggest Ensure or a similar supplement to be sure you get adequate nutrition.
I'm sure someone else has a more extensive list. Ideas, anyone?
A funny to lighten your day: When I was in rehab, they were concerned about my ability to swallow. For breakfast one morning, they gave me pureed sausage and gravy, and pureed toast. Since i couldn't tell the difference, I didn't eat either. Pureed toast?? That was laughable even then!
Have you considered seeing an MD naturopath? The thought of the steroids just makes me cringe. I'm probably very biased when it comes to my opinions of how the doctors promote all the treatments and various drugs rather than treat the problem itself. They put a band-aid on the symptoms.
Over the years, I've followed a number of medical doctors who have some wonderful alternatives to the mainstream medical practices which seem to be run totally by the pharmaceutical companies... You might check out some of them.
http://drhyman.com/about-2/about-dr-mark-hyman/
http://www.mercola.com/forms/background.htm
http://www.russellblaylockmd.com/
http://tahomaclinic.com/dr-jonathan-v-wright/
Those are just a few I can think of at the moment. Hope you manage to enjoy your vacation... We all need to have a good cry sometimes... also a good laugh sometimes.
He told me, and this is true - i have lived it. he said, women's upper teeth show when they speak, and men's lower teeth show. people will not notice a woman not having lower teeth unless you point it out to them.
i was incredibly self conscious of this as i had my teeth pulled and got a lower denture made - had wanted this since i was 12 and had so many cavities that needed root canals, (which i had done and redone), yada yada - they made me wait until i was 21; at 22 i got my upper plate done and love it. i do wish i hadn't gotten the lower done -oh well - i needed to. i don't wear them and nobody can tell.
it is important for your self-esteem that you know, people will not notice this - check it out with a speech language pathologist. if there is a school near you - drop in. they most likely will not charge you a dime, they are cool like that. caring people, out of the box thinkers. you matter, do this for you, gentle hugs, Lilly
You are having so many different issues. I am glad you chose to write to this group. Sometimes the best people to share with are ones that are sharing some of your pain.
I wanted to comment on the dental care. If you haven't had the procedure done yet, please ask the dentist to comp the laughing gas. I thought I was going in for a cleaning for my last visit. It was more than that. No question, I asked for the laughing gas. I remember the dental assistant telling the doctor that I hadn't paid for that. Then dentist told them to write down n/c. The amount they are getting for the extractions should cover their cost.
The last tooth that I had break happened when I was four hundred miles from any dentist. My hubby used and emory file to file down the sharp parts and I flew to the dentist the next day.
Let us know how it goes for you.