Myths and Misconceptions

I wanted to share this post by the MultipleSclerosis.net. I thought this was great information to share for those who don't understand this complex disease.

1. "THERE ARE NO EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS FOR MS.
      although there is no cure for MS. there are effective treatments to battle the disease. I am currently  on A TON of oral medication that I take morning and night and then my main medication is Tysabri. Once a month I go to LDS hospital for a 2 hour infusion of the drug.

my daily dose of oral meds

2"YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE CHILDREN IF YOU HAVE MS."

     Research has shown that people with MS have healthy children and function well as parents and that children of parent with MS are happy and well adjusted. Pregnancy and childbirth do not make MS worse. 

while being pregnant I have never felt so dang good! No I never got sick, and never had to take any of my medication and felt that I walked better than ever.

the best day of my life. My great feeling of pregnancy health left when Sawyer was about 3 months old

3. "EVERYONE WITH MS ENDS UP IN A WHEELCHAIR"

      Although 7 out of 10 people with MS only have a mild-to-moderate disability and remain ambulatory. At some point they may require a walking aid. Such as a cane to help with balance, but the idea that everyone with MS is destined to be wheelchair-bound is false. I on the other hand seem to work backwards in a way. When I was released from the hospital after being diagnosed I was in a wheelchair and then graduated to a walker and then to a cane and now to nothing at all.

4."HAVING AN EXACERBATION MEANS THAT YOUR MEDICATION IS NO LONGER WORKING"

     None of today's disease-modifying treatment are 100% effective. Most will experience fewer exacerbations which may not be as severe, but relapses will still happen.

I did have a huge relapse when Sawyer was about 3 months old. I am now back on all of my medication and will get my first infusion of Tysabri this month. Because this relapsed was pretty bad my doctor sent me to the hospital for 3 days of steroid treatments.

5."MS IS A TERMINAL DISEASE"

     The fact is that the lifetime of a person with MS is just about as long as the lifespan of a person without the disease. Most people with MS die from the same health conditions that are the most common causes of death in people without MS.