Can Multiple Sclerosis effect a person mentally as well as physically?!


Question: Can Multiple Sclerosis effect a person mentally as well as physically.?
My mum has it and sometimes I feel like her personality has changed which worries me.Health Question & Answer


Answers:
Yes, multiple sclerosis often does effect a person emotionally. Especially during "flare-ups", those with MS frequently don't sleep well at all.

Please check out the link below, for a detailed description of the disease.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_sc...

Hugs to you and your mum- it isn't an easy road. Best wishes! Health Question & Answer

Yes it can. Sometimes it be caused by the placement of the lesions,sometimes it is depression from the stress of living with a chronic illness.
How long has your Mom been diagnosed.? MS diagnoses can be overwhelming ! It takes time to adjust to life with MS.I would suggest visiting with her Neurologist ,Many times a light antidepressant is all it takes. I have known people that required mental health therapy to help them cope with the diagnosis.
If there is a support group for family and care givers you might go to a few meetings .
Good Luck !Health Question & Answer

Understanding What Having MS Means
by .?.?

Having MS means many things change, and a lot of them are invisible. Unlike having cancer or being hurt in an accident, most people do not understand even a little about MS and it's effects on us; and many of those who think they do know are actually misinformed. In the spirit of informing those who wish to understand...

These are the things that I would like you to understand about me before you judge me:

Please understand that being sick does not mean I'm no longer a human being. I have to spend most of my day in considerable pain and exhaustion and if you visit I probably don't seem like much fun to be with, but I'm still me stuck inside this body. I still worry about school, and work, and my family and friends, and most of the time I'd still like to hear you talk about yours too.

Please understand the difference between "happy" and "healthy". When you've got the flu you probably feel miserable with it for a week or two, but I've been sick for years. I can't be miserable all the time, in fact, I work hard at not being miserable. So if you're talking to me and I sound happy, it means I'm happy, that's all. It doesn't mean that I'm still not in a lot of pain, or extremely tired, or that I'm getting better, or any of those things. Please, don't say "Oh, you are sounding better!" I am not sounding better, I am sounding happy. If you want to comment on that, you are welcome to.

Please understand that being able to stand for 10 minutes doesn't necessarily mean that I can stand for 20 minutes or an hour. Just because I was able to stand up for 30 minutes yesterday doesn't mean I can do the same today. With a lot of diseases and disorders one is either paralyzed, or they can move. With MS it's far more confusing: one hour or day or week or year we may have normal - or almost normal - mobility; the next hour or day or week or year we may be unable to sit, stand, walk, think, remember, or even get out of bed, we may be unsociable or depressed, and almost assuredly we are in pain. We have good days and bad, and during our good days we may truly not "look sick", but we are.

Please understand that making plans other than immediate ones is a crap shoot at best, because we can't know how we will feel or what our physical, mental or emotional condition will be. If we seem to hedge about making plans with you, please understand it's because we truly don't know if we will be able to honor them. The same applies if we have to cancel plans previously made or invitations, even at the last minute - it is not personal, and it makes us as frustrated and sad as it does you! That is what MS does to us, and it's how we must live our lives. It is not just a matter of sucking it in, or bucking up, or psyching ourselves up; believe me if we could, we would!

Please understand that MS is variable - with each person and from person to person. It is quite possible and often all too common, that one day I can walk to the park and back, or bicycle 2-4 miles, or swim 12 laps, or even run with my dog; while the next day I may have great difficulty getting out of bed, walking to the kitchen, or be unable to walk at all without a cane, walker or other mobility aid. Please don't attack me when I can't do today what I did before by saying "but you did it yesterday!" or "you did it before!" Your frustration can not begin to compare to our own frustration. The very act of planning while not knowing what condition we will be in is stressful and tiring in itself. If you want me to do something with you, or go someplace with you... ASK if I can. I may well dearly want to go, but simply be physically unable to do so. Understand if I have to say no today, but please ask me again soon.

Please understand that "getting out and doing things" does not make me feel better and can often make me seriously worse. Telling me that I need a treadmill, or that I just need to lose (or gain) weight, get this exercise machine, join this gym, try these classes, take these vitamins, herbs, tonics and snake-oil cures will frustrate me to tears and is totally incorrect. If I was capable of doing things, don't you think I would.? And when I am capable, I DO! I work with my doctors and physical therapists and follow the exercise and diet plans they prescribe.

Another statement that hurts: "You just need to push yourself more..." Obviously, MS directly impacts muscles and ours do not regenerate as quickly as yours do. Pushing ourselves beyond comfortable physical limits can be dangerous and cause a severe relapse. On the other hand, doing what we can when we can is excellent therapy both physically and mentally... and we do! If I work at a part-time job for 4 hours one day, my fatigue level is greater than yours if you worked a 12 hour day. Many days I can still do anything I ever did as well as I ever did ... but only one thing per day or week or month. Everything drains us and exhausts us exponentially morHealth Question & Answer

Sorry about that. My mom has had it for years, and she has not suffered that as of yet. It does happen unfortunately. I attached a link that may be helpful to you. One is for the disease itself, the other is the support group. They may answer your questions better than anyone here could. Sorry again for your mom. Best of luck.Health Question & Answer

of course it can... as far a driving some crazy not likely. unfortunately your mother is in A LOT of pain; which can most possibly put her in a crabby mood or just very irritated, but don't worry she's not mad at you. Try to understand her difficulties while dealing with the pain. The best thing i think for you to do is to be there for her. It may seem hard at times, but hang in there.
Best of LuckHealth Question & Answer

i am sorry to hear about it. i think the answer is yes because symptoms start from the head and goes down to the feet. i think it is also called descending paralysis.
Health Question & Answer

Chronic illness always affects the spirits of those who suffer it.Health Question & Answer

I would say yes it can.Health Question & Answer



The consumer health information on youqa.cn is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2012 YouQA.cn -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Q&A Resources