Multiple Sclerosis

[loggy01]

I had a friend who died at the age of 34 from multiple sclerosis. I was very shocked to hear that she died from this disease. Can anyone tell me if it is common to die from M.S. and also what is the average life expectancy of someone with M.S.

[Drisgirl]

There are 2 types of MS - agressive and the other which tends to go into remission.

My cousin developed it at 18.He was vibrant,had a good job,cheeky and gorgeous.He started to stagger and slur and of course the small town talk was he was always drunk and on drugs.He had agressive MS.There was no remission but he was nursed at home until he died 5 yrs ago at 27.

In answer to your Q - some people (in fact most) lead a normal life unless they have a relapse but usually they then go into remission.

My cousin because of his age was in the newspapers early on in his illness as was chosen as a guinea pig for the drug which was or is known as Lorenzos oil and he wanted to highlight it.However some were given placebos and others were given the drug.Guess he might have received the placebo - we will never know.

In conclusion it is not necessarily a death sentence at all.

[loggy01]

Thanks for your answer. Interesting reading about the Lorenzo's oil.

[qapmoc]

Hi, my Mother had MS and while she eventually died from an infection it was the MS that killed her, from the start of her illness to her death was around 30 years and she just got a little worse each time, every year her physical and mental abilities diminished bit by bit until maybe three years before she died she was just a body in a bed really.

I can tell you one thing, after seeing her die bit by bit I do sympathise with "the right to die" school of thought.

[annavc]

My grandfather died 20 years ago of MS at the age of 60. He was first diagnosed when he was 30. He gradually deteriorated over the years and in the 10 years I knew him he went from walking with a stick, to using a zimmer frame, then a wheelchair. He spent the last 3 years of his life in a nursing home. It's a horrible illness that desperatly needs more research. There is a really good chance that stem cell research could make all sorts of advances in the treatment of MS as well as many other diseases, such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers.

[asciwhite]

hi loggy01, I was diagnosed with M.S Feb 02 at the age of 34 and was given around 10yrs expectancy ( a good honest frank discussion with my M.S nurse) because of it's severity but right now life is good and I'm loving it!!! I can walk ( not too far) and talk/slur with the attention span of a gnat, but a gorgeous patient husband who cares endlessly for me and I him.

Your dear friend had probably had the disease a very long time and had the form chronic progressive. Now, the saying goes that life expectancy can be 20-30 yrs, but getting diagnosed can take a very long time and then putting the puzzle together of how long your symptoms have actually been around and that it wasn't all just in your head! (g.p's) is another clue to how long you've had it.

the types of M.S are....

Benign M.S,

Relapsing-remitting M.S

Secondry progressive M.S

Primary progressive M.S (chronic progressive)

The federation for M.S is also a useful source of info.

Your dear friend is out of pain now and in peace.

I agree with you qapmoc I would like to go quickly when the time comes, even if it's Switzerland or Holland, but home would be my choice if it becomes so....c'est la vie