This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hi, everyone:

I was diagnosed with RRMS in January, 2003. I've had a very mild case of MS with no relapses since I was diagnosed. BUT, this summer I have been noticing feeling VERY sleepy and weak in body--this is the first time I've struggled with this problem. I had some blood work done, and my white blood cell count was low. Could this be the culprit? I'm on Betaseron, and I'm wondering if it is knocking my WBC down and if this is how it's going to be from now on. Also, my neurologist told me I could be suffering from a sleep disturbance due to the MS--that it is affecting the sleep centers of my brain.

Any info you can share is greatly appreciated.

Sha-Sha

Hi Sha Sha,

I was dignosed in 2001 and I too have mild form of RRMS (I hope). It was easy for Neuros to diagnose....two or three lesions already present in by brain. I'm an engineer, I still work, and I still run 2 to 3 miles a day 2 to 3 times a week.

With out exercise I am exhausted, can't concentrate, and just can't drag myself out of bed in the morning. Since 2001 I went from 260 lbs to about 175. Feel much better.

I had memory difficulties for a while and although I'm not perfect now, (nobody is), since I quit taking Baclofen and Tizanadine for mild muscle spasms and twitches my instant recall and problem solving skills have improved.

Hang in there and don't give up the faith. Many people have this damn disease....more than the officials numbers reflect in my opinion... so don't feel alone.

Believe it or not my older sister has it....just a little worse than me but she absolutely refuses to exercise. She's about 100 pounds over weight, takes 2 to 3 1 mg Xanaxs a day and wonders why sfe is so fatigued.

Don't blame everything on MS. Don't give up.

Best Wishes


Kibee

HI, I was diagnosed (officially) in 1994. I used to have RRMS, but at some indeterminate time (around '97 or '99), I guess it turned into Secondary Progressive.

I first was on Betaseron for seven years, then that seemed to not be as effective all of a sudden. Then, I was on Copaxone for a while. Then I was on Novantrone, which almost seemed to turn back the clock a couple of years! After my three years was up for that one, I took Rebif for a few months, until I could start Tysabri. I had two infusions. On a Friday, I had my last infusion, and that Monday, they pulled it off the market.

Now I am back on Copaxone.

I didn't feel fatigued when I was first diagnosed. I had optic neuritis, and I found one day that I couldn't run anymore. I had a preliminary "probable ms" diagnosis when I decided to have a baby. When my daughter was fifteen months old, I had the MRI that proved the diagnosis. I was fatigued at that time because I was a stay at home mother of an infant.

About five years later, the fatigue which I was feeling had a different flavor. Now, I get tired easily. My head hurts when I try to learn new information. I loose my temper easily, because I feel like I am being tortured when I am just trying to finish something (anything) which I started. So, it would be nice if we could choose to combat fatigue and control it by exercise, and I am sure that it can be helped a lot by regular exercise (because I do that), but you can't make it go away entirely. Just do what you can, and don't let it defeat you; but don't think you have won either. It doesn't go away. Aren't these emoticon thingies entrancing?