This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

My son is three now, he's very inquisitive and always asking why mammy?

He sees me take my injections each day, vitamins and meds and he hasn't really questioned it much, I just said it's to keep me well. Recently we were out though, I had a good day and decided to take him on the bus. Normally I drive because it's easier for fatigue and balance. We got on the bus and he kept asking me why I wouldn't go upstairs (because Daddy does!). I just said I couldnt' manage the stairs on the bus. Then when he saw another woman go up the stairs he shouted 'but SHE can manage Mammy, she can manage the stairs!!'. I just said, well I can't. More why's but I just kept saying, 'I just can't'.

But it has me wondering, how early have the rest of you parents said 'I have MS' to your children? I am not sure it would be a good thing to tell him until he's older as he is full of questions about 'how do you die' 'why do people die' 'do they die when they get sick' etc etc. so it might worry him that if I'm 'sick' I might be about to die!
Anyone share their 'I have MS' stories with your children?

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Concussus Resurgo
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RR-MS dx 1998 and Coeliac dx 2003
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Copaxone, Cymbalta. EPO, Fish Oils, Vitamin D3 2000 IU daily, Cal/Mag/Zinc, Multivitamin/mineral, Co-Enzyme Q10, Probiotics, Milk Thistle.

Not an expert and please use your own judgement...just a suggestion...

"everyone is a little different and sometime's Mommy feel's good and sometime's Mommy feel's not so good"....

then you could easier explain the stair's like...mommy's leg's don't feel too good today...dunno just a thought..I know my strongest advocate is my daughter 15yr's old...and my best care-taker ever (she insist's)...found out at about 12yr's old sooooooo....she handle's it her best way but then again she is not 3 so I am a little bit stumped here..

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GOD BLESS.... CCSVI treatment Dr. Siskin great doc....symptom's improved for about 3 week's (gait, balance, spasticity) now back to square 1...

Hi Leetz
thanks for the reply, like your suggestion, it allows for variability without too much detail. That is so lovely your daughter is so good to you.

To be honest I don't intend telling him until he's MUCH older! I suppose it's just interesting to know what other parents did say when it becomes time for the chat about MS, but that isisn't now by any means. Sometimes I use the 'bad back' as an excuse for everything. The trouble is if I say something like 'my back's not feeling good today' I get about ten more WHYS immediately after! I am glad he is inquisitive, he has an active mind and will make a great investigator in whatever job he chooses in the future

_________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Concussus Resurgo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RR-MS dx 1998 and Coeliac dx 2003
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copaxone, Cymbalta. EPO, Fish Oils, Vitamin D3 2000 IU daily, Cal/Mag/Zinc, Multivitamin/mineral, Co-Enzyme Q10, Probiotics, Milk Thistle.

very difficult question that only you can answer and i wish you the best.

my take on this appears to be different than yours, but i will offer it as you posed the question. my children are 15 and 12 so i too am in a different category.

i would assume that if you told your child it was MS that was bothering you as opposed to a bad back he truly wouldn't know one was worse than the other. i would explain MS as something i have that can makes me (fill in with your common symptoms and shots) and let him know that it's going to be OK...be vague. if you stay consistent with MS as a cause of the issues that you are experiencing it 'may' be the easy quick answer for everything moving forward. then as he ages you can explain in more detail all along being honest.

again, best of luck.

Wonderfulworld – Somewhere in your conversation, very nonchalantly, you might mention that your problem is not something that he or anyone else can "catch" – with his limited medical experience, he may know that he can catch a cold from his mother or someone else.

Hello...thank you for the response...yes, I am very blessed my daughter taking care of me...somtitme's though, I just want her to be a "regular teenager" u know?

Errrhhh.......I will continue to fight this disease to the fullest of my abilitie's (that are remaining)...Pray on how to tell your son...he (the Lord) will give you the word's....knock and it shall be answered!

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GOD BLESS.... CCSVI treatment Dr. Siskin great doc....symptom's improved for about 3 week's (gait, balance, spasticity) now back to square 1...