This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hi everyone
Just wondering: how many of you were smokers before their diagnosis?
Just wondering if smoke, or any toxic deposits on the brain are what triggers the so called autoimmune reaction.
I do not smoke myself but certainely has been exposed a lot it...

I am not a smoker and never have been, but have been exposed to second-hand smoke all my life on occasion. Although in recent years it has been more rare.

Dx 2004. Never was a smoker. Simply can't tolerate the smell of the smoke. Trying to avoid second-hand smoking as well.

Mother smokes and did so through my childhood and probably through pregnancy

I smoked on and off for about 12 years. Gave up about a decade ago.

I do not smoke and never have. I had an uncle who also had MS and was a life long smoker. His MS was really bad and he smoked until the day he died from MS. I know that is only one point of reference but when I was dx with MS I knew I had to do things differently from my uncle and smoking would not be something I would ever do.

I have wondered about this myself for a while. I smoked since I was a teenager (am now 42, just diagnosed in June of this year) and I quit when I was admitted to the hospital. I can remember the weeks before my diagnosis was confirmed when I would get up for work, make my coffee and had my first cigarette of the day. I would get this overwhelming burning sensation inside my head and no...it wasn't a hot flash as my bf suggested It was as if I had a fire inside my head. Needless to say I haven't had one since but it does make sense with all of the chemicals and neurotoxins in them.

Serena

Growing up in the 1960s and 70s my brother and I on car trips with our parents were subject to both smoking and windows rolled up. When we complained, dad turned on the air conditioning, which blew it all to us in the back seat. Both parents died of lung cancer. My brother never smoked (smart).

I have MS and quit almost two months ago. MS is my only health problem so far, thankfully. I can still get out there and ride a bike like a demon around the neighborhood, easier than walking. There have been many postings on this board regarding MS and smoking none good news of course. I'd think the vascular effects on MS would be the worst, decreasing blood flow to the brain.

even worse than decreasing blood flow, what if smoking damages brain tissue just like it does to lungs tissues? maybe that causes the immune system to try to get there and remove the toxic molecules there...
I have a neighbour who litreally lost his mind from smoking too much pot... maybe his brain couldn t deal with that whereas others can... same as smoking cigarettes, some people develop lung cancer, others don't, we're all different..

hi!

I used to smoke and it used to affect me as I would struggle to get up afterwards. I have since quit, but conducted as experiment about a year ago now, I had a cigarette or two and it defnitely affected my legs and my ablility and strength in my legs.

as for it being my trigger then no, stress was my biggest problem, and that is why I smoked.

I've been smoking cigarettes for almost 20 years, the same amount of time for hash, and later weed. Was diagnosed with mild relapsing/remitting MS in '06, but haven't quit as it's about the only vice I have left. I've never felt any changes from smoking either cigarettes or weed, but the amount of chemicals added to tobacco cannot be good.

I've done really well since diagnosis, a few dips her and there, but mainly okay. I tried quitting smokes maybe three years ago and had some nasty relapse sensations...so I started smoking again. Weed works differently for everyone, but I find it useful and had actually asked my doctor and neurologist if I should quit pot, to which they both said 'Only if you want to'...not the response I had expected at all! I don't use any pharmaceuticals, so it really pisses the doctors off.

Stress has been my biggest trigger in the past, but I regulate that now and stay away from things that annoy me as that's the stress I can't deal with.

Fee002: did the limb strength issue come up for you with cigarettes or alternative smokable's?