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just wondering if anyone knows which MS drug Jack Osbourne is taking....saw him on Piers Morgan last night, said it was an injectable drug but didn't say which one.....

I didn't seem him on the show, but I'm not liking how his family seems to portray the illness. Of course the tabloids take things out of context. There was one headline that said Sharon wasn't going to let her son die. MS isn't a death sentence...every case is so different and the range of symptoms is limitless. To hear his parents talk, you'd think he is dying. I read some report recently that said 95% of MS patients live a normal life span with 5% dying of complications due to MS like pneumonia. After Jack is on drugs for awhile he may not have another problem for years. Rather then painting such a bleak portrait of MS, I wish they would focus on the fact that many MS patients can lead a fairly normal life and that there are effective drug treatments. He certainly could have a worse disease. Though I think it is his family that isn't handling it well...he seems to be ok.

Hey Stacy, I understand what you are saying but I get upset when they trivialise MS. It is a terrible disease (and for some very destructive) I also understand that Sharon's brother has MS so she has seen it before which can make a person more pessamistic.
I think that is why she has been so upset. You are right there are worse diseases like MND but MS ain't a good one to have either x
I hate to say this but people do die from MS (not technically as it always says other complications but would someone die of pnemonia if they didn't have MS? My aunt died from choking.....She couldn't swallow properly because of the MS so I consider the MS totally responsible (just to remind new MSers it is not bad for everyone, I myself have had it for 16 years and still functioning at 90%)

the osbournes are a family who have just been devastated with this news.all our familys probably said very similar things but were not in the papers.give it time for them to learn the truth about ms.
another thing is that publicity is publicity whether good or bad at least people are hearing about ms.

I agree with mssocietyfan, the Osbournes are upset about their son/brother being diagnosed with MS - could of been something else - doesn't matter. I did watch the Piers Morgan segment - didn't see the doom and gloom that StaceyB mentioned. Piers knows Jack well by the sounds of it - kept mentioning how positive Jack was. Even tho Sharon's brother has MS, sounded like the Osbournes needed to learn some up-to-date facts?? As well, I didn't agree with everything Dr. Gupta had to say. Short clip actually.

Music wrote: Even tho Sharon's brother has MS, sounded like the Osbournes needed to learn some up-to-date facts?? .

Didn't Sharon's brother die from MS?

From what I've read and heard on TV lately, Sharon's brother that has MS is still living.

I wasn't trying to say they should trivialize the disease...I just wish they would be more informative about the disease and bring it more to the front instead of announcing it as a gloom and doom disease. I have only been diagnosed for 2 years, and I am lucky that so far it affects me minimally. One of my clients from a previous job had a very serious form of the disease. Within 2 years of her diagnosis she was wheelchair bound and very weak, and it was devestating for her. My Uncle had MS (yet ended up dying of bone cancer), and he battled with the disease over 35 years...he wasn't wheelchair bound until the last couple of years. It is just such a broad disease that is so different for everybody. I feel attitude is very important when dealing with it. Jack Osbourne seems to be dealing with it very well, and he seems very positive...I just wish his family was portrayed as being more positive versus the very negative outlook they are shown to have...of course that is how the media is portraying them.

StaceyB wrote:MS isn't a death sentence...

I completely feel the same way, Stacey.
I have been diagnosed with MS since I was 16 years old, and had 2 "attacks" before going on Avonex...One quite severe (my first "attack" made my whole right side went heavy and took 6 months to get better), and the other only minor (with coldness in the left side of my neck).
I then started Avonex and have now been on it for 8 years..my last MRI showed 0 new lesions, but unfortunately, I am currently experiencing my very first "attack" since taking the drug.
My symptoms at the moment are sensory (numbness and pins and needles from my hips to feet), but the neurologists say it should clear up on it's own..I am waiting on an MRI of my brain and spinal cord to verify this, but he thinks it was an "attack" on my lower spinal column.
It's pretty upsetting having these new symptoms, but to only have had 1 attack in 8 years? I know how lucky I am..
I truly believe attitude is key; and I still remember (even though it is completelyyyy understandable) when I was 16 and being diagnosed, my mother crying and it scaring the crap out of me.. so if she had reacted like Sharon (speaking about death), I think I'd be pretty peeved.
Honestly, I live a more exciting and active life than the majority of people I know.. and with the Osbourne's wealth, I wouldn't be surprised if Jack lived a long and healthy life (he could have a personal chef, trainer, yoga instructor, shrink, neurologists, best drugs, yadayadayada..LOL!)
Hopefully the more famous people who are diagnosed, the more exposure it will get and bring us one step closer to a "cure" (or better treatment)..

I hope for my post didn't sound too harsh... I get what you are saying Stacy.....its not all doom and gloom for everyone.

I have had some really frightening experiences over the years and I just get upset when some people think I just have a cold or something! like it will pass like a bug, they have no idea what it is like to lose your sight or ability to think clearly or live with vertigo (because I look so well) but I do see the flip side when people think you will be in a wheelchair in a year and then die soon after which is an extreme which is not realistic either.

I agree the Osbournes need to do a bit more research on the disease and try and educate people on the variations of the condition and how every person is different.

I think sharon was probably reacting on emotions rather than fact (as many of us do when we are faced with this shocking diagnosis) I think it must be hard for a parent to find out their "baby" is ill. I know my mum was devastated especially after my aunts struggles (she lived until 60 years old but died just before my diagnosis, she was not in a good way for 10 years before her passing)

I hope once the dust settles the family can raise awareness of the condition.

I am actually happy (well not happy thats not the right word, I don't wish this on anyone) but encouraged that someone with a profile like jack Osbourne has the disease. I am still in the closet with most people I know and Jack being so open has made me feel like I shouldn't hide it and be more open about it. (we will see)

From an MSer in the closet;) Glad there are forums like this to share with x

What bummed me out was Dr Gupta never mentioned diet which has worked for me so far (knock on wood). I am also drug free. My Dad had PPMS and died of pneumonia complications after bed ridden for many years. I have seen this hideous disease at its worst which was prior to all the knowledge and DMDS we have these days. I am not one to take my remission for granted.

LauraB wrote:

StaceyB wrote:MS isn't a death sentence...

I then started Avonex and have now been on it for 8 years..my last MRI showed 0 new lesions, but unfortunately, I am currently experiencing my very first "attack" since taking the drug.

It's pretty upsetting having these new symptoms, but to only have had 1 attack in 8 years? I know how lucky I am..

Hello Laura. I have a few questions. Does it really matter how many lesions show up on MRI if you are not symptomatic or vice versa? I personally could care less about lesion load as long as I am symptom free. If I have symptoms but no lesions I think its kind of moot imo. What do you think? Also were you symptom free for those 8 years ?

LR1234 wrote:
I agree the Osbournes need to do a bit more research on the disease and try and educate people on the variations of the condition and how every person is different.

Every person has a different course but is the end result really any different? I mean based on the research I have done so far MS actually seems quite predictable in that it is absolute that the disease will progress and if someone has it long enough they will be in a bad way sooner or later. If I am wrong let me know please. Has anyone ever had clinical MS for more than 20 years and not become disabled?

cg50in wrote:What bummed me out was Dr Gupta never mentioned diet which has worked for me so far (knock on wood). I am also drug free. My Dad had PPMS and died of pneumonia complications after bed ridden for many years. I have seen this hideous disease at its worst which was prior to all the knowledge and DMDS we have these days. I am not one to take my remission for granted.

How long have you been in remission? How old are you? Also are you referring to the best best diet?

ScaredofMS wrote:Hello Laura. I have a few questions. Does it really matter how many lesions show up on MRI if you are not symptomatic or vice versa? I personally could care less about lesion load as long as I am symptom free. If I have symptoms but no lesions I think its kind of moot imo. What do you think? Also were you symptom free for those 8 years ?

Hi there,

Although I am no doctor, I personally have experienced a direct correlation between my lesions and my symptoms. When I had heaviness in my right side my MRI showed lesions in the left side of my brain. When I had coldness and tingling in my left side, my MRI showed a new lesion in the right side of my brain.

Also, the more lesions I had (I had much bigger ones and more of them in the left side of my brain; and later, only a small lesion after my second "attack" on the right side of my brain), the more server the attack (my heaviness in the right side lasted almost 6 months, but the coldness and tingling in my left side only lasted a week!).

For the most part I have been symptom free for 8 years (knock on wood)..and my last MRI showed no new lesions.. Sometimes, when I get very stressed or tired (for example, it used to be really bad during exam time back when I was in University) I experience slight heaviness in my right side again..but I am comforted by the fact that this passes as soon as I am rested. It has became almost a routine..I get overly stressed/tired = my heaviness hits. I rest/relax = it disappears. Almost every time..So I try not to freak out..

My grandmother's best friend (who lives in Spain) actually has 0 symptoms but her MRI shows loads of lesions..so, it doesn't really make sense to me either..as it's the opposite of what I have experienced thus far.

As for my latest symptoms (pins and needles and numbness from the waist down to my feet)..I am still waiting on my MRI..but I (and my neurologist) expect it to show a slight lesion on my spinal cord. If it does, I am curious to know what provoked this "attack" after 8 years..but I kind of have a feeling it's because I was "messing" with my Avonex.
My neurologist suggested I try to come off of it because my last MRI (in March) showed 0 new activity, and I was doing so well.. I only stopped taking it for 3 weeks and then went back on it because I started to feel the heaviness in my right side for a longer period of time than usual and it wasn't going away even when I de-stressed and rested, so I panicked and asked myself, "why the hell am I messing with a good thing?! I am lucky to have a medication that works for me." So, like I said, I went back on it and my right side stopped being heavy..but then a couple of weeks later I had this happen. Maybe it's because I got so panicked about it (I was so scared and focused on having another attack when I came off it, I ended up having one..)..Who knows?

I definitely do not think everyone with MS ends up in the same situation. I have seen people who have excellent diets, are fit, keep their stress under control, and have positive attitudes live long, almost completely symptom free lives.
On the other hand, I have also seen people with MS who have negative attitudes, accept defeat, eat like crap, and are unfit let the illness overtake them.

I really do believe that attitude + diet + fitness + lifestyle (levels of stress) + perhaps medication (if you find one that works for you) = best ways to keep MS at bay.. Also, avoiding extreme temperatures (from my own experience, this only results in short term symptoms though, that do not persist once I am back at normal temperature).

Personally, I am just now exploring improving my diet (it's not by any means bad, but I do think I eat too much refined sugar and wheat, as I have been a vegetarian since I was 4 years old).. I just found this video that is pretty interesting: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... -diet.aspx

I think everyone with MS is scared sometimes..just try to rule it, and not let it rule you (easier said than done, I know)!!