Seasonal MS attacks

L · Family Member Joined: Oct 21, 2007 Posts: 58

Hiya

I have had one MS attack every year since the condition first appeared six years ago. And it always happens in spring (except one summer when a lumbar puncture brought a huge attack on.)

I know that some conditions can be seasonal. Autumn, for example, is a bad time for men with heart conditions owing to the changes in hormones that are experienced when the weather changes (or so I read once).

Does anyone else get seasonal attacks? Perhaps it's all one big coincidence. Any ideas on why it might not be?

Thanks!

whyRwehere · Family Member Joined: Oct 04, 2005 Posts: 87

We have noticed that my husband seems to get worse in the Spring or the Autumn. I don't know if it the stress from work at these times, or the change in weather.

CureOrBust · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:31 am Post subject: Re: Seasonal MS attacks

lyndacarol · Family Elder Joined: Dec 23, 2005 Posts: 509

L--I have a friend with MS who has attacks in spring and fall; she thinks her attacks coincide with her allergies and allergy season. Could this be increased mucus again?

carolew · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:15 am Post subject:

I don't get real attacks but in the spring, I often have 'lows' I call them and I think it is because the winter has been so rough that my body complains by giving increases in my symptoms.

ssmme · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject:

I don't get what I consider real attacks either...it's only in hindsight that I realize that what I've been experiencing could have been an attack. The worst time I ever had was after my lumbar puncture. I have lasting damage from that period that has never faded away.

As my neurologist told me - the only thing predictable about ms is it's unpredictability. It manifests differently in those dx'd and different people respond differently to each drug whether off-label or fda approved. There is no treatment that works for the masses. Finding a treatment for yourself is pretty much accomplished through trial and error. Stay away from witch doctor approaches but keep an open mind to what's out there.

I've never been on any of the CRAB drugs. Instead, I chose to be a Tovaxin "lab rat". Since starting the trial back in March of '07 I've had no outwardly physical deterioration of my condition but no improvements either. Maybe I will start to see improvement now that I'm in the extension study but it'll be a while before I'll be able to tell.

Good luck finding the regimen that works for you.

Marcia
_________________
DX'd 08/2006, RRMS, currently in the Tovaxin extension study group.

DavidR · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:14 pm Post subject:

I have seen some suggestions that attacks are more frequent in the Spring because that is when Vit D level is lowest. You might want to get your Vit D level checked in Jan/Feb and then adjust your supplements if necessary.

L · Family Member Joined: Oct 21, 2007 Posts: 58

L · Family Member Joined: Oct 21, 2007 Posts: 58

MaggieMae · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 7:35 am Post subject:

My husband's attacks were mostly in the spring (from the very beginning over 30 years ago). I too noticed that they coinsided with allergy season.

I also wondered about the Vitamin D. By the end of the winter, Vitamin D would be lower. My husband is on 4000IU daily for the past couple of years and his levels are still not that high. Just had his 25(HO)D checked last month and it was only 33. But, I did notice that since he started the Vitamin D, he doesn't get his yearly winter cold (that lasted for months).

chriscoxrox · Newbie Joined: Aug 25, 2008 Posts: 9

I live in Texas and when winter hit last year as soon as the hot turned to cold overnight my flare up started. That was after 2 years almost to the day of my first attack.