What things make your MS symptoms feel worse?

David1949 · Post by **David1949** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:27 am

Questions for people with MS.

1eye · Post by **1eye** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 11:07 am

I voted for everything except sleeping too little. The reason I think the big meal is there is that it increases my core temperature when I am digesting. I think the stress is a main, not recognized one. I get stressed now when I know I am overheated because I know I am going to have problems, so that adds to the stress. I am not sure what stress does to your temperature, but I know fight-or-flight chemistry includes an increase of adrenaline, which constricts blood supply (so you are less vulnerable when you lose blood). If it's this constriction that affects my brain, maybe that is because my oxygenation and food supply are already compromise by low flow, and the adrenaline makes it worse.

tiltawhirl · Post by **tiltawhirl** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 2:15 pm

I didn't check excercise, because I am a slothful bugger and simply refuse to excercise.

So not sure if that category would or would not make my symptoms worse.

For the record, I am 5'7, 139lbs, so clearly not overweight.

I checked both the Hot's by the way.

Quick Story
I had literally scoffed at the notion of heat intolerance in M.S. patients. I had never experienced it in the ten years of the disease course and I thought it was ironically 'all in their minds'.
(My first Neuro told me what was happening to me was all in my mind. But I'm not bitter about that

)
So as a raging Walt Disney World fan and self confessed Theme Park Commando with tons of visits to Florida during the hot summer months without any issue at all, I figured going to Punta Cana in the Dominican this past November would be a snapperoony.

Ha ha.

I was a new believer in the heat intolerance in M.S. Patients. In fact I was so sick every time I went out into the sun, it was unbelievable. Needless to say by the third day I had figured it out and spent the rest of the time in the room during the day and became a vampire amongst the rest of the happy couples. I now notice it 'coming on' when I have the shower too hot as well.
True story.

tilt

dlynn · Post by **dlynn** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 3:19 pm

stress!

mazza · Post by **mazza** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 3:48 pm

Shivering due to cold weather. This seems to affect muscles, making walking and co-ordinating my gait more difficult.

blossom · Post by **blossom** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 4:52 pm

heat of any type from bath too warm, temp. too warm, clothing that holds body heat food too warm makes me weak and everything feels heavier. if too cold i get really stiff and hurt. when the weather is changeing all hell breaks loose. then of course stress. in fact my left side remained normal for yrs. but about 4 yrs. ago i had major stress and i actually felt it affect the left side that day and it was all downhill from then on.

David1949 · Post by **David1949** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:34 am

mazza wrote:Shivering due to cold weather. This seems to affect muscles, making walking and co-ordinating my gait more difficult.

Yeah I got that one too. I should have included that on the list. Stress too. Oh well that's what "Other" is for.

Hockeydad · Post by **Hockeydad** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 5:34 am

As the name implies , I spend a lot of time in hockey arenas. The cold does really affect me. My feet get numb and extremely cold and I shake (I guess shiver). On the other hand, I love the heat.

David1949 · Post by **David1949** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:36 am

blossom wrote:heat of any type from bath too warm, temp. too warm, clothing that holds body heat food too warm makes me weak and everything feels heavier. if too cold i get really stiff and hurt. when the weather is changeing all hell breaks loose. then of course stress. in fact my left side remained normal for yrs. but about 4 yrs. ago i had major stress and i actually felt it affect the left side that day and it was all downhill from then on.

For me the onset of MS followed a period of high stress.

gibbledygook · Post by **gibbledygook** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 4:01 am

Excessive vasodilation and excessive vasoconstriction. Within 2 hours of taking low dose aspirin my walking becomes much stiffer. Low dose aspirin is a relatively mild vasodilator. My blood vessels are likely still dilated from a recent pregnancy where I suffered my worst relapse to date. The blood vessel around the damaged area of the brain must be susceptible to the aspirin.

I suffered a new relapse after taking large doses of horsechestnut several years ago.

offaduxback · Post by **offaduxback** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:03 am

Its a well known here in England that stress exacerbates symptoms that in my opinion is why a lot of teachers are diagnosed with the condition as a very stressful occupation, as also does glandular fever or the virus that causes it contributes towards it, as has a bearing on CFS (Constant fatigue syndrome.)

These are just my opinions ok, as I believe in my case, why my Atlas became misaligned in the first place, was because of nervous tension caused by STRESS

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