MS and Stress

[jimmylegs]

yep, exactly! and here's how you can help get that sorted out: optimize your zinc.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/x4mxl42332033802/
Zinc acutely and temporarily inhibits adrenal cortisol secretion in humans

[lyndacarol]

JL -- I would like more information about your earlier posting concerning chromium

2005: ...we found no beneficial effect of chromium supplementation in the treatment of people with IGT despite increases in serum chromium levels, which suggested an adequate dosage regimen. (the study did not have a healthy control group for comparison, and the write-up also fails to mention the duration of supplementation)

Could you give me a link or source for the quote?

[jimmylegs]

no probs, here you go: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/3/712.full
(i just copied and pasted the text into a google search)
i don't have time just now, but it should be worth looking into the full text just to see whether some of my reservations about the study are merited or not)

[JenniferF]

Every time I get even a little stressed out I start to feel my hand go number and my back burn (my most regular symptoms since my attack).

This is a topic that came up someplace else entirely, and I wanted to address it since you mentioned it:

Be aware that panic (stress) symptoms can mimic MS symptoms. (They can also mimic GI problems, heart problems, etc.). I had the very confusing experience of my first (and, really, last) panic attack during the same time I was experiencing my 'real' neurological symptoms for the first time. Luckily I had a neurologist who was able to very easily tell the difference between the two. Basically, stress-induced symptoms come and go with the stress. Other stuff comes and goes otherwise.


--> That doesn't mean that, if say, because you are under pressure to finish up work and pack for a vacation that you won't wear yourself down and sure enough catch a nasty cold just in time for your flight -- chronic stress, not enough sleep, not eating well, etc. can certainly open you up to other illnesses.

But if you are experiencing an episode of that burning sensation in the back and numbness in your hands that *always coincides* with being stressed, then probably is kinda separate from your MS.

(Just like you can have both a GI bug that makes your stomach gurgle, and a speech to give that also makes your stomach gurgle -- same symptoms, two different causes. The one goes away if you give the speech, the other, well, we wish . . .)

In my limited experience, the overlap is not 100%. For example, panic made *both* my hands numb, but my 'real' neuro numbness only affected my right hand. So that can sometimes be a helpful way to distinguish the two, for people who are trying to tease apart different symptoms.

***

Anyway, that may or may not be your case. But I thought I'd toss it out there in case it is helpful for anyone.

Jen.

[Bubba]

I learned on MS forums 6 years ago was that STRESS was the horrible enemy of MS and was to be avoided at all costs

Great... Then I am up the creek without a paddle. I live it seems, in constant, non-stop, stress....

[Wonderfulworld]

I have been hearing for the last 11 years since diagnosis, usually from people who don't know much, that I should avoid stress at all costs.

I have a suspicion that they have got the reference to MS being a disease of the "central nervous system" as having a strong relevance to a state of nervousness, mixed up in their heads. Or just that mentioning "stress" is a good cure all.

If I followed advice from well-meaning, but stress-avoider-advocates in my life, I would never have gone back to university after diagnosis (I got 1st class honours), certainly never gone back a second time (recently started a diploma in a subject I always found very difficult). I wouldn't have got married. I'd never have had my son. All these things bring me immense joy and I don't regret any of the stress involved.

I think anything that helps you cope with stress is a good thing, but I think avoiding it is irrelevant to MS. There are times I'm coasting along just fine and BAM it hits me when I've not been stressed.

[euphoniaa]

I learned on MS forums 6 years ago was that STRESS was the horrible enemy of MS and was to be avoided at all costs

Great... Then I am up the creek without a paddle. I live it seems, in constant, non-stop, stress....

Yikes! Sorry Bubba! I hope you read through the rest of my post(s) - where I explained that I didn't quite agree with what I had been told. I'm still upset that so much of MS information is designed to make us live in fear - especially fear of stress.

There, there now, Bubba (pat, pat, pat), relax, take a deep breath, pop open a beer, it will be alright, we're all here to help. Speaking of constant, non-stop stress, I wonder which of the two of us lives with the most of it? There may be others with bigger problems than mine, but very few can compete with the sheer volume of crap that hits me every single day.

I just edited my post a bit to say that "I was told" that instead. I apologize for confusing everyone with sarcasm.

[euphoniaa]

I have been hearing for the last 11 years since diagnosis, usually from people who don't know much, that I should avoid stress at all costs.

I have a suspicion that they have got the reference to MS being a disease of the "central nervous system" as having a strong relevance to a state of nervousness, mixed up in their heads. Or just that mentioning "stress" is a good cure all.

If I followed advice from well-meaning, but stress-avoider-advocates in my life, I would never have gone back to university after diagnosis (I got 1st class honours), certainly never gone back a second time (recently started a diploma in a subject I always found very difficult). I wouldn't have got married. I'd never have had my son. All these things bring me immense joy and I don't regret any of the stress involved.

I think anything that helps you cope with stress is a good thing, but I think avoiding it is irrelevant to MS. There are times I'm coasting along just fine and BAM it hits me when I've not been stressed.

Wonderfulworld, I completely agree with you.