Stu's Views and MS Related News

A “Creative Visualization” in to MS
By Julie Stachowiak, Ph.D., About.com
Updated: October 1, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Suman Jayadev, MD

Julie wrote: I was recently asked to give a talk to “team captains” for the MS15, the 150-mile bicycle tour between cities all over the United States that raises money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I don’t think any of the people in the audience actually had multiple sclerosis (MS), and only a few had loved ones with MS. These people take on an enormous amount of responsibility planning logistics for their company team and knowing a great deal about distance cycling, but not necessarily MS.

I wanted to let them know that their work was appreciated. I also wanted to let them know that “we” are everywhere. I wanted to let them know that just because I marched (rather than rolled) up to the podium, that I, and people like me, still hurt in ways that were difficult to see or understand.

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MS Vaccines

(Stuart says : "Two Thumbs-UP on this article")

written by: By Julie Stachowiak, Ph.D., About.com
Updated: August 27, 2008

A vaccine for multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Yes, you read that right. In order to get on board with the notion of an MS vaccine, you are going to have to change your ideas about what vaccines are and bend your brain a little to understand what exactly these experimental vaccines are trying to do. However, once you get a glimpse into the world of how scientists are trying to tweak the immune system and target the nasty T-cells that are causing those of us with MS to tingle, stumble and hurt, I promise you – you will be excited, too.

I might not be ready to utter the word “cure,” but I might start letting it play around in my head occasionally while I keep my eye on these guys as they make their way through clinical trials.

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Headaches as a Symptom of Multiple Sclerosis
(( Stuart Schlossman Can Identify with this Major Symptom, "Headaches" ))

Written By: Julie Stachowiak, Ph.D., About.com
Updated: June 17, 2008
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Suman Jayadev, MD


Everybody has a headache occasionally. However, people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are much more prone to migraine-like or cluster headaches than people in the general population. While the cause of most headaches is a mystery, some headaches in people with MS can be caused by lesions, depression or specific medications that they are taking. You should see your doctor for: Any type of unusual headache, a headache that keeps recurring, or one that lasts for a long time.

What Do MS-Related Headaches Feel Like?

Headaches that are directly associated with MS have been described as:

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Coughing and Shortness of Breath as Symptoms of MS

Written By Julie Stachowiak, Ph.D., About.com
Updated: June 11, 2008
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Suman Jayadev, MD
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Just when you thought that the tingling and numbness, the fatigue, the MS hug and the memory problems were enough, turns out that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are prone to respiratory problems, as well. In fact, most of us would test pretty low on pulmonary function tests designed to assess the strength of our respiratory muscles.

Fortunately, for most of us, these problems are not noticeable or do not impede us in any significant way. Even better, it turns out there may be exercises that we can do to prevent this from getting worse.


What Do Respiratory Problems in MS Feel Like?
MS-related respiratory problems can take several forms, including:
Shortness of breath
Difficulty breathing deeply
Hiccups
Cough
Frequent sighing
Not enough air

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Info provided By Julie Stachowiak, Ph.D., About.com
Updated: July 18, 2008


Fatigue Can Be a Side Effect of These Antihistamine Medications

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Fatigue and Multiple Sclerosis
Most of us with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) suffer from fatigue. In fact, an estimated 70% of people with MS say that fatigue is their most disabling symptom. While much of our fatigue comes from the disease process itself or MS-related heat intolerance, there are many secondary causes of fatigue in MS. One thing that may be contributing to your fatigue could actually be some of the medications that you are taking to slow your MS or deal with specific symptoms. If you suffer from MS-related fatigue, it is important to investigate all possible causes, including side effects from some of your medications.

Use of Antihistamines By People With Multiple Sclerosis
Histamines are chemicals released by the body’s inflammatory cells during an allergic reaction, which results in classic allergy symptoms such as itching, sneezing, runny nose, congestion and irritated eyes. Antihistamines block the actions of these histamines, thereby reducing the allergic response.

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These Tips, Might Help with Dysphagia
By Julie Stachowiak, Ph.D., About.com


It is estimated that 30 to 40 percent of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have difficulties swallowing. Also known as dysphagia, problems with swallowing can pose choking dangers or lead to aspiration pneumonia (where food or liquid goes into the lungs and causes infection). On the other hand, these problems can be so subtle that many people don’t even notice them, except when they occasionally gag on a bite of food or have a coughing fit when trying to swallow a pill. Regardless of how severe your dysphagia might be, it is important that those of us with MS who may have swallowing problems review our habits around eating and see if we can create new (and safer) habits.

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As a complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) technique, biofeedback falls into my category of “cool CAM things to try,” for several reasons: 1) it is unlikely to hurt you; 2) it may actually help you; and 3) it provides instant feedback that you are doing something right. While I don’t think that I would turn to biofeedback to solve many (or most) of my multiple sclerosis symptoms, I will definitely give it a try for mild sensory symptoms, sleep problems, mild cognitive problems and as a way to reduce stress.

What Is It?
Biofeedback taps into the mind-body connection for healing purposes. Formal biofeedback therapy uses monitoring equipment to translate different bodily reactions into pictures or sounds. Which equipment is used depends on what is being measured and what specific symptom or condition the person wants to address.

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e-gad --after these last couple of years with my having some breathing difficulties - especially at night, now I have to question my ENT as to why he hadn't thought it to be related to my MS????
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The info found below was obtained from: ms.about.com


From Julie Stachowiak, Ph.D.,


Coughing and Shortness of Breath as Symptoms of MS
Just when you thought that the tingling and numbness, the fatigue, the MS hug and the memory problems were enough, turns out that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are prone to respiratory problems, as well. In fact, most of us would test pretty low on pulmonary function tests designed to assess the strength of our respiratory muscles.

Fortunately, for most of us, these problems are not noticeable or do not impede us in any significant way. Even better, it turns out there may be exercises that we can do to prevent this from getting worse.

What Do Respiratory Problems in MS Feel Like?
MS-related respiratory problems can take several forms, including:
Shortness of breath
Difficulty breathing deeply
Hiccups
Cough
Frequent sighing
Not enough air

» Read More

Knowing how bad my headaches are, on almost a daily basis, I needed to post this for anyone else that suffers from headaches


The info found below is written by : Julie Stachowiak, Ph.D., from ms.about.com -

For most cases of MS-related headaches, the treatment is the same as it would be in people without MS. However, it is important to see your neurologist or the physician that is treating your MS, as certain drugs may work better to treat your headaches, depending on the cause.

It is also possible that some of the medications that you are currently taking for your MS or MS symptoms could be causing the headaches, in which case the doctor may want to alter how you take them, change to another drug or have ideas on how to cope with this side effect. Also, there are some drugs used to treat headaches that have side effects that can make MS symptoms feel worse.

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