ANS or automomic nerveous system affects the stomach, heart rate, blood pressure, and other things. Things you CANT control. You may be able to meditate your BP lower, but for the most part its automatic or autonomic.

CNS or central nervous system affects motor skills. Things you do, like...move your leg, or walk or balance. For the most part, things you can control, unless something is damaged.

Many know I have recently had a large stay in and out of the local hospitals with a gastroparesis or "frozen stomach" and while some guessed "its MS" others said "no way! MS only affects CNS not ANS. There was this huge debate, and at times, I felt them to be guessing and fighting amongst each other about the outcome.

I saw the big city hospital yesterday and the MS specialist and brain surgeon that I saw said while it can happen, its rare. He is saying that its more likely that the IVSM triggered my myriad of symptoms, but he is asking for me to do some special tests to see if my autonomic systems are being affected by my MS.

I dont know the full details, but he said it involves a tilt table, and BP cuffs. Things to see if my heart rate zooms with little provocation or if other things go haywire when pushed.

While in the hospital, I had a high resting heart rate most of the time, and it took nothing for me to zoom to 130 or 140 without exercise. My BP would go from 90/60 to 150/100 without reason. That finding was enough for the surgeon, MS guy to say "maybe your ANS is affected"

Has anyone ever heard of this? if its bizarre, or strange, you can find it in my world.

it just seems that I have several folks stumped with the whole gastroparesis thing. I am told it DOES happen to MS patients, and some feel its more common than others, but for the most part, its a diabetic thing. Since I am not diabetic (thank God, and knock wood) its really odd that I would get this Gastro thing. I HATE this stupid disease!

Yes, I have heard of this.

There can be MS lesions in the brainstem, which controls autonomic functions like breathing and blood pressure.

I've heard of several people with MS who had gastroparesis.

Absolutely, I have also heard of this and seen it. I don't, however, know of the treatment for this type of MS.

My very first Neuro/neuro surgeon, in the 1970s, did perform a brainstem operation on a family friend, so this is not a new type of MS. I never followed thru on how it all turned out, but I know that she did improve.....and then I lost contact.

Do I remember you mentioning having a Glioma? Could it be in the brainstem? Is an operation an option? I don't know?

Same here. I learned this back in the dark ages when I was first dx'd...Location, location, etc..

My glioma is on the right frontal lobe. I dont think its bugging anything. They are just noticing weird things on me like my BP will go crazy low, or crazy high without provocation. Then my resting heart rate can be over 100 sometimes. wierd things. now my stomach has stopped working. They are thinking I may have this autonomic issue with MS.

Have I mentioned how much I hate this disease?

I'm so sorry to hear about this, Dej.

I hope that whatever is causing it will slow down or stop. Maybe it will be like a relapse and it will go away never to return again. I went through many symptoms for years I thought I was stuck with and they're mostly gone now.