Totally on board with everyone talking about stress as the big trigger - it certainly was for me - particularly emotional stress and grief.

Yes, usually a stress overload like an infection or injury + an emotional/mental stress going on at the same time brought on the rough patches for me when I had relapsing-remitting MS.
Lately combinations like that just make the existing symptoms worse...maybe with a new symptom or two thrown in for good measure.

With love, Erika

Me too, with grief and stress as a trigger. My BF died suddenly in 1990, leaving me to deal with his 16 y/o daughter who didn't like me. Plus it was in December - she and I got the lovely job of searching the house for hidden Christmas gifts.

My job at the time had me working alone on the midnight shift where I had to keep the lighting very low. (an airline control tower) I just couldn't go back to work for way too long - almost lost the job. Couldn't handle sitting alone in the dark.

My very vague symptoms (I'm guessing they were the 1st MS symptoms) began in 1991.

I agree, I have had a lot of stress these past 2 years and that's when all my new lesions started showing up.

Lost a job, got a new one but didn't know what I was doing until I walked in the first day.

2 years ago became caregiver for my now 90yr DM. She moved in with us along with her cat.

Son#1 graduated. Open house at our home. Finding out that son#1 had enlarged lymph nodes around his lung and a scare of lymphoma. 2 biopsies later--just large lymph nodes and need to get a CT every 6 months to ck.--everything is still the same so far, no change is good.

DMIL DX with ovarian cancer. DFIL increased health problems and cannot get around. DH and myself are only ones close so we are caring for them too. This had been on going for 2 years. DMIL just passed 2 weeks ago. and DFIL, still at home, needs care--we have paid care coming everyday and we go over everyday also. He is getting a hip replacement in 5 weeks and we hope then he can care for himself.--Until--caregiver for him, as well as my DM at our home.

Son#2 also had graduation in the middle of all this. Open house at our home again-- I thank God for friends and all that they did, I couldn't get around at all.

My sister also passed 2 months ago from a pulmonary embolism. She lived in CA but all family is here. My DBIL put me in charge of the memorial here--everything-burial (she was cremated in CA and he brought her back with him.), service,--everything. He didn't want to plan anything here because he was doing one in CA and just wanted to, show up, for this one. My niece was planning her wedding when my sister passed. The wedding is this month.

Now we are planning our trip to the wedding in CA and I'm very anxious about leaving son#1 in charge as caregiver for DM and also having him be responsible for getting her and him on the plane to the wedding. DH, son#3, son#2, and myself are driving a week before. Anxious about the drive with my MS.

I have been getting worse these past 2 years with more lesions showing up on my MRIs. Trying new DMD to keep from progressing.

DH is worried he will be caregiver for 3 (DFIL, my DM, and ME).

YES I THINK STRESS IS A TRIGGER!!! But what do you do--God has a plan and I need to just have faith. Sometimes it's just hard.

I have cared for 2 patients who were diagnosed with MS after a car accident.

Makes sense when you think about it, because when you are under stress, grieving, or ill, your immune system is compromised and goes into overdrive to 'protect' you.

And then the party starts......

Sally, you nailed the definition. MS is probably already there when it is "triggered" by something. Various somethings. Other illnesses, stress in the family, stress at work, stress at school, even some foods if Swank is right. Possibly some drugs which have severe side effects.
Now where do we nominate you for a Nobel Prize?