Thanks for your well wishes.

The most recent symptoms have begun to settle down .

Saw the a doc at a walk-in clinic (couldn't get into my regular guy). He found a perforation in my right eardrum with some blood and crud leaking out of the hole. He said that an infection in the middle ear had built up enough pressure to cause the perforation (quite common apparently). He was surprised that I hadn't had an earache or hearing loss, but I told him that due to the severity of the headache along with the already present hearing loss and constant ringing in the ears (have had that for months due to MS nerve stuff), that it probably didn't register.

He also said that the tonsils are inflamed, so it looks like the infection is an ear, throat kind of thing.

A course of oral antibiotics and the eardrum should heal up good as new on its own within a couple of months. He figures that the other symptoms are probably due to the infection, so the antibiotics (and a few things out of my own bag of tricks - LOL), should settle things down.

With love, Erika

Erika, so that's why your MS symptoms have been flaring. Nothing like a good old fashion infection to cause just that!!

Maybe if you follow thru with the AB, your infection will subside and so will the MS flare.

That's definitely the plan, Sally.
Momma didn't raise no fool .

With love, Erika

Hope you feel better soon, Erika!

Infections and MS just go hand in hand through life together, don't they? One just feeds off the other...

It's like fighting two enemies instead of one!

Well said Keely!

Yes, of course they do... and this bug was sneaky to hide away in the middle ear like that. Didn't have any symtoms of infection; other than the flare-ups of course .

Starting to feel better already .
Thanks for the gentle reminder to consider the obvious, my friends.

With love, Erika

Well, the antibiotics seem to be doing the trick. Headache and dizziness are much less. Mostly the fatigue/weakness thing is going on; so have been doing more meditation and taking the odd daytime nap.

With love, Erika

Sorry that I have been MIA lately. Have been going through, or rather continuing on with a rough patch. Saw the MS Neuro specialist today and so now its official. Given the last MRI done in December and today's testing compared with what was done 8 months ago, he's finally given the Dx of SPMS.

Drug treatment options are few and mostly involve a couple of experimental drug trials that have shown some promise in decreasing the amount of brain shrinkage (off label use statins in high doses). The only other one that was mentioned was amphetamines to help in maintaining cognitive function; but I'm very resistant to trying that.
Most of the other meds currently in use or undergoing trial use for SPMS are contra-indicated for me due to other health issues, so those are out.

I had to chuckle with him when he went over the common side effects of the high dose statin drug, as most of what he mentioned as potential side effects are already present; so thanks, but no thanks.
Add to that the need to undergo continuous testing and retesting, and the option of participating in a trial becomes less appetizing.

Thus I've decided to take my chances without trying new meds and let the cookie crumble as it may. Of course I will continue to do exercises, brain training and health enhancing things; but I've pretty much turned my back on meds.

The MS clinic has advised that the wheels be set into motion to arrange for federal disability. I already get an income tax break due to a disability designation; which is kind of useless as my income is low enough now that it doesn't help much. This next step would provide additional financial support that would be drawn from my federal pension plan funds. I've hesitated to do that up until now, but as I was denied private disability insurance decades ago, this is the most logical step given the current state of affairs.

Well, that's about it.
Sorry for not being my upbeat self...have just been so tired of symptoms and this whole MS business to participate in much other than getting through each day.
I know that I will grow tired of hanging out in my own personal funk soon enough and then will be back to my old self; but for now it seems right...at least for a little while longer.
Thanks for listening.

With love, Erika

Bless you Erika and I'm so sorry for your new DX. It sucks bigtime. I'm
there and have been for about 12 years now. LDN and Prozac are my
only meds now, for the last 10 years and seem to be a good combo for
me, to keep me sane and pretty stable.

Of course 'stable", when you become SPMS, comes with little inherited
gifts. Such as numbness, tingling, weakness, stiffness and some pain.
Welcome to my stinky club.

I was hoping that the LDN/Prozac combo would help to make you feel
a bit better too. Sorry if it doesn't.

Ask your Doc to send you in for some good PT/OT training and keep it
up, as much as you are able. When you are SPMS, you really do lose if
you don't use it.

Sending you my prayers and good wishes for your future.

Love
Sally

Omigosh Erika

I am not sure exactly what to say.....you have some answers, but the cost to you is pretty huge.

I'm so sorry - I guess that is the logical consequence for many, and although we should all mentally prepare for it, I imagine it is a slap when it comes.

My thoughts, prayers and all of those good things are with you. I guess it is inevitable to visit that 'dark place' - but please don't stay too long. I miss bright and sunny Erika and look forward to seeing you back when you are ready.....but not before (you have lots to process).

Lyn

xox