Question for the women:

I have noticed over the past couple months that my MS gets worse after I ovulate and until I get my period. And not just a little worse.. it's the difference between probably being ok to go back to work from the first day of my period to ovulation, to NOT being able to work from ovulation to my period. That last phase (luteal phase) of my cycle is just brutal... I've read about it and they hypothesize it being due to the rise in the basal body temperature which would make sense to me, since I'm very heat sensitive.

So now there HAS to be something I can do about this. Has anyone experienced this and done anything about it? I'm going to ask my dr and my MS nurse if they think going on birth control would help... maybe even Mirena or something. It would sure be nice to not have that ovulation shift that sends me for a loop. However I know if you take your temperature while on the pill it's quite erratic so I'm not sure that BC is even the solution.

Hi MSbelle,

It is not uncommon for women with MS as well as those with other health problems to experience a temporary increase of MS symptoms due to hormonal fluctuations.

I was diagnosed when I was 24 years old. I was on birth control pills before/after diagnosis and until I had my first child 4 years later, went back on birth control pills until my second child 2 years later. After my second child I had a Tubal Ligation so there was no reason to use birth control pills.

I never noticed an increase to my MS symptoms on or off birth control in all those years. Just normal PMS stuff.

Fast forward to the last 8 , give or take, years. The older I have gotten the more my MS is affected by hormonal changes to the point I talked to my gyn about options. I went on continuous birth control pills that allowed my cycles to stop. Physically I felt great unfortunately, the BC pills caused depression and suicidal thoughts So, for me, I just deal with the temporary increase of symptoms due to hormonal fluctuations.

Ahhh yeah suicidal thoughts aren't good.... I actually was put on one brand that made me like that too. It was the "lo" version of the one I was already taking. Made me like that too. I didn't last long taking it.

I just thought of something, I don't think I'm a good candidate for BC anyway because I have circulation problems and I have a family history of stroke/heart attack. I should just talk to my dr I guess.

Lets see, if I can remember.......oh yeah, that.
No MS problems with period, period, no period.

Hmmm I just read something about taking ASA once your temp rises to help mitigate the temp rise issue. But then the conclusion was that ASA didn't really help to lower the basal temp. Worth a shot anyway, since taking BC could be risky for me.

Hi MSbelle,

Here is some information about the effects of our cycles on our MS symptoms:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Liv...-and-Menopause

Through the years I have never run across any treatment to help during hormonal fluctuations. For me, mine starts a little bit before ovulation and I get a break of about a week before my symptoms once again increase due to menses.

Hi C.

The Mirena IUD has helped me a lot in evening out the hormonal MS problems. I also used to have more issues in the PMS time.

A.

The connection between an increase in symptoms and cycles might be related to an excess of a neurotransmitter called Prostaglandin-2. That neurotransmitter initiates and controls a few things in the body, including inflammation, mucous production and the menstrual cycle (which is inflammatory in nature). Taking a Prostaglandin-2 inhibitor, which are the OTC NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents), like Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Acetaminophen, might help to decrease the inflammatory response.

With love, Erika