Punk, I'm in a major relaspse. Dx MS 2-08 rr - My pain is a bit better at the moment so coming in on your post. I am a major stress person when normal, however, since 12-07 I have had more major stress put on me. I do mean major. What I have taken non reated to MS would have put most in the psy ward. It has been he**. Before this relapse I had the same or near sx as you and responded much the same due to I think stress. You must get help. IMO xanex or sim. Since u are not use to them I think it will help. I have been on xanex for years so does not help me too much unless I exceed dose and my reg is as high. I do not think I would be progressing as fast nor in this major relapse if I could have got the stress down. You wanted to know how bad it can get see my recent posts. I think stress can do anything to MS. Much more then where I am at now. Don'k risk it. Get help - sorry too ill to sp ck...

thanks everyone

yes i am on 4mg a xanax a day because of my underlying anxiety/panic disorder.. i am allowed to take up to 7mg if needed in times of bad stress... but i never go higher then 4... mostly because i do not want to become dependent on a pill to fix my issues.. but maybe at this point 1 extra pill a day isn't going to be the end of the world if it helps.. if i still feel crummy tomorrow ill just have to pop an extra one during the day and if it helps.. great!... if not then i think i will be calling my neuro Tuesday... usually 4mg a day keeps my unprovoked stress under control... but i think its safe to say this is a justified dose jump.. at least for a few days..


i have also noticed that with me it seems when my life is pretty stress free i don't even know i have MS.. but when stress/anxiety hits.. my MS goes wild..

Punk,

I am sorry for your loss and the extra stress it has added to you and your family.

For me with my PPMS stress is one thing that will send my fatigue into massive overdrive. During the past 2 weeks I have had two separate occasions to become over stressed one of my own making. The first one took me 4 days to get back to normal whatever that is. The second I am still fighting to get over and it happened this past Tuesday. I have only been up for 3 hours and I am starting to fall asleep while typing.

Yep, stress is bad for me too, punkd. I do everything in my power to avoid it, even if that means I am live in denial about some things. I guess you could say I am a "fake it till I make it" kinda' gal.

Sometimes we just have to go through the hard stuff too though, and the best thing for me during those times is to try to find a balance. I sleep more, go out and garden a little . . . anything to distract myself from the stress.

Take some extra time for you, so you can be stronger when you NEED to be.

Cherie

I take xanax.. and lots of it. My Dr. gives me unlimited quanities.. but not allowed to exceed 6 mg a day lol. to me..that's unlimited.

Seriously...stress is bad. Stress to the body or the mind i've noticed is bad for my ms. I can directly relate all of my bad flair ups to either.. a. a bad illness, b. an ex boyfriend (note they are all ex's.) or c. a surgery.

I found out stress is real bad for ms. My insurance company for my car cancelled me due to my ms. Stupid mailboxes..they shouldn't make them so "see through". Anyway, them canceling me made my tongue go numb and my swallowing go out. I also went mute. Recovering some back this time thank goodness.

I've always been high strung, and nervous anyway. The littlest thing has always set me off, and the past few years for me have been an action horror thriller, drama..you name it for me.. thus my progression has gone into fast forward. I'd say avoid stress at all costs. From my experience it is directly related to flair ups.

punk,

i'm sorry for the loss of a loved one in your family.
it's probably affecting you more than you'd think. especially when you feel other family members suffering.

i think you have a good plan.
i hope the coming wk finds you better.

got to find a place to find that good karma, hope it turns around for you soon Punk , dont let the stress win it can be a p.i.t.a.

ahhhh gotta tell ya that extra pill a day did the trick.. mentally i feel better and i am sure my body will soon follow.. things are starting to calm down now also.. so maybe 2 more days with the extra dose and i think ill go back to my normal 4mg and see if everything evens out..


man i am so surprised to hear of all the members that have this same stress issue with their MS.. i feel bad that others have to deal with it.. but i am also happy i am not alone and everyone on here "gets it"..

you all rule!