The thing I find to be the strangest about myself is that while yes, I don't like germs, I'm terrified of disease. I'm classified as what you might call Pathophobic. (Fear of Disease) Yet I have Multiple Sclerosis.

My entire life I have been so afraid of having to live with some disease or another, be it a transmittable disease (and lord only knows I've lived my life on the wild side and luckily enough didn't catch a thing)... or be it a genetic disease that I'm born with or something I end up developing because of environment.

Who knows what causes MS... All I know is that I have it... along with a multitude of other health issues and yet, I'm still an antiseptic wipe carrying, "don't touch anything!", fearful woman who's afraid of disease.

I swear, I'm a walking contradiction. (And this isn't the only thing!)

Is there anyone else out there who has this issue or am I the only one alone on this island of fear?

~Giovanna

Hi, Giovanna! Welcome to NeuroTalk!

Wow, it took you awhile to get over here, I'm glad you made it!

I don't fear disease but I have begun to fear what MS is doing to me.

Welcome RA. Nice to see you.

Having a disease like MS and still fearing all the yucky diseases, that we can catch, out there, is not strange at all.

I'm not phobic about it, but I do try to be careful not to expose myself to dangerous germs.

Be easy on yourself...you're OK..

There is nothing wrong with carrying wipes - I do it all the time! Granted, I do not have MS, I have MG (myasthenia gravis), but I know with my disease, illness can make me very ill very quickly, so I figure wipes and antibiotic gel are smart and very necessary items to carry around with me. WE did no thing wrong to get this - our body's immune systems are just whacked and we have to do what we can to protect ourselves. Any diease is scary. Especially one where we cannot control our bodies - I have a very dear friend who has MS and we were talking about our "triggers" they are exactly the same - heat, doing too much, etc. - so while I do not know what you are going through exactly, I can empathize - hang in there! You are not strange - you are trying to protect yourself while keeping it together - smart, not weird!Take care! Erin

You know, my MS basically turned me into somewhat of a pathophobic. Or is it a hypochondriac? In any event, even with all the testing I have been through in the last year, what really did me in was all my Internet research. It seems even the most minute symptom they manage to link back to things like cancer and HIV. It freaks you the heck out!

I should certainly not be so fearful considering my neurologist did 11 vials of blood work on me for crying out loud, and I was in a monogamous relationship for nearly 7 years (inactive prior to that one). But I still worry and panic about the silliest things (in my mind).

Go figure, my father and his mother are both anxiety sufferers, and I think I picked up this trait as well. I also have terrible fear of fire (irrational fears), and I suffer phantom smells (mine being smoke), so you can just imagine where my anxiety is at times.

We're a fun group here--so pathophobia isn't that strange. We welcome and embrace "weirder" people than you!

Welcome to the board and the MS boat.

ITA that it's probably a strange feeling to be afraid of germs and disease and to have MS as it is a bit of a contradiction. But then again, if you could choose one over the other, which would be worse? Either one has an impact on your life that's not fun. At least with MS you sort of know what you're dealing with. With pathophobia you're probably pretty much afraid of every encounter and surface that you are in contact with due to potential exposure. Heck, I'd rather have MS!

Garcon *snap* *snap* I'll have what she's having!