When I got my diagnosis of MS, I was immediatley put on an anti-depressant. My doc said..."MS can cause depression and Interferon has been known to cause depression.

Kind of an ounce of prevention thing.
Gotta say I felt better.....
Now I'm taking Chantix to quit smoking (wow...never thought I would just "forget" to smoke}
Anyway, that stuff wakes me up in the middle of the night and I can't fall back to sleep...

Then the cat thinks I'm up and its time to play>>>>>>>>>

I really do agree with you. As I age I could blame many things on MS. I don't think all the symptoms, health problems are from MS, but there is a tendency (not unfounded) to blame MS.

So many symptoms of MS are similar to other things; I suppose that's why neuros do so many tests.

I have friend and family who have insomnia. Some people say to drink a glass of milk at night and it will help. I don't know but it's an easy thing to try!

One of my family members had been suffering from insomnia for as long as I can remember. She doesn't have MS or thyroid problems. Who knows why she has it.

Tootsie

I suffer tremendously with insomnia. If I get to bed before 3am, it is a GOOD night. And this is even with taking ambien every night. Sometimes I take something in addition to that, in hopes of knocking myself out. Doesn't always work.

I have noted that my insomnia peaks and gets MUCH worse right at the onset of an exacerbation. In fact, my first exacerbation - which led to diagnosis - came right after having a 2-3 week period of not getting to sleep before 6am and even then struggling. Of course, immediately after that period, I couldn't move and the fatigue was out of control.

I'm thinking of going to a sleep study place (doc referred me and insurance will pay), but I'm chicken...the thought of being hooked up to wires and wide awake, unable to sleep with no TV, 'puter, or books to keep me occupied.

I've tried every sleeping pill, none work any better than the ambien (which I've been on since January).

Right now, the insomnia seems worse and I'm afraid that it means something bad is around the corner.

~Keri

You sound worse than I did/do. Hopefully you get something figured out so that you can sleep. It's torture when your brain wont let you sleep.

Here is a little tech info on what cytokines are and do.

Cytokines: Soluble glycoproteins secreted by immune system cells that modulate immune and inflammatory responses. They are divided into two broad categories: pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 2 (IL-2), and interferon gamma (IFN-g), are associated with the T-helper type 1 (Th1) cell subclass, and upregulate cell mediated inflammatory responses. Anti-inflammatory cytokines include transforming growth factor beta (TGFb), interferons alpha (IFNa) and beta (IFNb) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Interleukin 4 (IL-4), associated with the T-helper type 2 (Th2) subclass is involved in allergic inflammation, but downregulates cell-mediated immune responses. Cytokines play an important role in MS, based on studies of both the EAE animal model and human disease. The pro-inflammatory cytokines are considered to induce or worsen disease features in MS. In contrast, anti-inflammatory cytokines are thought to be protective and to ameliorate disease features in MS.

They direct/cause the MMPs to do lots of MS damage but that is another posting.

jackD

I just noticed my vision is dim tonight. I hope that's not the harbinger of doom that the insomnia has probably been a warning of.

Yep. Vision is the second thing to go. Insomnia can also contribute to brain shrinkage. See my last MRI below. Radioligist said; .

jackD