Pregnancy update.....sugar & spice & everything nice
 

Hi everyone,

I am now a little more than halfway through my pregnancy....21 weeks as of Thursday.

I am doing VERY well - with no "visible" MS symptoms. My only "symptom" at this time (and for the past 16 weeks) is that I am exhausted. I suppose the fatigue is not much different than the MS fatigue, though I am able to work through it better than I was able to do with the MS fatigue. Of course, in addition to being pregnant, the last few weeks I have also been working 50+ hours a week and have an almost 4 year old running around at home! So, needless to say, things aren't in my favor to get a good night's sleep. (having to pee 4x a night does not help things at all. lol) But even with the extreme fatigue, I do not have the other symptoms that would often accompany the fatigue (headaches, double vision, vertigo, etc.) so I am VERY happy about that.

The heat is just starting to hit here in Southern California. (Our hottest month is actually September). But then again we did hit triple digits today and it's expected to get hotter as the week progresses (hotter than 105?! I'll be inside, thank you very much!)

I remain very pleased with my decision(s) to undergo HiCy (twice). I believe it has altered my disease course...for now...and I guess time will tell. As a benefit of pregnancy, my hair is growing like crazy!! So it's growing in nicely and FAST now. Which I really like and feel like I will be back to my old long hair much sooner thanks to baby. ;)

Speaking of baby, tee hee....it looks like SUGAR AND SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE....:p a little girl will be joining us right around Thanksgiving (due date is actually thanksgiving!).

I still do lurk around the boards...but don't feel I have much to add as I'm not really struggling (or dealing) with the MS right now. I just continue to hope that I do NOT have a post partum flare. Again, time will tell.

Hoping everyone is well....and staying cool this summer.

~Keri

Thanks for the update, Keri. Glad your little bun is still in the oven! Working 50 hours a week? Oh my! Well, maybe that will help the time to go by faster...?

Do you have a name picked out for your little girl yet? How exciting! :hug:

It's lovely to hear from you, and it's good to hear that all is well.

Looking forward to seeing those first photos in just a few months time. :)

awww keri, its so nice to hear from you! hang in there! you are doing great! :hug:

Keri, you don't need to be struggling or dealing with MS to offer advice or support to someone else...your experience and knowledge could be helpful to others. Just sayiing......;)

As for your pregnancy :yahoo: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Keri,
Glad to hear from you...you are so busy...no wonder you're fatigued!
Take care and check in once in a while!

Keri,

Happy to hear that you are doping so well :hug:!

keri,

how nice to hear from you. i'm so glad you're doing so well and feel well.
great news about the little sugar plum. do you have a name? is your 4 y/o a girl too?

of course i have to end with some advice...remember to stay hydrated. that will help you feel well.

i'm so excited for you. wishing you and your family the best.

YaaHoo, Keri...doing well with MS and pregnancy too. What more could you want or need.:)

I can't wait..:hug::hug:

Hey. How about getting your Estriol & Progesterone levels checked for us now and months after birth when symptoms return? I'd much appreciate it! :) Wish you the best!

I really think its the estriol & progesterone levels that make MS go bye-bye.

Keri that is wonderful news. A little girl, and on the day we give Thanks. I am so happy for you. I'm glad that you are feeling well, and working too. Wow!

Congratulations, and so nice to hear from you. :hug:

Eddie, it is not the Estrogen & Progesterone, even though they do increase greatly when a woman is pregnant.

It is called "Early Pregnancy factor" that pregnant women make. It is also found on the entrance to the uterus.

A pregnant female makes this to protect the baby from being attacked by the mother's normal autoimmune system. The baby is alien to the mother's body, like heart or liver transplant would be, so the pregnant body makes it's own anti-rejection hormone to protect the baby from being rejected.

This can't be bottled or made (maybe female animal to female animal, ect.). It is only made by a mother during pregnancy. Rodents make it too. See below.

It helps women because it prevents inflammation, and stops the body from attacking the myelin too, so MS is calm during pregnancy in most cases.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14607300

A protective effect of early pregnancy factor on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced in Lewis rats by inoculation with myelin basic protein.
Harness J, Cavanagh A, Morton H, McCombe P.

Department of Medicine, University of Queensland, Clinical Sciences Building, RoyalBrisbane Hospital, Herston, Queensland 4029, Australia. j.harness@medicine.uq.edu.au

Abstract
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease characterised by inflammation and demyelination of the central nervous system and is the best available animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS).

see link for more.

I still think its the estriol (mostly) that does it. I never heard of pregnancy factor though. Does preg factor remain throughout preg? Everything Ive ever researched said MS symptoms don't return till after baby's born. I'm actually taking estriol 4mg for past 2 months and mightve slowed progression. Next neuro appt I'm asking for a little progesterone compounded with it. Progesterone was interesting because news story showed how it protects the brain if given within 2? hrs of a brain trama. I was impressed and posted it here last? year. Now if it would improve memory :)