I was watching Lie To Me last night, great show by the way, until last night.

I could not believe my ears nor my eyes at what they did to portray multiple sclerosis.

OK, the background. Some guys were stuck underground at a construction site. They thought one of the guys was lying and began questioning him. The investigator who specializes in reading expressions asked the guy about a twitch he had in his face. He said the guy looked scared.

Anyway, the investigator called the twitch a "rippling muscle contraction" or something like that. He then followed up with this line: "that is a clear sign of late stage multiple sclerosis."

Now I don't know about any of you but I have never heard this before. I have never heard any doctor ever state that a rippling muscle contraction in your upper cheek area is a clear sign of late stage multiple sclerosis.

But it gets better. The guy who's trapped looks down and then up. He says "My doctors say I have a few years left." He then goes on to say he felt he was at fault for the explosion that caused them to get trapped. He said his hands were shaking so bad he dropped the torch he was using which caused the explosion. He said he had no insurance and needed the job to keep being able to see the doctor.

OK, that's fine and could explain a ms symptom, the shaking, etc. BUT, in no part of the show after those comments did they confirm this guy even had ms! They never revisited the subject. They even questioned the wife who kept mum on the whole thing.

Turns out, the explosion was not the guys fault. It was the mayor who hid an inspection that said methane was leaking underground. The guy who they said had ms, he died in the explosion.

This whole show could have been done better. If they are going to portray ms do it right. Those who are newly diagnosed would freak out if they watched this show. How dare them act like a diagnosis of ms could be a death sentence. And what's with this late stage stuff? I know there is a worsening form of progressive ms, we all do. BUT, it doesn't mean it's a death sentence.

Yes I am mad and I am writing the show about it.

Climbing off soapbox now.

Sandy,
You are one of the best advocates MS could have. I know I'm too tired to battle sometimes but you hold steady on stuff.

Life is a death sentence!!!

Thanks Sandy, You go get em Honey..Grrrrrrr.

I knew there was a reason I dont watch that show.

I used to really like Cold Case until they did a "serial killer decides to come clean because he's got tremors and thinks that's a sign that the end is near and his MS is going to kill him now" episode.

Now I only watch it occasionally, if there isnt anything else on. It usually gets preempted for sports anyways.

I think the only time I've even seen a tv show portray MS halfway intelligently was an episode of the tv show Fame from over 20 years ago. (it's on Hulu...I cant remember the episode name)

It ticks me off when a tv show uses MS as a plot device, shows that they didnt even look it up on WebMD or Wikipedia to even find out what the actual symptoms are...

I'm still ticked off at the Ophra (sp?) episode that Montel was on recently. Didnt even watch it, but keep seeing posts on another forum from newbie MSers who are freaking out because they've got The Hug and they think that means they're about to die.

Good grief!!! These writers should be held responsible for researching their subject matter more thoroughly. You're right, more people are misled by these ridiculous claims than anything. Go get 'em, Sandy. Maybe we should all sign a petition to boycott the show.

Just sent my letter off to FOX. We'll see.

If its on TV it MUST be true!

I saw an ad in a magazine to calm anxous folks who worry about their health. "do you have constant headaches, and worry its a brain tumor?" it went on "do you have trouble speaking, moving body parts, or drooping eye or lips? no? then its probably not a brain tumor." It went on to say "do you have achy sore muscles all the time, and fear its MS?" OMG! OMG! it clarified, "MS is PAINFUL all over, and your muscles are tight, and stiff. if your not tight, stiff, and painful, its probably not MS!" WOW!

I find that some of the TV shows out there, like ER or LIe to ME, or Oprah try hard to bring to light some of the facts, or myths about this disease, but more often than not, they end up looking like Judge Judy when she sniped at a woman who said "I dont work mam, I am on disability." Judy gave her a snide glance, and said "for what! madam!" she said "I have MS." Judge Judy scowled, and said "you look fine to me! I dont see anything wrong with you, that would keep you from a job." I almost crawled through my TV to smack her.

I think 80% of the facts are made up 20% of the time. hehee.

Good for you Sandy! You tell them - thank you!

I wonder if you will get some form letter praising the fact that you watched the show and thank you!

It would be great to have it go further. I hope so.

LOL! reminds me of my hubby's favorite phrase - -

80% of statistics could be 60% wrong 90% of the time