Question: They say I have Secondary Progressive MS. What can I expect to happen? How and fast does it progress? Should I start looking for nursing care? I think I've had it nearly my whole life. Had a really bad episode in my early 50s. In late 50s became unable to do much of anything but take care of myself and sleep. I'm 68. My medical treatments have been delayed due to long term illness of family members, Doctor passed, no insurance for a long time.

20 years ago I had a severe episode where I became partially paralyzed. I became so weak I had to use special braces and a walker. I tried so hard to move that I fractured my pelvis. Sometimes I had to crawl on the floor to use the bathroom I wasn't strong enough to pull the covers up over me in the middle of the night. Couldn't make a fist. It took me a couple of hours to put my clothes on. I had to change from pantyhose to short, soft socks. My reflexes were exaggerated and slow. Before that I was hyper. Moved really fast to do things.I still use a cane once in a while.I have a hard time swallowing and choke easily. If I take my dogs for a walk I use a dog stroller so that I can push it and keep my balance.The 1st Doctor gave me ? Depa? shots. They helped temporarily. My second Doctor at UM prescribed oral predisone for me. I responded very quickly. It took me another 2 years to come out of it. I never regained my prior strength and had fatigue. Then my hubby went into the hospital and passed after a year. I became so fatigued that I could hardly do anything. Although I did not become paralyzed. I slept nearly 24-7 for 10 years. I do not sleep as much as what I did but I am now very weak and fatigued with pain. I also have inflammatory Arthritis. My NAB test is positive but low. A lot of my burning and tingling,etc. is controlled with Lyrica. When I become tired I become very wobbly. .I do things like keep my legs crossed when I go to stand. I become jerky, espec. arms and hands when tired. It was controlled with Xanax and Inderal for years. It isn't working as well as what it used to. My blood pressure goes way up sometimes. It started in my eyes. Bright lights. I had to wear sunglasses indoors. Gave me bad headaches. My eyes seem to have imporoved a lot but I still have blurry vision.When I was younger I became very fatigued and weak. I had to rest a lot. Then all of a sudden I would come out of it and be normal. As I have aged the normal seems to be a memory. I have not been diagnosed formally yet. But my Ruhmey who was also my Mother's Doctor gave me the Lab report of NAB and told me to hang on to it. She moved on to another job .Then a 10 year series of family deaths 13 happened. I tried my best to care for my parents and sister but had a really hard time an wasn't able to do much.The number of episodes I had when younger I don't know.It seemed as though I would get really run down and fatigued. Then I would wake up and feel normal for no reason at all. I do know that as a Nurse's Aide I gradually became weaker and weaker until unable to do the job. I then became a Teacher but had to have a special kind of desk for my students and myself so that I could sit in a position where they surrounded me. They had to retrieve a lot of heavier things for me like books. I would just drop them. They'd just drop out of my arms because they were too heavy. I have had problems with my bowel control for 15 years. I couldn't hold it and it would just let loose. Chewing gum would cause muscle cramps. It seems as though my upper arms are a lot stronger then my lower arms and hands. I could go on and on. Slurred words where my family thought I must be high. Ice cream or ice cubes seems to make my mouth freeze and I'm not able to talk. I''ve never met a person with that problem. I seem to have like absent seizures at times when I first get up or am really tired. Like if it is hot out doors. I stare and am aware of things around me. Sometimes when I stare it seems as though I am focusing on what I am staring at and . I can't explain what I experience but I am fine afterwards. I started on the Inderal and Xanax because of severe tremors. I also take nifidine, Effexor, Syn Thyroid, Lyrica. That's it. Can't stand the feeling in my legs and toes without the Lyrica. I get like a bad headache in one ear and eye on my left side. I can't sleep when that is acting up.I used to get like bad electrical shocks in my limbs and electrical feelings - it feels like a little upside down v of a shock in limbs. My dentures used to feel to heavy for my mouth and I had a hard time talking because of it.I don't leave the house much or socialize because of the embarrassing things and fatigue. Especially if I am outdoors during the summer. at the lake with me kids. I just get too tired and don't feel good. Not very good company at all. Or if I am it is only for short bursts. I had high ESR, c- protein and other high inflammatories. But I also have a positive NAB. I have low thyroid. I have a hard time carrying a conversation. I forget or don't know the words I want to use. Although I am able to write. I don't understand that. I used to and still trip and fall a lot. It used to be common for me to fall down the basement stairs. mowing the lawn I have fallen for no reason. It scares me.

I will mail you my test results as they come in.
My NAB - low
Vit.D - Low
Muscle inflammation is High
Fatigue- sleep - 10- 24 hours at a time.
Weakness- Physical Therapist told me I am a very weak person.
Inflammatory tests high
Thyroid - low
Tremors- intentional- moderate to severe- including head.
body jerks - need Xanax to stop
Pain in left ear and left eye - not able to sleep on that side when it is acting up.
slurred speech
lack of bowel control at times
bladder infections
Staring off into space when 1st get up or tired.
Heat makes me sick, staring and tired . Mostly tired.
buzzing, tingling, whooshing sounds in head.
looking up and too left with eyes is painful and makes my head shake.
head shakes with tremors
electric like shocks back, arms, legs
Total exhaustation of my limbs - pain with it. Can't use them for a while. happens a lot when driving car.
Total Body numbness at times.
Feeling light headed or dizzy
Feeling light headed? I don't know how to explain it. Strange.

You have just described what I go through.
I get really wobbly and weak.
left eye and ear pain where I Can't sleep on that side.
My eye pains started in both eyes. Couldn't be near light and bad headaches. Opthlamologist said he didn't know what it was after checking me several times. flunked the shrimer test with 0-4 moisture. Severe pain. That was 20 years ago. It has improved a lot over the years. XXXXXXX test positive, NAB positive - low- homogenous, with low white cells years later.
C- Reactive high.
Alpha 2 near high by .01 point.
Deep tendon reflexes 2-3+.
High ESR.WEStergren 35
Generalized muscle weakness
no erosive arthritis
co2 - low
Lymph - low
confusion
hematemesis
inflammatory arthritis
GGT -high
alkaline phosphatase
sed. rate-35
crp-2.2

Did not meet criteria for - Lupus,
rheumatoid arthritis, or a connective tissue disease.
no fibro points.
vision loss and blurring
hyperreflexia
pain in joints and
d muscles

























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Thank you very much. I will get in touch with you at a later date.