Phone callsPersonal stress and anxiety can have a profound impact on someone suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, but surprisingly enough, dealing with the emotional stress of OTHERS can also have a negative effect on my disease progression. Stress is a big trigger for increased symptoms and exacerbations (relapses). Yes, you read that correctly,The emotional well-being of those around me can actually have a negative effect on my illness. Interacting with people who are extremely and frequently expressing negative emotions may trigger a worsening of my disease. The increased anxiety that I experience from negativity in my life has caused me to have to hunker down into "self protection" mode. We all make jokes about how I rarely answer my phone. There's more than one reason behind this, to be sure, but as the years go by- I'd say the main reason is because I have no idea why the person on the other end is calling me. Are they upset? Do they plan to bitch about something? In short, will this phone call stress me out? Honestly, a ringing phone has begun to cause me great amounts of anxiety. Are you feeling better?I know that folks don't really know what to say to me after they've heard that I am not feeling well. Asking me if I'm still sick or if I'm feeling better is probably first thing that comes to mind the next time that they see me. If it is someone who is just a general acquaintance, I get it. But if it is someone close to me, it sometimes stings a bit. It seems to demonstrate a complete lack of knowledge about Multiple Sclerosis. Just because I am not currently showing symptoms of a relapse does not indicate that all is well. Multiple Sclerosis is an active disease- it is always literally damaging the nerves in my brain and spinal cord. Even when there isn't active demyelination occurring, I am dealing with the effects of previously damaged areas. I am pretty much never feeling fine, or better, no matter how many naps I take. All of my previous relapses over the last decade add up. The myelin sheath that is supposed to be protecting the nerves in my brain is being attacked and permanently damaged. I'll never get that back. Enough damage has occurred that I suffer from permanent issues without having actual relapses. Problems thinkingCognitive dysfunction (problems with thinking processes) is very common in people who suffer from this disease. Due to the areas of damage in my brain, I suffer from difficulties related to:
People like to commiserate by saying the same thing happens to them sometimes- such as walking into a room and not remembering why you went in there. It's not the same thing. The areas in my brain that control these functions are irreparably damaged.. I will always struggle with these tasks. I'm not stupid. MS & FatalityTechnically, Multiple Sclerosis is not fatal. It's not MS that kills you, but the complications related to the disease are often the cause of death. MS can still lead to death- most often from an illness like pneumonia or an infection that spirals out of control. My life expectancy is about 7 years shorter than the general population.
It almost seems insignificant...7 years. Until you really think about it. Would you give up 7 years with your family? On the other hand, we never know what those later years will look like- I wouldn't want to be a burden to my family for 7 additional years. It;s an odd thing to think about, I suppose, but I do it anyway.
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