miscarriage and Multiple Sclerosis

Somewhere I Recently saw an article or discussion that there is ‘no evidence’ of MS having a higher rate of miscarriage.

Yet, Patti miscarriaged twice between 1985 and 1990. Frankly that is more than ‘evidence’ in our story of living with MS as a family.

First was in first trimester, the second following an amniocentesis procedure … essentially bookending the successful birth of our one daughter in 1988.

Back in those days, there was even some neuro mumbo jumbo  that pregnancy may help and/or slow MS progression.

Patti’s second miscarriage resulted from our failing belief in ourselves.  MS erodes more than the physical.

A week following an amniocentesis procedure, the fetus was found dead on ultrasound. Patti underwent her second surgery for dilation and curettage (D&C Procedure), both miscarriaged fetuses were female.

In those days, miscarriage was considered a rare risk yet it happened. Did MS increase the risk?  … In a handful of months Patti would be hospitalized for her first major MS exacerbation. Was this linked?

Back in ’88 the New York Times published “Study Finds 31% Rate of Miscarriage”. I did not even have to take my shoes off to calculate Patti’s rate was 66%. Why double the norm? MS?

Lacking a National Health Service we build a health system not on numbers or facts but on shared conjecture.

Except that a miscarriage is never a statistic, it is the death of a dream. How do you bury a dream? How to you mourn a dream? How do you not abhor Multiple Sclerosis, this murderer of dreams?

When I have paused through the quarter century of juggling MS Spouse Caregiving and basically single parenting our daughter and pondered if three daughters would have been harder or easier … I just hate Multiple Sclerosis more.

-- 
Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/

hidden symptoms of MS

MSAA (Multiple Sclerosis Association of America) has IMHO an excellent article in their Winter/Spring 2013 "The Motivator
…

The Hidden Symptoms of MS

Managing the symptoms that those around 

you may not easily see or understand

Along with stories on Pain with MS, Coping With Fatigue, Sleep Issues, Cognitive Changes and Visual Problems. MSAA Winter/Spring 2013 is one of the best I’ve read

In our story, hidden or ‘invisible’ symptoms were not really a factor except to isolate from the beginning any kind of support groups for Patti because others with MS were about as different as those without MS.

I appears if you do not receive their twice annual magazine then you can download a PDF version from the MSAA 'Motivator' web site.

Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/

World MS Day is ALSO about MS caregivers, families, and friends

The fear of being left all alone with a disabling illness such as Multiple Sclerosis to cope in a hard and scary world I imagine is more than universal.

Then on the other side is debate over sacrificing your own life as a caregiver. Some argue morality is a code of life not death. Your first moral duty is to take care of yourself.

Believe me after a quarter century no one gets both. IMHO it has nothing to do with philosophy or fears; there really is no right or wrong answer. … It’s about what you are made of. The person diagnosed with MS has no choice. Caregiver, friends, and family on the other hand is all about choice.

Today is World MS Day 2013, TWO million people around the world are living with Multiple Sclerosis. Add in their caregivers, families, and friends = mind boggling numbers.

Christ’s cry from the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" has kept men and women of faith busy for centuries. … While those of us with feet of clay simply try to live with chronic illnesses like Multiple Sclerosis as family and create the best of possible lives.

Some will walk away, some will drift inside themselves and some may actually make things worse by staying with their negativity. I cannot fault any person when medical science itself has left MS in the dust of the laboratory floor.

I’m no believer in deep thinking over intuition, vows, promises or whatever. To my knowledge Patti's first huband has never even cared and hell's bells those two were in love. Marrying before God and man to all the right vows, love and all the bells and whistles only to have domestic violence end their marriage. Evil does not always masquearde as a disease.

We have no vows nor promises between us only a belief in the words of the Prophet "Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. Stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, and the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.”

I honestly believe it comes down to caring. MS caregiving will become physical care with lifting transferring and more. Do I have true grit?

As always my thanks to MultipleSclerosis.net …

The few,the proud, the MS Spouse Caregivers

by Patrick Leer—May 27th, 2013

Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/