Its nearly 12 months now since I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS slightley less from the official diagnosis.I seem to be bad at recovering from relapses it takes ages and I seem to never completely get there so am concerned about my progression.My first symptoms were visual I had two episodes which have left me with poor vision in my left eye.Then I had problems with my left leg and balance and my foot is still numb .My last relapse effected my bladder and that leg again three months down the line I am still having to self catheterise and use a stick for stability on bad days I have little control of my bladder either way.
We really want to start to try for another baby in the next few months but I am worried that the pregnancy will make things worse and worry that I will stuggle to cope with it.However I dont want my little girl to be an only child.I am also just worried about the progression of my MS in two years its had a real impact on my life.
My real unspoken to anyone else fear is that I really have progressive MS I suppose what do you think and do you think I should ask for an appointment to discuss this how do they decide ?
There’s just been quite a discussion about this in another thread - the one started by Clemette (you might be able to find it).
It’s incredibly common NOT to recover 100% between relapses, and in no way proves you don’t have RRMS.
Sometimes the terms are a little confusing, because RRMS, despite the name, is still a progressive illness. Some people do recover completely from relapses - especially the early ones, but a lot of us do not.
I can’t advise about the baby thing, except to say that many here have had children, despite MS. However, I also know people whose diagnosis made them decide against it.
As I understand it, pregnancy has no net effect on disease progression or ultimate disability. There is some evidence that pregnancy protects against relapse, but this is countered by the fact relapse is common in the weeks immediately following the birth - so overall, it’s neither good nor bad for MS, but neutral.
Hi Ellie, I too have Relapsing/Remittung MS and had simillar thoughts to you, but Tina is right in what she says some of never fully recover from relapses I lost total use of my body from my chest down 14 years ago and the one thing that has never recovered from this is my legs, they feel like numb dead weights that I drag about!! As for the do I or don’t I have another baby well I had my 1st 19 years ago and was diagnosed not long after her, I was advised by my then neuro not to consider having more!! However after speaking with my GP (of 20yrs) she said that I shouldn’t be condemed for having further children, like you I never wanted an only child, I wanted at least 4 :-). So we ignored the neuro’s advice and 3 years later I had a boy, I had a great pregnancy without anything major but then after he was born I had quite a number of relapses including losing my sight (optic-neuritis) it’s a terrible disease that continues to disable us, but I have the view I’m a fighter not a quitter and yes I have MS, MS hasn’t got me!! Sue x
Hi Ellie, Thought I’d join in on this as I have had MS for over 30 years, now SPMS, 26 years ago I had my son and during the whole pregnancy I didn’t suffer with any symptoms at all. It wasn’t until about 2 years later that MS really began to get to grips with me. I’d do it all over again if I could as my son makes up for any pain I have sustained over the years.
There was research published a few months ago on this site, that suggested the hormones/substances released by a pregnant female in order to facilitate the growth of their child would actually assist in repairing the myelin coating on the spinal cord, the primary reason we suffer relapses is that this coating degrades during immune system attack.
There was research being done if this could be replicated as a treatment for ms.
Dare I say…you might actually get better while pregnant? It’s no guarantee but it’s just as likely as getting worse so I wouldn’t let it be the deciding factor either way.
I lost total use of my body from my chest down 14 years ago and the one thing that has never recovered from this is my legs, they feel like numb dead weights that I drag about!! As for the do I or don’t I have another baby well I had my 1st 19 years ago and was diagnosed not long after her, I was advised by my then neuro not to consider having more!! However after speaking with my GP (of 20yrs) she said that I shouldn’t be condemed for having further children, like you I never wanted an only child, I wanted at least 4 :-). So we ignored the neuro’s advice and 3 years later I had a boy, I had a great pregnancy without anything major but then after he was born I had quite a number of relapses including losing my sight (optic-neuritis) it’s a terrible disease that continues to disable us, but I have the view I’m a fighter not a quitter and yes I have MS, MS hasn’t got me!! Sue x