My bf has been having some health issues since around Xmas, the main issue being numbness in one of his legs. To make a long story short he ended up seeing a neurologist and had a spine MRI this week and they found indications that he has demyelinating plaques in his spine. This could mean any number of things but the most common would be MS. MS isn’t considered to be a hereditary disease, but those who have relatives who have it are more likely to get it, and his mom has MS.

So with all of the factors it’s starting to look like there’s a possibility he has it. He’s having a brain MRI Saturday and a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) next Friday (yikes!) and then I don’t think we’ll know more till his next appointment with the neuro in the beginning of April.

In the meantime, I’m trying to be as positive and supportive as possible. But it’s kinda scary too.

I’m trying not to freak myself or him out too much. I know there’s no use worrying until we know more. Still, it’s nagging at me here and there.

Most of all, it will be nice to know what’s going on since this has been bugging him for months now.

UPDATE: 3/23/11:

Since a few of you have asked…

My boyfriend and I still don’t have a diagnosis for his health issues. We won’t get a definitive answer until April 5^th when he meets with his neurologist again. To catch you up, his spine and brain MRIs had findings that could indicate MS but now we need to wait for the results of his lumbar puncture (spinal tap), which we’ll hear about at that next appointment.

His lumbar puncture was this past Friday and the procedure itself went great, but the after effects have been really difficult. He got a severe headache the next day (which is the most common side effect) and when it wasn’t gone the following morning after lots of rest and ibuprofen the doctor told us to head into the ER. We spent all Sunday there and he had a bad reaction to the migraine medication they gave him – he wanted to rip out his IV and leave the hospital immediately and everything. It was pretty scary. So after giving him counteracting meds they sent him home with a prescription for stronger ibuprofen which kept the headache from being debilitating, but didn’t knock it out completely. He’s still having bad headaches and now having nausea on top of it. He had jury duty Monday and Tuesday and never got called on a jury so was able to basically lay down all day and do nothing in the courthouse. He was feeling a bit better last night and we went out to dinner and about half way through he felt awful again. He was unable to sleep through the night, up from 1-3:30 am, and still managed to make it into work but shortly after headed back home and his parents brought him to the ER again this morning.

He needs to have an epidural blood clot to stop his spinal fluid leaking and that should clear up his headache and nausea. The last update I got was that they were giving him anti-nausea medication and they didn’t know if they’d be able to schedule the epidural blood clot for him yet today.

It’s not natural for me to be a caretaker. I feel like I’m not very good at this. I feel utterly inadequate and wish there was more I could do to help him.

This sucks, you guys. Please give your loved ones a hug and be thankful for your health.

My brother-in-law has MS. They have made many advances in the treatment of it.

You are doing the best possible thing you can at this time. Not freaking out during the wait for results is one of hardest, but SMARTEST things you can do. Stay positive and supportive and then, when you know what you're dealing with you'll be stronger and better prepared for any fight if needed.

Love and positive vibes for you and your boyfriend.

that really sucks, I'm sorry to hear your news.

As nothingbutjoy said, there have been huge advances in the treatment of MS, should he be diagnosed with it. I'm curious if he gets really bad headaches, or if he drops alot of things...

That being said, positive thoughts are being sent your way

Positive thoughts to you and your BF Carrie.

The best thing you can do besides being there for him, is to get as educated as you possibly can about MS.

Wishing you and the BF the best.

At least knowing what's going on is half the battle. Let's pray for good news.

CarrieMpls said:

My bf has been having some health issues since around Xmas, the main issue being numbness in one of his legs. To make a long story short he ended up seeing a neurologist and had a spine MRI this week and they found indications that he has demyelinating plaques in his spine. This could mean any number of things but the most common would be MS. MS isn’t considered to be a hereditary disease, but those who have relatives who have it are more likely to get it, and his mom has MS.

So with all of the factors it’s starting to look like there’s a possibility he has it. He’s having a brain MRI Saturday and a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) next Friday (yikes!) and then I don’t think we’ll know more till his next appointment with the neuro in the beginning of April.

In the meantime, I’m trying to be as positive and supportive as possible. But it’s kinda scary too.

I’m trying not to freak myself or him out too much. I know there’s no use worrying until we know more. Still, it’s nagging at me here and there.

Most of all, it will be nice to know what’s going on since this has been bugging him for months now.

Oh no.

"demyelinating plaques" means his nerves are losing their protective coating which facilitates the transmission of nerve impulses.

I really hope it doesn't turn out to be MS, but something reversible.

Lots of loving and positive thoughts to you and to him.

Thanks, you guys.

I have a close family friend who has MS and while she was debilitated early on and in a wheel chair for some time, she has now run 2 half marathons in the last year or so and teaches zumba classes.

And from what I’m reading, the earlier you start treatment the better. Since this is the first time he’s ever had symptoms and they are relatively mild compared to what they could be, we’re in really good shape to start with, all things considered.

No headaches, and no real lack of coordination, Adder. The main issue, like I said, is the numbness and also some weakness in his legs. It’s gotten better over the time, but it’s still there.

He also just feels different. He’s been convinced there’s something seriously wrong with him for a while now, they just haven’t been able to diagnose anything. While I certainly don’t want him to have MS, A diagnosis and course of action now will actually be comforting.

Of course this is nagging at you. You and your baby daddy are in my prayers.

Carrie, is there a high incidence of MS in Minnesota? I understand prevalence increases the farther north you go, and a friend from Saskatchewan who has MS says one of the highest concentrations of MS in the world is in the Canadian prairies just northwest of you.

Vendetta1 said:

Positive thoughts to you and your BF Carrie.

The best thing you can do besides being there for him, is to get as educated as you possibly can about MS.

Thanks.

And that's exactly what I've started doing.

Lammastide said:

Of course this is nagging at you. You and your baby daddy are in my prayers.

Carrie, is there a high incidence of MS in Minnesota? I understand prevalence increases the farther north you go, and a friend from Saskatchewan who has MS says one of the highest concentrations of MS in the world is in the Canadian prairies just northwest of you.

I don't know specifically about Minnesota, but I've read the same. the further from the equator the more likely it is...

~ Sending well wishes and positive healing vibes

positive vibes coming your way.

BlackAdder7 said:

that really sucks, I'm sorry to hear your news.

As nothingbutjoy said, there have been huge advances in the treatment of MS, should he be diagnosed with it. I'm curious if he gets really bad headaches, or if he drops alot of things...

That being said, positive thoughts are being sent your way

co sign

So sorry to hear you and your boyfriend are going through all this, Carrie. I hope you both receive good news. Sending postive thoughts...

Positive thoughts coming your way. to u both.

Best wishes to you and your boyfriend ! I can imagine how you feel as the love between you and him was always pretty obvious from your posts here. My dad had MS and I am sometimes a bit worried myself I might get it too as it is more likely when it runs in your family like you said. I think it is a good thing that you know soembody who has it as thus it may not be as scary as it might be for somebody who never heard much about it before. But of course I vary much hope it isn't MS but something less serious .

[Edited 3/10/11 10:07am]

Positivity making it's way to you from this corner of the globe.

your boyfriend is in our prayers, i hope that he will start to feel better and that all of his health issues can be solved easily.

Shorty said:

hey wait....did someone say your "baby daddy" did I miss a post?

I think Lammy was just being cute.

There are no babies to be daddy to. Yet, anyway.

CarrieMpls said:

Shorty said:

hey wait....did someone say your "baby daddy" did I miss a post?

I think Lammy was just being cute.

There are no babies to be daddy to. Yet, anyway.

I'm sorry. Me, always causing trouble.

Positivity.

CarrieMpls said:

Shorty said:

hey wait....did someone say your "baby daddy" did I miss a post?

I think Lammy was just being cute.

There are no babies to be daddy to. Yet, anyway.

Damn, that's crazy. I don't know too much about MS, but it certainly sounds scary. I send namaste and good vibes and Lovesexy in your direction!

I hope he feels better soon

I'm worried too cause a finger tip or two of mine have gone numb for the past week. One of them is weakened cause I fidget with it a lot then I was outside without gloves in very cold weather for half an hour and it hasn't been the same since.

Hope everything is ok Carrie.

Positive thoughts are sent to you and your bf! I truly hope all will be okay!

Hoping for the best for you both