Tips on talking to children about your MS
- try to choose a time of day when your child isn’t too tired or distracted.
- pick the right setting.
- don’t feel you have to tell them everything about MS all at once.
- don’t worry if you don’t know the answer!
- use medical terms, and explain them.
Contents
How do you explain MS?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). MS occurs when the immune system attacks nerve fibers and myelin sheathing (a fatty substance which surrounds/insulates healthy nerve fibers) in the brain and spinal cord.
How do you tell family you have MS?
Telling your parents
Try giving them information about MS to look at in their own time and then give them time and space to digest it. It can also help to be open and willing to discuss any questions and concerns they may have.
How MS affects your life?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong condition with symptoms such as fatigue, pain, bladder and bowel problems, sexual dysfunction, movement and coordination difficulties, vision and cognition changes, and emotional/mental health problems.
How do you explain MS to a teenager?
Tips on talking to children about your MS
- try to choose a time of day when your child isn’t too tired or distracted.
- pick the right setting.
- don’t feel you have to tell them everything about MS all at once.
- don’t worry if you don’t know the answer!
- use medical terms, and explain them.
What is MS in simple terms?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). In MS , the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body.
Can you live a normal life with MS?
Most people with MS can expect to live as long as people without MS, but the condition can affect their daily life. For some people, the changes will be minor. For others, they can mean a loss of mobility and other functions.
How do you stay positive with MS?
She offers these tips to gain a more positive outlook on MS:
- Purge negative emotions by feeling them physically. “Don’t ignore sad emotions to stay positive.
- Stop limiting yourself.
- Believe what you tell yourself.
- Look for evidence of positive outcomes.
- Be kind to yourself.
How do you talk about multiple sclerosis?
Try to look at people’s questions objectively and don’t take them personally. Encourage people to talk openly to you about your MS and about how it makes them feel. Often, you can only do this once you have come to terms with the diagnosis yourself so only talk to people when you really feel ready.
What were your first signs of MS?
Common early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) include:
- vision problems.
- tingling and numbness.
- pains and spasms.
- weakness or fatigue.
- balance problems or dizziness.
- bladder issues.
- sexual dysfunction.
- cognitive problems.
Can MS go away?
Multiple sclerosis treatment. There is currently no cure for MS. The goal of treatment is to help you cope with and relieve symptoms, slow the progress of the disease and maintain a good quality of life. This can be done through a combination of medicine and physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
Is MS considered a disability?
MS is considered a disability by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Someone with MS can qualify for disability benefits if it is severe enough to prevent them from being able to work full time.
Can you have a relationship with MS?
Not everyone with MS will experience problems with sex or intimacy. However, it can have an effect mentally or physically on this aspect of relationships. MS can contribute to intimacy problems due to: changes to the nervous system that alter sexual function or sensation.
Is MS curable or treatable?
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis. Treatment typically focuses on speeding recovery from attacks, slowing the progression of the disease and managing MS symptoms. Some people have such mild symptoms that no treatment is necessary.
What are the four stages of MS?
What are the 4 stages of MS?
- Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) This is the first episode of symptoms caused by inflammation and damage to the myelin covering on nerves in the brain or spinal cord.
- Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)
- Secondary-progressive MS (SPMS)
- Primary-progressive MS (PPMS)
Is multiple sclerosis serious?
Multiple sclerosis is not generally the cause of death, but it can be a severely disabling condition. People with MS live slightly less long than those without the condition. This may be due to disease complications or other associated medical problems.
Are you born with MS?
your genes – MS isn’t directly inherited, but people who are related to someone with the condition are more likely to develop it; the chance of a sibling or child of someone with MS also developing it is estimated to be around 2 to 3%
How long does it take for MS to disable you?
Most symptoms develop abruptly, within hours or days. These attacks or relapses of MS typically reach their peak within a few days at most and then resolve slowly over the next several days or weeks so that a typical relapse will be symptomatic for about eight weeks from onset to recovery. Resolution is often complete.
Does MS change your hair?
Hair loss is not a symptom of MS, but could be related as a side effect of a medication, or due to the stress of an MS diagnosis. The majority of hair loss or thinning is temporary, and does not require treatment.
Do people with MS forget a lot?
Over time, about half of people with MS can have some cognitive problems. That means poor focus, slowed thinking, or a fuzzy memory. Often, these problems are mild and don’t really interrupt your daily life. It’s rare to have severe thinking problems.
Do people with MS need naps?
MS patients who have hypersomnia may take frequent naps during the day, no matter how much shut-eye they get at night. These naps can come at inappropriate times, such as during work, and can lure you into deep sleeping spells. Hypersomnia can also cause irritability and anxiety.