You already feel insane when describing your symptoms to doctors so it is difficult when they don't believe you the first time you see them and then more damage is done to the nervous system that could have been prevented. I feel for anyone that went through that.
That was a nice interview you did with Meredith. She has a great outlook on life. I hope you're able to do more of these interviews in the future. Great work as always Dr Brandon.
Great interview. Stress is such a factor in the exacerbation of MS-Meredith’s Mom illness and then her diagnosis. Certainly the case for me-House torn apart, lots of physical work, low Vitamin D- boom! Age 63. MS is so under diagnosed too per her point. It’s so interesting to look back as she did, and see all the previous signs and symptoms. I was treated and seen for years by a wonderful neurologist for benign essential tremor. ( as a nurse who worked with him at the bedside , our visits were very benign and social, my bad). Generally I feel nurses underplay their own symptoms. Just my humble opinion. And saw a wonderful neuro-opthamologist for double vision, who thought I need eye surgery for a weak muscle age 46. Negative MRI at that time. It was all MS. I’m so sure of it. I wonder if there has ever been a study of incidence of nurses and autoimmune diseases. God the stuff I was exposed too. I always touted my good immune system never getting sick. Yeah too good now sadly.
I really appreciated Meredith’s comments re: cognitive issues. As a school teacher, I struggle cognitively at times - for example, programming takes me so much longer than it used to. I didn’t know about cognitive neurologists, so I will definitely look into this.
Often, neuropsychiatric testing is done by a neuropsychologist. A lot of people with MS will score low (relative to other cognitive functions) on processing speed even if they have no specific cognitive complaints.
Great interview . Meredith O’Brien shares her journey living with MS as a college professor and writer. A self proclaimed “compulsive oversharer”, her story-telling is fun and engaging. She discusses everything from “squishy symptoms” a “cryptic call” from her doctor, stadium “wheelchair loops”, to a “brain that became sieve like”. A mother of 3 college boys, wife, author, and MS Warrior, Meredith talks about her life and offers encouraging insight and sage advice. I had “some fun”!
Thanks for the interview! Just curious, would you count years of disease from her first episode of numbness or from the actual diagnosis? Many of us have symptoms or even clear attacks years before diagnosis. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
With CIS, the demyelinating syndrome can be anything including transverse myelitis. Because of changes in the diagnostic criteria for MS, CIS is much less common in modern times, as many people previously diagnosed with CIS would now meet the diagnostic criteria for MS (Meredith would probably be an exception since she says she only had a single lesion on MRI at first).
@@DrBrandonBeaber I also presented with one lesion but was told transverse myelitis but two months later two new lesions and MS. Is ms and transverse myelitis the same thing then? I haven’t found a clear answer for this. Thanks for your response!
I would have to do some research on him. It's much more difficult to get people to agree to an interview than you might think. I am trying to get an interview right now with Dr. Sadiq about his recent publication about intrathecal mesenchymal stem cells
You already feel insane when describing your symptoms to doctors so it is difficult when they don't believe you the first time you see them and then more damage is done to the nervous system that could have been prevented. I feel for anyone that went through that.
That was a nice interview you did with Meredith. She has a great outlook on life. I hope you're able to do more of these interviews in the future. Great work as always Dr Brandon.
I definitely plan to do more of these.
Great interview. Stress is such a factor in the exacerbation of MS-Meredith’s Mom illness and then her diagnosis. Certainly the case for me-House torn apart, lots of physical work, low Vitamin D- boom! Age 63. MS is so under diagnosed too per her point. It’s so interesting to look back as she did, and see all the previous signs and symptoms. I was treated and seen for years by a wonderful neurologist for benign essential tremor. ( as a nurse who worked with him at the bedside , our visits were very benign and social, my bad). Generally I feel nurses underplay their own symptoms. Just my humble opinion.
And saw a wonderful neuro-opthamologist for double vision, who thought I need eye surgery for a weak muscle age 46. Negative MRI at that time. It was all MS. I’m so sure of it.
I wonder if there has ever been a study of incidence of nurses and autoimmune diseases. God the stuff I was exposed too. I always touted my good immune system never getting sick. Yeah too good now sadly.
I really appreciated Meredith’s comments re: cognitive issues. As a school teacher, I struggle cognitively at times - for example, programming takes me so much longer than it used to. I didn’t know about cognitive neurologists, so I will definitely look into this.
Often, neuropsychiatric testing is done by a neuropsychologist. A lot of people with MS will score low (relative to other cognitive functions) on processing speed even if they have no specific cognitive complaints.
Great interview . Meredith O’Brien shares her journey living with MS as a college professor and writer. A self proclaimed “compulsive oversharer”, her story-telling is fun and engaging. She discusses everything from “squishy symptoms” a “cryptic call” from her doctor, stadium “wheelchair loops”, to a “brain that became sieve like”. A mother of 3 college boys, wife, author, and MS Warrior, Meredith talks about her life and offers encouraging insight and sage advice. I had “some fun”!
:) I'm glad you had "some fun."
Thanks Dr. for your GREAT work for us.
You're very welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Meredith is a hero to be able to survive with MS in horrible Boston weather.
:)
Thanks, what a great interview!
I'm glad you enjoyed it :)
Thanks for the interview!
Just curious, would you count years of disease from her first episode of numbness or from the actual diagnosis? Many of us have symptoms or even clear attacks years before diagnosis. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
If there was a clear attack recognized retrospectively, then yes. For symptoms that are more nonspecific such as fatigue, then no.
Dr. Beaber would CIS be the same as presenting with transverse myelitis as first attack with only one spinal lesion?
With CIS, the demyelinating syndrome can be anything including transverse myelitis. Because of changes in the diagnostic criteria for MS, CIS is much less common in modern times, as many people previously diagnosed with CIS would now meet the diagnostic criteria for MS (Meredith would probably be an exception since she says she only had a single lesion on MRI at first).
@@DrBrandonBeaber I also presented with one lesion but was told transverse myelitis but two months later two new lesions and MS. Is ms and transverse myelitis the same thing then? I haven’t found a clear answer for this. Thanks for your response!
Dude since you're so interested in multiple sclerosis why don't you interview Dr Neil Riordan of the stem cell institute in Panama?
I would have to do some research on him. It's much more difficult to get people to agree to an interview than you might think. I am trying to get an interview right now with Dr. Sadiq about his recent publication about intrathecal mesenchymal stem cells
This interview focused too much on her fears and not enough on actual helpful information.
Thanks for your input Otto. What type of information would you be interested in so that I know for the future?