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It has been one of those days… More like Invasion of the Body-Snatchers but snatched by the creature Menopause. and so The Beast lives within, feeding, engorging! this is when I refuse to look at myself in the mirror, and try instead to drown-out the voices of discouragement, lest I hate what I see. and as the battle rages on, I am suddenly whisked-away by another voice, my Lancelot Knight’s, simple and sincere, “I love you and like you just as you are.”

Nothing could pull me out of the pit of despair faster than hearing my hubby say he loves me, and loves me just as I am! But just as I am, is an ever changing chameleon, morphing into an out-of-body experience.

We transform from childhood to puberty—the teenage, wonder years were overrated! we hit our 30’s to deal with perimenopause (about 10-15 years before the onset of menopause, evidenced by physical changes in our monthly cycle and mental health symptoms)—did lots of crying then, believing it was the end of my life as I knew it! Hit my 40’s and for some reason I wasn’t bothered by much of anything. and now I hook-up with menopause in my 50’s—was only too glad to have left those bothersome monthly’s way behind—but who knew that I’d be bothered by everything else?

Phew! That’s a whole lot of changes and dramas and tears to have to go through in one lifetime. I’m tired already!

Memories; Food for my soul

June 1998 saw the end of our happy days in our first home, a home my Lancelot Knight and I wholeheartedly believed we’d grow old in, having said tearful farewells to each of our children as they went out to make lives of their own. But those were dark and insecure days for holding a job; the beginning to a long and sad period of people losing their jobs and homes in the Silicon Valley, and across the country.

We moved on Father’s Day that year, which also coincidently happened to fall on my Lancelot Knight’s birthday. despite that we’d just lost our home (having spent 1 entire year out of work), we felt blessed to have the opportunity to move into another home—larger still: 7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 full-working kitchens, on a 1-acre spread—though renting for the time being. we counted our blessings and were thankful!

How is a DX of cancer found? how would you know if
you have some sort of cancer? Worried about myself and hubby, whom both have cancer history in family.

Check out Web MD, dear one. They have a lot of illnesses listed, along with symptoms.

God bless!

go ahead and do research on the net :symptons of cancer or the webMd is really good or just schedule an appointment to see your physician.

Tell your family Dr. he will run annual tests given your histories. that simple.

The problem with cancer is that it if there are symptoms such as a visible tumor or pain, you are probably too late for a cure.

Doctors sometimes do an early detection cancer screening with an annual physical exam, but on the most common cancer such as breast for women or prostate for men. this assumes that you faithfully call every year for your annual physical exam. Unless you tell the doctor which cancers run in your family, you will not get screened for those cancers. You need to ask your doctor to screen you regularly for all the cancers that run in your family.

There are early detection tests for all major cancers except pancreatic cancer. Early detection makes most cancers treatable and/or curable. a common example is Prostate Cancer. a rapidly rising PSA (blood test), taken every 6 months if you have a family history of this cancer, will detect this cancer in most cases. this must be followed by other tests to confirm a positive diagnostic.

It depends on the type of cancer. if you have breast cancer then do self exams monthly and don't forget to run down your side and up in your pit. if your hubby is in the age range of 15-25 he needs to examine his testicles for lumps to check for testicular cancer, he should continue these exams past the age of 25, but most testicular cancer hits men within this age group. if there is colon cancer or colorectal cancer then colonoscopy should be performed at a younger age and on a regular basis if their is a family history. Ovarian Cancer should be taken seriously if someone has a family history of it.
Other signs of cancer are unintentional weight loss, fatigue, persistent cough, NEW symptoms of indigestion, gas, and abdominal bloating that is persistent for more than 2-3 weeks, anemia, lumps under the skin, petchiae, easy seity, vaginal discharge, bloody mucus, anal bleeding, coughing up blood, night sweats, high fever, persistent low grade fever, swollen lymph glands, and there are many more signs of cancer, like moles and skin distubances, it all depends on the cancer…. but most cancer is not symptomatic until the cancer has progressed to a latent stage.
So, precancer screenings are available for cervical and prostate cancer and if their is family histories these tests should be addressed with your physician to see when you should start screening. be aware of the onset of any symptoms that are new or persistent. be proactive with your health. but do not worry so much that you end up creating cancer for yourself. Other preventative measures are to keep stress levels at a minimum, and eat well, stay away from high fat foods and integrate a high fiber diet into your lives as well as exercise.
And by all means do self exams and pre screening for cancer.

Is there a medical test used to confirm it?

Try these links

personal experience.. it was several different symptoms that happened over time. headaches, memory loss, fatigue, and feeling like a cartoon that was being erased when I'd walk. Brain MRI confirmed lesions (demylenation)… done each year to determine changes.

Keeping in mind that MS is a very diverse condition and not all patients will have the same signs/symptoms..my hubby's first was what is known as Optic Neuritis. this is usually the most common first sign of MS. He was seen by an optometrist and the diagnosis of Optic neuritis was made. He was sent to his primary health care provider where he was diagnosed with MS after and MRI of Brain/Spinal Cord among other lab work.

I hope this was of some help to you.

my very first symptom was a few months after my first son was born. he put his hand on my left knee and i could not feel it. i had no sensation in that area of my leg. the first neurologist i saw dismissed it as mental problems and reffered me to a psychologist. i was pregnant again soon after so i guess my symptoms went into remission. it wasnt until after the birth of my twins that i started having problems again. i found a new neurologist who took me seriously and the diagnosis was made because i had white matter lesions (shown by MRI) on my brain and also cervical spine (also shown on MRI). feel free to send me a message for more info, i know how almost impossible it can be to get a diagnosis. there really isnt one single test to to confirm it, but many tests used to rule it out.

GREETINGS!! I'll do better – I'll give you both personal experiences, professional and personal resources!!!

First of all, here are my qualifications for providing you with this answer:

1) I've successfully managed the symptoms of MS for over 45 years.
2) I was an HR Executive for over 30+ years, and combined my professional and personal expertise in creating a website dedicated to assisting folks with "chronic disease symptoms" better document, communicate, corroborate, and manage their symptoms and the resulting impairments to become expert patients; chronic disease self-managers; and, partner with their doctors to practice patient-centered health care.

disabilitykey.com

My website contains tons of information in 2 blogs, downloadable free articles and self-help ebooklets, and the Disabilitykey Workbook which contains over 100 pages of how to processes and actual forms – blank and completed examples – to assist folks. this workbook is available for a very small price (under $10).

My first symptom – way back 45 years ago – 3 first three fingers of my right hand would go numb – during class in the summer in California!! My GP – at the time – said I had "poor circulation" – to keep my hand in motion!!

My next symptom – a decade latter – my vision developed a "big black hole"!! very scared, I had a friend take me to see an eye Dr. after many tests he told me that I was having a "visual migraine" and to be happy that I didn't have a headache to go with it!!

3 decades later, having suffered repeated symptoms all mis-diagnosed, the technological resources FINALLY caught up with me!! I learned that the numbness – now in both feet and legs as well as hand – were MS symptoms of spasticity, paroxysmal itching, and spasticity!!! Verified by a spinal tap and MRI's. And my vision problems were and are optic neuritis, verified by an Opthamologist's tests.

Here's a blog that I did that discusses not only the top 22 MS symptoms, but what – at least a year ago – were the top medications used to help you better manage those symptoms. The reason that I like this list of symptoms and their associated "management aids" is that precisely because MS has so many symptoms, you may need to take some time to do some "introspection" to figure out which TYPE of symptom do you haave!! for example: do you have "plain vanilla" depression, or do you have depression coupled with either pain or fatigue? The management aids for the 3 different "types" of depression are different; so, the more precise and specific you can become shen documenting both your symptoms and how they impair you so that you can better inform your doctor, the better your doctor can assist you with symptom management!!

So, your Doctor tells you that you have a disease. You know that you have symptoms that impair you in your every day life, but you want your Doctor to give you something to make the pain/symptom go away!

What is the best medication for your symptoms, for your illness? Remember, only your Doctor can help you. however, the better informed that you are about what is out there, the better you can discuss alternatives with your Doctor(s).

The following information comes from the National MS Society website. now, most disease medication lists start with the brand name first, with the SYMPTOM that it is to address almost as an after thought. BUT, we, the patients, start with the symptom first, so that's how I have decided to sort the medications. here goes. Products available without a prescription are so indicated (+).

Once again, this will provide you with information to discuss with your Doctor. By having options of medications for a symptom, you and your Doctor can discuss which treatment would be best for you, given your other symptoms, your specific condition, and any other factors that only your Doctor can know. And, if you do not know what the symptom means (I'm not sure that I know what "Paroxysmal itching" is) you can ask your Doctor, and learn something new!

Fatigue: Amantadine; Cylert; Provigil

Spasticity: Baclofen; Dantrium; Intrathecal Baclofen (ITB Therapy); Valium (muscle spasms); Zanaflex

Constipation: Mineral oil (+); Colace (Docusate (+)); Dulcolax (Bisacodyl (+)); Enemeez Mini Enema (Docusate stool softener laxative (+)); Fleet Enema (Sodium phosphate (+)); Metamucil (Psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid (+)); Phillips' Milk of Magnesia (Magnesium hydroxide (+)); Sani-Supp suppository (US) (Glycerin (+))

Erectile dysfunction: Papaverine; Cialis; Levitra; MUSE; Prostin VR; Viagra

Nausea; Vomiting; Dizziness: Antivert (US), Bonamine (Can)

Paroxysmal itching: Atarax

Disease-modifying agent: Avonex; Betaseron; Copaxone; Novantrone; Rebif;

Urinary tract infections: Bactrim; Septra; Cipro; Macrodantin

Urinary tract infections: (preventative) Hiprex, Mandelamine (US); Hip-rex, Mandelamine (Can)

Urinary tract infections (symptom relief): Pyridium

Urinary frequency: DDAVP Nasal Spray; DDAVP Tablets

Bladder dysfunction: Detrol (US); Ditropan; Ditropan XL; Oxytrol (Oxybutynin Transdermal System); Pro-Banthine; Sanctura; Vesicare (US)

Bladder dysfunction; Pain: Tofranil

Depression: Effexor; Paxil; Wellbutrin; Zoloft

Depression, Pain (neuropathic): Cymbalta

Depression; Fatigue: Prozac

Tremor: Laniazid; Nydrazid

Tremor; Pain; Spasticity: Klonopin (US), Rivotril (Can)

Acute exacerbations: Decadron; Deltasone; H.P. Acthar Gel; Solu-Medrol

Pain (dyesthesias): Dilantin; Neurontin

Pain (paresthesias): Elavil; Pamelor (US), Aventyl (Can)

Pain (trigeminal neuralgia): Tegretol

Now that you have read all 22 categories of Multiple Sclerosis symptoms that HAVE a medication that might mitigate it, and know of many others that have no associated medication, I'll bet that you are asking yourself how do I make the link between knowing that I have one or more of these, and explaining how this symptom impairs me? if you have these questions, please check out our website at disabilitykey.com.

Also, please feel free to email me by clicking on my Yahoo name.

Finally, here are some suggestions:

1) Document your symptoms and their impairments.

2) use any Internet search engine and plug in the words "MS symptoms". Then you can see if you have any or all of them.

3) Then, go to see your doctor, better prepared to partner with him/her in getting you a diagnosis not only for your "condition", but for medications and/or other suggestions for "managing" your symptoms.

Finally, please feel free to contact me by clicking onto my Yahoo name and email me or im me with additional questions along your process of discovery.

Best wishes.

I’m only 20 and tbh don’t understand all of what you said. I think you should ask your doctor/gyn. They went to school to help you with these kind of things so they probly know more then some. They will understand your concerns. Also about the question about the pill or ttc w/e that is. if its a big dissision take your hubby into the doctor with you ask all the questions make sure you both understand short/long term effects, side effects, anything and everything. then when you get home make some tea or w/e and talk to him he’ll want to be part of the dission too expecaily if its a big one. when I got pregnet when I was 18 with the boyfriend I’m still with (love you Stephen) I took him to the doctors and we asked all the questions and hes catholic and wasn’t sure on his idea of abortion, so we talked about it and we desided an abortion was the best. like I said I don’t really know much of what your going though right now only because I’ve never been in your shoes nor do I know what ttc is (Well its a bus company where I am >_<.) I think for big dissions you need other people to suport you, not only in your choice but as a best friend, a husbond to have some one to lean on, and this is the best advise I can give. Sorry about not really knowing, hope you can find some relief, good things happen to good people so keep your head high and pass on good charm.