Momentum
SUMMER.2011
The magazine of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
(“Bowel issues—It takes guts,”
Spring 2011). This is a frequently
overlooked MS symptom and
people find it embarrassing to
bring it up with their health-care
provider. But I was disappointed
in the illustrations that accompany this article. To liken the MS
patient to a dog is not acceptable.
Sherry Ring, RN, BSN, MSCN,
via e-mail
repeated or chronic urinary tract
infections. As with any medication,
its use should be discussed with
a physician, who will need to
prescribe it.
Waiting too long for
diagnosis
I am one of the 5% of people
with MS who have essentially
negative MRIs. My symptoms
began in 1982, but I was not
diagnosed until 2000— 18 long
years. In 2005 I finally had access
to a stronger MRI machine and
the neurologist found atypical
lesions that he felt were due to
MS.
Why do I rarely see articles on
this subject? Without this knowledge, many people live without
a diagnosis and are thus denied
treatment.
BikeMS!
We grew a team
PAGE 34
The Puzzle of
Progression
Vitamin D?
PAGE 39
PAGE 24
Elwood Smith’s illustrations
were meant to provide a bit of
lightness to what is a difficult and
distressing subject. The idea being
that, when a person with MS has
an unruly bowel, a bowel program
can serve to train it. We thought
of the dog owner in the cartoon—
not the dog!—as the one with MS.
—The Editor
A NEW WAY TO READ!
Go to nationalMSsociety.
org/magazine
• We’re now online from
cover to cover.
• Fully searchable. Easy to
enlarge. Comment on
articles.
• Available on tablets, smartphones and more.
• Available before printed
magazine reaches mailbox.
A bladder solution
I am 80 years old and have had
MS for more than 40 years.
I’ve been successfully self-cath-eterizing until last year, when a
series of bladder infections and
the accompanying side-effects
of antibiotics threatened my
well-being. I found information online about methenamine,
which I brought to my general
practitioner. Since taking it, I’ve
had no bladder infections or
side-effects.
Noreen Briggs, Ill.
Despite improvements over
the years, MS is still tricky to
diagnose and often involves
eliminating other possible causes
of symptoms. MRIs can often, but
not always, help. More research
is currently underway to identify
biological markers and other data
to better diagnose and charac-
terize different types of MS.
<<< Coming this Fall: The Many Faces of Single— Good living alone with MS
Whether alone by choice or by circumstance, singles with MS
have similar needs. Where do singles turn for support? How can
someone create a “family”? How do single people handle transportation, medical emergencies, staying active and having fun?
