Latest news with #RRMS
Scottish Sun
25-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
I went to bed feeling fine but woke up paralysed – doctors blamed it on constipation but the truth was horrifying
Find out everything you need to know about Adam's condition below SHATTERING DIAGNOSIS I went to bed feeling fine but woke up paralysed – doctors blamed it on constipation but the truth was horrifying AS a parent with a full-time job and a busy social life playing football and seeing friends, Adam Dawer always had somewhere to be. But when he went to bed feeling perfectly well one night and woke up unable to stand, it was the start of a nightmare which would lead to a shattering diagnosis for the busy father of five. Advertisement 5 Adam Dawer was a busy dad of five and always had somewhere to be Credit: Cover Images 5 Then his life turned upside down when he began experiencing vomiting and visual disturbances - 18 months later he was diagnosed with MS Credit: Cover Images Adam, 47, began experiencing vomiting and visual disturbances and initially thought he might have caught a bug. But his symptoms didn't subside and continued for weeks. Unable to stand up without being sick and increasingly concerned, he decided it was time to seek medical help. 'I was starting to worry it was cancer as cancer is a thing that has taken half of my family,' Adam, from Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, said. Advertisement 'But no-one could give me an answer, no matter where I went. I went to the GP first and I was told 'it could be this, it could be that'. 'The only one I really remember is 'you might be heavily constipated'. When he said that, I couldn't believe it. I said to my wife Sharon 'we need to go somewhere else'.' It took Adam 18 months to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) and, surprisingly, he felt relieved. 'When the doctor said to me, 'It sounds to me like multiple sclerosis,' I said, 'Thank God!'' Adam recalled. Advertisement 'And he said 'You do know what MS is?' And I said 'yeah, but it's not cancer.' "We were at a different hospital and the minute we walked in there, it was as if somebody flicked a switch. From that moment on, life just got better. Regardless that I've got MS, at least I know what I'm dealing with. Girl paralysed after giant critter feasted on her scalp 'I felt a big relief because I was thinking it was something that was going to kill me.' Adam began to research the condition and decided to learn as much as he could. Advertisement In denial MS is an often disabling disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). He admits for the first two to three years he was in denial and believed that his life didn't need to change. For the first few years he had Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS) and he had several disease-modifying drugs to help slow down the progression of the illness. 'Some worked and some didn't,' he said. Advertisement 'Many of the treatments have side effects that make you feel even worse on top of already being ill. 'Now I have Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS), which means I have moved onto the next stage, unfortunately. But I take medication and hopefully this will slow down the progression.' If I have to go to the kitchen, it might take me five minutes – but I'm OK with that Adam Dawer Adam had to give up his job as a graphic designer and accept a slower pace of life. "If I have to go to the kitchen, it might take me five minutes – but I'm OK with that,' he said. Advertisement 'The main thing is: I'm still alive, I'm still breathing, so all is good. 'My wife is now my full time carer and I'm extremely lucky that she helps me get out and about. 'I still drive on occasion, it's the only thing that makes me feel normal like everyone else but mostly Sharon does it now.' Sharon helps Adam with all the practicalities of MS, such as preparing his scooter, wheelchair or rollator and sorting routes, finding out where is accessible or where might have dodgy pavements. Advertisement 'She deals with all of that so I don't need to because I can't anymore,' Adam added. 'I wouldn't leave the house, the anxiety of all of that on top of being ill would be crippling. 'In short, she just lets me concentrate on the MS itself.' 'It's not a one-size-fits-all thing with MS' More than 150,000 people in the UK live with MS and many of them are unable to leave their house without help. Advertisement According to research by The MS Trust, 94 per cent of patients said their condition has affected their mental health with 60 per cent experiencing low self esteem. Half of MS patients report feelings of isolation and loneliness. Adam wants people to be aware that MS can present very differently in each person. 'There's not a set pattern to it,' he said. Advertisement 'There could be a guy with MS who runs marathons and there could be someone in a wheelchair. It's not a one-size-fits-all thing.' 5 Adam had to give up his job as a graphic designer and accept a slower pace of life Credit: Cover Images 5 His wife Sharon is now his full time carer Credit: Cover Images 5 Despite his diagnosis Adam is happy about life and makes sure he's still present for his five children Credit: Cover Images Advertisement He is positive about his life and happy he's been able to be an active and present dad for his five children. 'When MS announced itself into my life, the youngest was five,' he said. 'I'm glad that my kids were of an age that my declining health wasn't going to impact them so much. They weren't going to grow up seeing dad be heavily disabled. 'I got to be a proper parent. I really didn't want MS to rob me of being a parent or to rob my kids of having a dad who was there. 'By the grace of God, it worked out and they're all doing their own things now. The youngest will be 20 this year. The oldest is in another country. Advertisement 'I honestly haven't been happier and mentally clearer in my life. I just had this mental clarity one day: everything's going to be OK. 'It was like a massive weight came off me. I really can't explain it. It kind of is a spiritual experience - I think having MS has been like a superpower – for my mind, the way I think. 'Everyone's got problems. But when a problem comes up for me, I think, 'Is anybody going to die? No? Then there's no problem. We can fix it.''
The Irish Sun
25-06-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
I went to bed feeling fine but woke up paralysed – doctors blamed it on constipation but the truth was horrifying
AS a parent with a full-time job and a busy social life playing football and seeing friends, Adam Dawer always had somewhere to be. But when he went to bed feeling perfectly well one night and woke up unable to stand, it was the start of a nightmare which would lead to a shattering diagnosis for the busy father of five. 5 Adam Dawer was a busy dad of five and always had somewhere to be Credit: Cover Images 5 Then his life turned upside down when he began experiencing vomiting and visual disturbances - 18 months later he was diagnosed with MS Credit: Cover Images Adam, 47, began experiencing vomiting and But his symptoms didn't subside and continued for weeks. Unable to stand up without being sick and increasingly concerned, he decided it was time to seek medical help. 'I was starting to worry it was cancer as cancer is a thing that has taken half of my family,' Adam, from Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, said. Read more on MS 'But no-one could give me an answer, no matter where I went. I went to the GP first and I was told 'it could be this, it could be that'. 'The only one I really remember is 'you might be heavily constipated'. When he said that, I couldn't believe it. I said to my wife Sharon 'we need to go somewhere else'.' It took Adam 18 months to be diagnosed with 'When the doctor said to me, 'It sounds to me like multiple sclerosis,' I said, 'Thank God!'' Adam recalled. Most read in Health 'And he said 'You do know what MS is?' And I said 'yeah, but it's not cancer.' "We were at a different hospital and the minute we walked in there, it was as if somebody flicked a switch. From that moment on, life just got better. Regardless that I've got MS, at least I know what I'm dealing with. Girl paralysed after giant critter feasted on her scalp 'I felt a big relief because I was thinking it was something that was going to kill me.' Adam began to research the condition and decided to learn as much as he could. In denial MS is an often disabling disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). He admits for the first two to three years he was in denial and believed that his life didn't need to change. For the first few years he had Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS) and he had several disease-modifying drugs to help slow down the progression of the illness. 'Some worked and some didn't,' he said. 'Many of the treatments have side effects that make you feel even worse on top of already being ill. 'Now I have Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS), which means I have moved onto the next stage, unfortunately. But I take medication and hopefully this will slow down the progression.' If I have to go to the kitchen, it might take me five minutes – but I'm OK with that Adam Dawer Adam had to give up his job as a graphic designer and accept a slower pace of life. "If I have to go to the kitchen, it might take me five minutes – but I'm OK with that,' he said. 'The main thing is: I'm still alive, I'm still breathing, so all is good. 'My wife is now my full time carer and I'm extremely lucky that she helps me get out and about. 'I still drive on occasion, it's the only thing that makes me feel normal like everyone else but mostly Sharon does it now.' Sharon helps Adam with all the practicalities of MS, such as preparing his scooter, wheelchair or rollator and sorting routes, finding out where is accessible or where might have dodgy pavements. 'She deals with all of that so I don't need to because I can't anymore,' Adam added. 'I wouldn't leave the house, the anxiety of all of that on top of being ill would be crippling. 'In short, she just lets me concentrate on the MS itself.' 'It's not a one-size-fits-all thing with MS' More than 150,000 people in the UK live with MS and many of them are unable to leave their house without help. According to research by The MS Trust, 94 per cent of patients said their condition has affected their mental health with 60 per cent experiencing low self esteem. Half of MS patients report feelings of isolation and loneliness. Adam wants people to be aware that MS can present very differently in each person. 'There's not a set pattern to it,' he said. 'There could be a guy with MS who runs marathons and there could be someone in a wheelchair. It's not a one-size-fits-all thing.' 5 Adam had to give up his job as a graphic designer and accept a slower pace of life Credit: Cover Images 5 His wife Sharon is now his full time carer Credit: Cover Images 5 Despite his diagnosis Adam is happy about life and makes sure he's still present for his five children Credit: Cover Images He is positive about his life and happy he's been able to be an active and present dad for his five children. 'When MS announced itself into my life, the youngest was five,' he said. 'I'm glad that my kids were of an age that my declining health wasn't going to impact them so much. They weren't going to grow up seeing dad be heavily disabled. 'I got to be a proper parent. I really didn't want MS to rob me of being a parent or to rob my kids of having a dad who was there. 'By the grace of God, it worked out and they're all doing their own things now. The youngest will be 20 this year. The oldest is in another country. 'I honestly haven't been happier and mentally clearer in my life. I just had this mental clarity one day: everything's going to be OK. 'It was like a massive weight came off me. I really can't explain it. It kind of is a spiritual experience - I think having MS has been like a superpower – for my mind, the way I think. 'Everyone's got problems. But when a problem comes up for me, I think, 'Is anybody going to die? No? Then there's no problem. We can fix it.'' What is multiple sclerosis (MS)? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex condition that affects the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. It's an autoimmune disease, meaning the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating (myelin) around nerve fibres. This disrupts the flow of electrical signals and causes a range of symptoms that can vary wildly from person to person. The good news? MS isn't a death sentence, and with advances in treatment, many people live full and active lives. In the UK, over 130,000 people are living with MS, and around 7,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. It's typically diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s, with women three times more likely to develop it than men. Despite its challenges, many with MS find strength and resilience they never thought possible. Common symptoms of MS are: Fatigue: Not your average tiredness—this is bone-deep exhaustion. Vision problems: Blurred or double vision, or even temporary vision loss. Numbness and tingling: Often in the face, arms, or legs. Muscle weakness: Making everyday tasks feel like climbing a mountain. Mobility issues: Trouble walking or balancing. Cognitive difficulties: Memory lapses or a 'foggy' brain. Spasms and stiffness: Muscles that just won't cooperate. Bladder and bowel problems: A less glamorous but common challenge. MS is unpredictable—you might have periods of remission where symptoms vanish, followed by flare-ups when they return. This 'on-again, off-again' nature can be frustrating and means people can be in anticipation of a flare. While there's no cure yet, treatments like disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), physiotherapy, and lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms and slow progression.
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Inspirational Helensburgh man tells how honest conversations around MS took 'enormous weight off'
Paul McGaw says being upfront about his condition helps to remove pressure and awkwardness from certain situations as he spoke out on MS Awareness Week. A family man has told how having honest conversations about his disability has helped him explain to the people in his life when NOT to help him. Paul McGaw, 47, was diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in 2007. This MS Awareness Week (April 28 to May 4), Paul is supporting a new national charity campaign, MS Conversations. Spearheaded by a collaboration of the UK's MS charities - MS Society, MS Trust, MS Together, MS-UK, the Neuro Therapy Network, Overcoming MS, and Talks with MS – the campaign aims to encourage people to start conversations about their multiple sclerosis (MS). More than 17,000 people in Scotland, and more than 150,000 people in the whole of the UK, live with MS. It's a condition that affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord and impacts how people move, think and feel. Symptoms are different for everyone and are often invisible. But one thing everyone with MS has in common is that they'll all have conversations about their condition, whether they're explaining it to family members or friends, asking an employer or medical professional for support, or opening up to a new partner. Those conversations won't always be easy. That's why the eight charities will be working with members of the MS community throughout MS Awareness Week and sharing resources, tips and real life stories to help make those conversations easier. Paul, who's married and enjoys close relationships with family members and friends, said he's always spoken openly about his MS. He believes being upfront about his condition helps to remove pressure and awkwardness from certain situations. And it's also allowed him to explain to those close to him that sometimes when he appears to be struggling he'd rather they didn't try to help. Paul, of Helensburgh, explained: 'I stumble and fall a lot more these days. I've got two walking poles but I only use them when I really need to because I don't want to become over-reliant on them. It's difficult to explain but I've really got to think hard to make sure I'm balanced. 'When I'm with someone and I start to lose my balance, they often try to catch me or stop me falling, but that can actually make the situation worse. So I've had to have conversations with people in my life and ask them not to do that and to just give me a bit of time to try to regain my balance. 'A while ago I went to Auschwitz in Poland with my dad, because I'm interested in history. I didn't have any walking aids back then so I was really struggling and my dad wanted to help me. 'I explained to him that I don't know which way I'm going to fall and if someone tries to grab hold of me I'm going to end up jerking away and that'll probably lead to more risk of me falling. 'So don't try to grab hold of me, just let me stumble my way through it. 'I've said to my wife, listen Colette, I love you to bits, but see when I'm like this, I don't know if I'm going to fall left, right, forward, back. Just give me that 30 seconds to try to find somewhere to lean so I can get my balance back a little bit. 'I've had those conversations with my pals as well. I talk to my best pals about my MS, and share a wee bit with them, because they're basically family. Although I do sometimes make jokes about it. 'I said listen guys, with all the best will in the world, don't try and grab hold of me. I'm actually working really hard to try and get my balance. If you try to pull me back I'll probably pull the other way or something, I don't know. I honestly don't know how my body is going to react. 'It's a difficult one to try to convey to people who are just trying to help. And I know it sounds a bit selfish in many ways – telling my dad or my wife to let me fall on the ground. 'It took a while for people to accept it, and to realise that I'm not doing it to be all 'look at me' or 'woe is me'. No, it's because I'm trying to keep as much self-respect, dignity, and independence as I can.' The eight charities are encouraging everyone affected by MS to get involved on social media throughout MS Awareness Week by using the hashtag #MSConversations to share their most memorable MS interactions. When asked what advice he'd give to people struggling to have conversations about their MS, Paul added: 'You don't have to have conversations about your MS with every single person; have them with people you trust. 'Maybe your close family and friends. If someone doesn't want to hear about your MS then they're not really your pal so don't waste any energy on them. 'For me, talking openly about my MS has taken an enormous weight off my shoulders. Just try to be open and honest and that way, all the worry of 'oh god, are they going to know I've got this' and 'how are they going to react when I tell them that' – all that will be lifted right off you straight off the bat because you've been upfront and it's out there.' Jo Anderson, Director for Scotland at the MS Society, said: 'Talking openly about MS is vital for increasing awareness, breaking down stigma, and ensuring everyone can access the support they're entitled to. But starting those conversations can be hard. 'This MS Awareness Week we're pleased to once again be partnering with other leading MS charities across the UK, this time shining a spotlight on MS Conversations. 'Encouraging conversations about MS is at the heart of everything we do year-round at MS Society Scotland, from inviting people to contact our free MS Helpline, to supporting local groups to bring people together, and promoting volunteers' stories. 'This week we're taking that one step further and sharing tools and advice to help more people have conversations about their MS. 'We'd like to say a huge thank you to Paul and everyone else who's shared their experiences so far. There's still time to join in using #MSConversations on social media.' Join the conversation and find support by searching #MSConversations on social media. Follow MS Society Scotland's MS Awareness Week coverage on Facebook (MS Society Scotland), Instagram (@mssocietyscot) and X (@mssocietyscot).
Saba Yemen
26-03-2025
- Health
- Saba Yemen
Researchers: Vitamin D dose to change MS patients lives
Paris - Saba: French researchers conducted a new study to explore the effect of vitamin D on patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and early stages of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The study, published in the journal JAMA, aimed to evaluate the role of high doses of cholecalciferol (a form of vitamin D) in modifying the disease course, with a focus on safety and efficacy as a single treatment. The team from CHU Nîmes, the University of Montpellier, and several MS treatment centers in France discovered that oral administration of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) at a dose of 100,000 IU every two weeks significantly reduced disease activity in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and early relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). MS typically begins with an acute attack affecting the central nervous system, such as optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, or brainstem syndromes. These initial symptoms are collectively called clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), however, they do not always lead to the development of MS. Risk factors for relapse and transformation of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) into clinically confirmed MS include: Oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid High number of perivenular lesions on MRI Early age at symptom onset Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased disease activity, but previous studies on the effects of vitamin D supplementation have been conflicting. Because of its immunomodulatory effects, vitamin D has been primarily tested as an adjunct to interferon beta. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vitamin D as monotherapy in recent-onset clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). In the DLay MS randomized clinical trial, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study compared the effect of high-dose cholecalciferol versus placebo in untreated patients with CIS. The study included 316 participants aged 18–55 who had symptoms of clinically isolated syndrome within 90 days prior to the study and had vitamin D levels less than 100 nmol/L. During the trial, researchers divided the participants into two groups. The first group received 100,000 IU of cholecalciferol every two weeks (163 participants). The second group received a placebo (153 participants). The trial lasted 24 months, and disease activity, such as relapse or the appearance of new lesions, was assessed using MRI. The results showed that disease activity occurred in 60.3% of patients in the vitamin D group compared to 74.1% in the placebo group. The median time to onset of disease activity was significantly longer with vitamin D (432 days versus 224 days). MRI showed improvement in all secondary parameters favoring vitamin D, including a reduction in contrast-enhancing lesions (18.6% vs. 34.0%). High-dose cholecalciferol reduced disease activity in clinically isolated syndrome and early relapsing-remitting MS. These findings support further research into the use of high-dose vitamin D as an adjunctive therapy, especially in cases where access to disease-modifying therapies is limited. The researchers are seeking to conduct future studies on the use of vitamin D as a complementary therapy, particularly in patients with severe vitamin D deficiency. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
USA Today
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Is Selma Blair game for reprising the icy Vivian in 'Legally Blonde 3?'
Is Selma Blair game for reprising the icy Vivian in 'Legally Blonde 3?' Show Caption Hide Caption Reese Witherspoon to executive produce new 'Legally Blonde' series Prime Video has announced that it has ordered a 'Legally Blonde' prequel series, titled Elle, which will follow he character through her teen years. unbranded - Entertainment Did we just feel a chill in the air? Selma Blair, originator of the role of Elle Woods' law school nemesis in 'Legally Blonde,' says she is ready to bend and snap back into the role of the initially icy Vivian Kensington. When Elle (Reese Witherspoon) enrolled at Harvard Law School ("What, like it's hard?"), desperate to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner (Matthew Davis) in the 2001 feature, she was crushed to learn that he'd already moved on with Vivian (Blair), a brunette no less, in need of mascara and "some serious highlights." Blair did not appear in the film's 2003 sequel, 'Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde,' when Elle ventured to D.C. to outlaw animal testing. The 52-year-old actress has been able to return to her craft, amid her battle with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), now that she's increased her stamina and is relapse-free. MS is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system. Those with RRMS can experience flare-ups during which symptoms are exacerbated for a period of time. Selma Blair opens up about 'cathartic' MS discussions, service dog 'boyfriend' Scout 'Now I maybe take two naps a week, whereas before it was like four naps a day,' Blair says. And having a script decreases her vocal dystonia, which makes her speech sound strained. 'So that was a relief to learn, 'Oh, maybe I can go on a set again. I can deal with this,'' she says. Blair says the jury is still out as to whether she'll appear in 'Legally Blonde 3.' A draft of Elle's next chapter has been completed, co-writer Mindy Kaling confirmed to Variety, but Blair says she hasn't heard anything about her potential involvement. 'I'll just keep my fingers crossed that that's some joyful thing that I could have a cameo in, at least, and be a part of that for a moment,' she says. 'I'd love to see Vivian Kensington again. It was so much fun.' Blair will appear with Judd Hirsch in 'Stay Forte,' a film which dramatizes the kidnapping and deaths of three Israeli hostages. Blair last appeared in the 2021 feature, 'Far More,' also starring Adrian Grenier and Drea de Matteo.
