second generation MS

[2nd generation MS survivor]

My mom had primary progressive MS. I was recently diagnosed and am waiting to see the specialist. What are the chances of having the same type as she did? I know each case is different and there can be an inherit properties to MS. I was her primary caretaker for ten years so I know what it looks like and the basic pathology of it but id like to learn as much as I can about my condition and the genetic aspects. Also if a child is a second generation MS survivor is there a higher chance to pass it down? Thanks for the help.

[onlyairfare]

I don't think science "knows" the answer to your question yet, but perhaps your neurologist may want to consult with one of the centers that specializes in the genetics of MS, or maybe that is where you will already be going. Your location isn't specified, but I think other posters here have mentioned UC-San Francisco and UNC-Chapel Hill as such centers.

[gloobylube]

hi I am new to the boards and am waiting on dx myself, as I present with every single symptom of ms, been going on and off since 04.
I can't help you with your question,but wanted you to know I was thinking about you..take care...

[22cyclist]

I just wanted to confirm that UNC Chapel Hill does have the genetics program. I go there, have a first cousin with MS, neither of us know our paternal lineage side of the family which is where we got our neurological issues from we believe. They are studying us and our children.

Good luck
Lisa
Moderation Team

[Jules A]

Hey where is Tawanda?

[gloobylube]

The only known person in my family who has has MS was an aunt who was my father's sister, who died at a very young age.
She is the only person in my genetics that I am aware of who has MS, whats this mean to me??

[Jules A]

The only known person in my family who has has MS was an aunt who was my father's sister, who died at a very young age.
She is the only person in my genetics that I am aware of who has MS, whats this mean to me??

I don't think it means much to your particular case of MS but having "only" one other case of MS in the family to me is a huge indicator of the familial component.

[Tawanda]

Hi,
I am also a second generation MSer, and I think that if your parent was as bad as mine was (think of your worst case MS scenario and you have my mother), the news of your own diagnosis could make you want to run for the nearest cliff! However, here I am, a decade later, hanging tough!

If I didn't tell you I had M.S., you would never know. Some people on this board don't think DMDs do anything, but given my condition vs my Mom's, I can't help but wonder if these drugs made a significant difference. If course it could just be a coincidence, but the point is that no 2 MSers are alike, even when you are comparing yourself to your parent. There is also the fact that I am my mother's daughter and not her clone. Half of my genes came from a man totally unrelated by blood to her, so maybe Dad's genes are diluting hers' to a point...

I thought that I would be completely helpless within months of my diagnosis, and here we are, years later, and I am far from helpless like my mother was. Not that I'm lovin' living life with M.S., but I am living...not just surviving or subsisting like my poor mother.

If you want to contact me, my email address is in my profile.Your situation is very familiar to me! Chin up!

[JerryD]

Thank you, Tawanda, for this last post. You're words of optimism really lifted me, today. I am dx'd PPMS and went into the hospital, last weekend, with pneumonia. I thought I was done for. But, here I am, feeling OK.

[aitch10]

I have MS, my mom has it, 2 of my mom's 2nd cousins have it, and 2 of 3 of one of those cousins' kids has it. Clearly ther is a gene on my maternal grandfather's side that is seriously defective/MSey.

Still, nobody's disease has shown the same progression. My mom's struggling a bit but worked until she was ready to retire on her own terms. I was doing really well on Rebif but went off it to have babies then went downhill. So like PP's said, meds probably have a huge effect on how well we do.

I go on Copaxone yet so we'll see what that does.

[marti]

My dear uncle just passed away from the effects of his MS. He also had ALS. He was 77 years old and in a nursing home for about a year. This man never took any medication of any kind and worked till he was about 71.

Then I found out I had an uncle who died when I was 8 yrs old and he was 42. I never knew what happened to him until recently when my cousin told me he had Lupus.

I have Graves disease and had an aunt who had thyroid problems, but I'm not sure exactly what type of problems she had.

Family connection? Looks like it.

[suziq38]

.....I was doing really well on Rebif but went off it to have babies then went downhill. So like PP's said, meds probably have a huge effect on how well we do.....

My cousin's wife had MS, and when she decided to have a baby, she really declined quickly. Their daughter is beautiful.

[2nd generation MS survivor]

Thanks for all the comment. I guess I was not clear with question. I know three is a connection I wanted to know if there is a connection with TYPE of ms like if you and your mom have ms do you both have RR or PP or what? I know there is a genetic like to ms but does it stop there or does type of ms also pass down

[Jules A]

Thanks for all the comment. I guess I was not clear with question. I know three is a connection I wanted to know if there is a connection with TYPE of ms like if you and your mom have ms do you both have RR or PP or what? I know there is a genetic like to ms but does it stop there or does type of ms also pass down

I think Aitch10, Tawanda and Onlyfaire were on track.

[Tawanda]

I think Aitch10, Tawanda and Onlyfaire were on track.

No doubt this ugly disease we call M.S. is being passed down, but as for the "type" of M.S., I no longer speculate. Doctor invented subtypes are just different stages of the same disease IMHO (in other words, those of us with Multiple Sclerosis just seem to feel crappy in our own unique way!).

Even though I think there are as many permutations of M.S. as there are people with M.S., we do have more clinical data on the disease and more approaches towards treating it. We also have computers and support amongst ourselves which is a great advancement.

My parents didn't even know what M.S. was when Mom got diagnosed. Dad went to the library to do research and my mother just remained stunned and completely in the dark as to what was happening to her. How isolated she was! More so than I will ever be.