Core Temperature and Support

[mi2az2ca]

Hello everyone, middle age male here tht has had MS for 4 years now and no support. Southern California. I have 2 questions, 1- does anyone have core temperature issues with your MS and how do you navigate - Any tricks of the trade?

Anyone know any decent support groups in SoCal?

I am seeing an MS specialist for the first time, in 2 weeks, have been with a Nuerologist from day one.

OK 3 questions, lol
Does everyone get an MRI yearly? Any thoughts?

[Sequoia]

Hello everyone, middle age male here tht has had MS for 4 years now and no support. Southern California. I have 2 questions, 1- does anyone have core temperature issues with your MS and how do you navigate - Any tricks of the trade?

Anyone know any decent support groups in SoCal?

I am seeing an MS specialist for the first time, in 2 weeks, have been with a Nuerologist from day one.

OK 3 questions, lol
Does everyone get an MRI yearly? Any thoughts?

Hi mi2az2ca...welcome to MSWorld!

Many people with MS do have a lower "normal" temperature. Mine is around 97.4 degrees. The only problem I've encountered is that I always have to tell health practitioners who take my temperature what my baseline is, because if I test 98.6 it means I have a fever! Sometimes they listen, sometimes they don't.

I'm guessing that you're looking for MS support groups, not GLBT support groups. You might have better luck posting your question on the main forum (General Questions and Answers) because it gets a lot more activity.

No, not everyone gets a yearly MRI. Some do, but some have MRIs more often and some less. It can be a lot more or a lot less depending on your neurologist, your medications, your disease activity, and whether or not you're taking part in a research study.

[Redwings]

Anyone know any decent support groups in SoCal?

SoCal has two main chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, with several local offices (http://www.nationalmssociety.org/fin...te=CA&zipcode=). Each area has support groups. (They don't seem to be listed on the websites, but info about them appears in local newsletters and is available by phone.) I haven't been to any of the group meetings so I don't know how "decent" they are, but the NMSS is a good place to start looking for a support group in your area of SoCal.

[crawford]

Hi there

yes the NMSS will help you find something - they are great.

[RainbowMom]

Hello everyone, middle age male here tht has had MS for 4 years now and no support. Southern California. I have 2 questions, 1- does anyone have core temperature issues with your MS and how do you navigate - Any tricks of the trade?

Anyone know any decent support groups in SoCal?

I am seeing an MS specialist for the first time, in 2 weeks, have been with a Nuerologist from day one.

OK 3 questions, lol
Does everyone get an MRI yearly? Any thoughts?

Actually, I facilitate a GLBT support group in the Pasadena area through the Southern California MS Society Chapter. We meet once a month and we have a casual, fun and encouraging group. Just call the NMSS SoCal Chapter and they will make sure you get the information you need on the group. We're the only GLBT support group in Southern California. You will find lots of support there!

[drmarc]

GLBT Support Group

Rainbowmom,

I wish we lived in Southern CA to attend that support group.

Given that MS is not that prevalent, and given that it is even less likely to find someone with MS and who is GLBT, do you have a lot of people in your group?

My partner who has had MS since 1983 and I find it very isolating in the gay community when you have a disability that impairs your mobility.

I look forward to hearing more about your group.

[RainbowMom]

Rainbowmom,

I wish we lived in Southern CA to attend that support group.

Given that MS is not that prevalent, and given that it is even less likely to find someone with MS and who is GLBT, do you have a lot of people in your group?

My partner who has had MS since 1983 and I find it very isolating in the gay community when you have a disability that impairs your mobility.

I look forward to hearing more about your group.

I agree, it can be very isolating to have MS in the gay community. We have about 30 members, but usually have between 5-10 in attendance at each meeting due to health, schedule and/or distance issues. Lately we have had a really good turnout with about 8-10 in attendance, which is good given the circumstances.

I was looking for a GLBT group and couldn't find one, so I decided to create one. My local MS Society chapter supported that and added the group to it's activity newsletter and MS World included an announcement as well. From there, I started getting calls and emails. I encourage you to start a group. It's been very rewarding.

[drmarc]

thanks

Thank you for the suggestion, I may just do that. I think 5 people would be great in a support group who are GLBT and have MS!

[twisterred]

My body temperature is normally slightly lower than 98.6. It's not uncommon I've read.

A fellow MS friend had a "regular" temperature while sick and had a tough time convincing the DR they were really ill!

It has something to do with damage to either the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous symptoms I read.
(I don't recall exactly which, unfortunately)

Anyway, if I understand your question, yes, it does seem our body temps can be different.

[fishead]

"Baseline temperature"

Count me as an "MS'er" with a lower than "normal" temperature. Even my NEURO does not seem to understand that MY normal is 97.2F and when I have a reading of 98.6F or above, I AM running febrile.