Friday, August 14, 2009

Contradiction

When diagnosed with MS the first few things you are told before you are seen at the MS clinic are get lots of vitamin D and natural sunlight but stay cool.

Have you ever tried to sit in the sun but make sure you are nice and cold?

If you have and succeeded, please share!

The first thought that comes to mind is finding a lake in Banff, hope the sun is still out when we get out there and sit in it! But then there is the small hypothermia problem!

The reason for staying cool is easy. When the body is cool the swelling stays at a minimum. The swelling causes aggravation and can speed the myelin destruction.

The myelin is essentially the problem in MS.
Take any electrical cord and imagine it is one of your nerves. Like your nerves, it has a protective coat (myelin) which would be the plastic on the outside or the electrical cord. When the plastic is damaged should you touch the actual electrical cord inside you would get a shock. You may also see the appliance falter.

This is what happens for me. When the myelin is attacked it disappears and then the nerves are exposed which then causes "short circuits" in my body. These can happen anywhere and any time. This is what causes lesions on the brain and cervical spine. Once a lesion appears there is a big chance you start having "short circuits"otherwise known as attacks or going into a relapse.

Some people live their whole lives not knowing they have MS and if an autopsy is performed when they die then lesions can be discovered.

All this today to say that it may be cold and raining outside but it just so happens to be perfect for me!

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