I just received the news that my sister was diagnosed with MS.

[Rainbowreflect]

My brother has been living with MS for years.
This is breaking my heart. My brother & sister have both spent their adult lives working to help others & I just don't know how to help them.
Thanks for having this group.

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Help Them By Supporting Them

Don't pity them. Man, that pisses me off. At the same time, give them some space, because it's hard to be the "family guy" (or gal) when the illness wears on us. So, be there when they need you and don't pressure them when you don't NEED them. If you do need them, don't fail to call for their help, because they won't want to be handled like porcelein dolls.
The Professor

[fudge stripe cookays]

2. I'm so sorry, Rainbow

I was just diagnosed in June, so I'm kind of in the same boat.

Like the Professor said, just be there for her. You tend to get really tired really quickly when you have this. You might offer to help with her laundry, or housework, or if she has kids, maybe looking after them once in awhile. Especially if her doctor puts her on IV steroids to treat an attack. It kind of limits your activities.

For me, grocery shopping has gotten a lot more challenging, since I'm tired 10 minutes into a visit, and my legs get sluggish. Perhaps doing some shopping for her?

My mom has the best of intentions, always giving me literature about new drugs, and new treatments, and THIS professional opinion she read, or that person's new book that's out, or pushing Montel Williams crap at me constantly...I would recommend not doing that. Sometimes, she's like a gnat bugging me about it.

I'd like to just live my life, with the opinion that I'm still the same, I just have a little inconvenience to deal with. I'll read stuff if I want to and when I'm interested. Quit pushing stuff at me. I guess my way of dealing with it is not to deal with it. But not everyone is the same.

I'm not sure what your brother is on for treatment. I take Betaseron shots every other night, and they've helped me a lot. I haven't had another attack since June. I'm sure your sister and her doctor will arrive at the correct drug for her (there are 4 main ones, now). Be available if she wants to talk.

Speaking personally, this stuff is wreaking havoc with my looks. It's dried out the inside of my nasal passages and my legs look like raw meat-- they are so dry and itchy, no matter how much cream I put on them. She may want to unload about that type of girl thing. I kind of wish I had someone to talk to about it. I know my husband loves me, but sometimes I kind of wonder if he's afraid he'll hurt me if we get affectionate. You may need to offer a sisterly shoulder for things like that.

Just be there for her, and let her know you're willing to talk if she needs anything. You'll do fine.

fsc

[Rainbowreflect]

3. Thanks! She lives in another state so I am not able to help

with the day to day stuff. Luckily she has a wonderful SO & many good friends who are helping out. She & my brother are looking into a study that is starting soon (no details) looking a siblings who have MS.
They started her on a 5 day, high dose steroids treatment last week.
She has some facial paralysis & blurry vision.

[fudge stripe cookays]

4. Sounds like she has a good support system.

Sounds like her doctor and my doctor went to the same training school.

The steroids suck as far as puffing up and feeling crummy, but they do the job for sending an attack packing pretty quickly.

We don't have anybody else in my immediate family that has it, so it was a real shock for me. But I'm heavy into genealogy, and have been contacting lots of distant cousins in my search for more information, pictures, stories, etc. I'm writing our huge extended family history.

I contacted a 3rd cousin the other night who also had a brother and sister with MS. I was reminded of your case. I wish your sister the best.

fsc :hug:

[FloridaPat]

5. Either of them heavy drinkers of diet sodas? Nutrisweet causes

symptoms that are like MS.

[Rainbowreflect]

6. Nope! My brother has always been a bit of a health nut.

And my sister did not drink much diet pop before & none now.