My friend with multiple sclerosis

My friend with Multiple sclerosis

We won't name her.

She was my classmate at the medical school from 1985- 1991. Subsequently, of course we remained at the same institute, but we opted for different branches. She joined the department of anaesthesia, while I became an Ophthalmologist. We parted in 1994.

I had not had much of a contact with her for years. Only a couple of weeks ago, another classmate revealed that she now has multiple sclerosis (MS). Those, who do not know anything about the disease, it can be described as follows:

Our brain and central nervous system comprise of a complex set of electrical connections of neurons that are akin to electrical wires that we see in day to day life. Just as the electrical wires have their insulation, these neurons are also wrapped within a sheath called myeline sheath. MS is an auto immune disease, which means, our body's defense mechanism would perceive certain ingredients in the sheath to be of "foreign origin" and try to combat them. This would be a gory affair resulting in casualties! As a consequence of neuronal dysfunction, a lot of activities can go into disarray. Depending upon which nerve is involved, you can have problems in walking, eating or something else. Some may develop visual dysfunction due to swelling (inflammation) in the optic nerve - that carries visual information up to your brain. The process whereby the neuronal sheath is damaged, is termed "demyelination".

She has not had visual symptoms, although for one of my medical students these were the starting symptoms of the disease.

I recently had an opportunity to see this classmate of mine who has been lately on an immunomodulator drug called "interferon".

She has been through a facial paralysis and recovered. To make the maters worse, the partS of her central nervous system that are exhibiting demyelination include a crucial part of her spine that controls the respiratory muscles - the cervical C3,4,5 region.

During our meeting, the tremendous grit and determination was writ large on her face. A fighter that her close friends call her, was quiet obvious. I would like to add, that physicians often make bad patients since they seem to have a "panoramic view" of their illness.

She was certainly different!

In fact it was she who suggested the diagnosis to the doctor who was treating her. Knowing everything about the disease, yet behaving so compose, I feel is a remarkable feet.

As the time progress, the research on MS, that ranks among the priority areas, would lead to better treatment options. Meanwhile she continues to fight a disease that she (and rest of us alike) had heard litle about during our graduation. With her current treatment she is leading a normal life to those who do not know anything about her ailment: She looks and behaves like the rest of us, drives to the hospital she works in, sticks to the treatment making sure that her interferon injections are scheduled at he week end allowing room for the fever that would ensue.

Wish a speedy and complete recovery you fighter!

Bye!