Multiple Sclerosis

[namechangeforthisop]

Hello.I am a regular poster.Having a bit of an issue and I am hoping people can help!
Long story,will try to shorten.Am being investigated for vertigo issues ?vestibular migraine and am waiting for RI appt as they are not sure fter initial assessment.
I wouldlike to know if anyone here has or knows anyone with MS...and if they would share the info with me re symptoms etc.Various things are leading me to thinking I may have this.Thankyou in advance.na

When you mean Swank, do you mean this?

If so, I assume the study you mean is this one paper.

Now, there's lots of things about this paper which are obvious very quickly.

Firstly, it's short. 2 pages.
To describe a 30yr study on 144 subjects in 2 pages is remarkable.

Secondly, it's barely sited by anyone else.
In particular, it's not in any of the systematic reviews of diet and MS, such as this.

So, why not.

And the simple answer is that it's not good research.

It's not randomised.
It's not blinded.
It used very subjective grouping.
It used very subjective measures.
Statistic use was poor.

It also doesn't match up with the basic science of MS, not that Swank could have known that when he started in the late 40s) or with other, better conducted, diet trials.

In addition, this single flawed trial doesn't cover the range of intervention suggested in your link.

Now it could be that Swank has it right.
But right now, there is little reason to think so.

Decided to do a 2nd post on why I think MS is not always best to rush a diagnosis.

MS tends to be defined clinically by neurological symptoms in different locations at different times.
Or defined by subclinical lesions on a MRI scan.

So one attack, even if very typically MS related, is not a good guide of whether the person has MS.

Now getting the MRI scan may seem to be a good idea.
But it doesn't tell you what type or pattern of MS you have.

There are, broadly speaking, 4 types of MS.

Relapsing, Remitting (RRMS).
Secondary Progressive (SPMS).
Primary Progressive (PPMS).
(So-called) Benign (BMS).

This is very important to know if you are going to consider any of the therapies that alter the pattern (and don't treat the symptoms of an attack).
Because basically, they're not very nice to take and are a long way from great.

So a rush to diagnose will leave a person with a nasty diagnosis (and all the attendant worry and ramifications) when they require little or no management immediately and may never again (in about 25%) of cases.

Personally, I'd want it to be very obvious that I had something wrong before we went looking.
This is not my attitude for most things but with MS, I feel differently.

Check this excellent webpage for more information on disease modifying decisions.

Does that make my point of view clear?

I have MS. I was diagnosed 12 months ago with relapsing-remissive. I have a blog on here, if you have a look it will tell you about how I was (eventually) diagnosed.

I will return, tomorrow though.

Sticking with the diet issue for another post.

One poor quality study says diet is massively effective.

Many good quality studies, culminating in a meta-analysis say little or no effect.

It's very questionable behaviour to cherry pick evidence in this way.

The other studies seem to be also selected, based not on their quality but on whether they fit the diet, exercise and meditation ethos.

And it's not like diet is ignored by the NHS or major charities.
They agree that linoleic acid supplementation is appropriate (something which is barely found on your site) and possible benefit from Vitamin D.

I just don't see why people should be told to massively alter their life style on such flimsy evidence.