Symptoms

Many people who have MS have symptoms because of the disease. Symptoms might mean it is harder to do some things you usually do, like walking or picking up things or it might mean having trouble seeing or speaking clearly. For example, when you have a cold your nose gets stuffed up. A stuffy nose is a symptom of a cold.

Different people with MS have different symptoms. Sometimes they have certain symptoms one day and other ones the next.

Here are some symptoms your mom or dad might have sometimes:

Feeling Really Tired

MS can make a person feel very tired. Have you ever stayed up really late? How did you feel the next day?

Some people with MS feel that way all the time, even if they get lots of rest. You may notice your mom or dad just doesn't have much energy sometimes.Sometimes when we went to the mall my mom said 'My legs are getting tired.' My sister and I would say, 'C'mon, Mom- just a couple more minutes,' and she'd say 'No. We really have to go home right now.' We thought she was just being lazy. Then we found out it was MS."

Numbness

Remember the last time you sat on your leg the wrong way and your foot "went to sleep"? Remember the numbness and tingly feeling you got when you moved?

Sometimes MS gives people that "pins-and-needles" feeling in their arms and legs, but they can't make it go away by moving around.

Heavy arms and legs

Some people with MS say that their arms and legs feel heavy. Imagine how it might feel to have weights tied to your arms and legs when you're trying to walk upstairs or set the table! That's how some people with MS describe the feeling.

Things look blurry!

MS can sometimes make seeing hard. Have you ever tried on someone else's glasses? Did everything get blurry or did you see two of everything? Sometimes MS can make people see like that.

"I like to read to my father because he doesn't see too well. He really likes listening to the stories, though."

Speaking

Sometimes people with MS will find that they have some trouble when they try to speak. Their words might get mixed up or be hard to understand. This may come and go, or some people may find it happens mostly when they get very tired.

It's not like that all the time…

All of these symptoms can come and go suddenly. They might not be so hard to manage or they might be really hard. No one knows exactly why. MS can be very confusing - even for the doctors. It may take a while for a doctor to find out what's wrong. People can't decide on their own that they have MS. They have to go for special medical tests and it takes time to be sure.