Is This the Real Thing?
If you think you're having a relapse, sit back and ask yourself a few questions. Am I overheated? Have I been exposed to anyone who has been ill lately? Have I been under a lot of stress? If the symptoms persist for more than a day, it's a good idea to call your doctor and let him know what's going on. The earlier you treat a relapse (should your doctor decide treatment is needed), the better chance you have of shortening its duration.
Symptoms that appear to be a relapse but don't meet the criteria for a true exacerbation are called pseudoexacerbations. They might feel like a relapse and look like a relapse, but they don't make the grade. There are many reasons symptoms can act up, but the most common reason is heat sensitivity.
Heat sensitivity occurs when the core body temperature of someone with MS increases — even just a half degree in body temperature can cause chronic symptoms to worsen. In the case of a pseudoexacerbation, when the body's temperature returns to normal, these symptoms disappear. Heat sensitivity can start when you're running a fever because of an infection (such as a cold, the flu, or a urinary tract infection), when you're outside on a hot day, or when you're being physically active in a warm environment.
Essential
The good news about pseudoexacerbations is that no damage is occurring to your CNS when you are experiencing symptoms. It is just a matter of cooling your body off and bringing down your core temperature until your symptoms subside. If your symptoms are caused by an infection, you may not feel better until the infection has resolved.
Stress and Other Causes for a Pseudoexacerbation
Even people without a chronic illness report feeling sapped when they're undergoing a great deal of stress. Many people with MS report intolerance for stress, and indeed, it may play a role in causing your symptoms to flare.
It's important to know when to take a timeout. Part of managing an illness is knowing when it's time to step back from the demands of everyday life and give yourself some time to rest and relax.
Alert
Relapses vary in their length and severity, but the first line of defense is to call your doctor and devise a plan to get the relapse under control. Knowing the difference between a true relapse and a pseudo-relapse will help you to decide when to make that call. Because medications are available that can help during a relapse, it is important to report new symptoms to your doctor right away.
Being extra tired can also cause your symptoms to flare, especially on those days when you've pushed yourself hard. Most people with MS know the feeling — it's something like hitting a wall, and like it or not, your body will demand that you give in to some rest and relaxation.
