Best word: "MS" or "autoimmune disease"?

[anaishunter]

I had an interesting interaction with a co-worker today over lunch. We talked about healthcare and healthcare insurance and how painful it is nowadays to deal with insurance. He ended up revealing that he had an autoimmune disease. And I just said me too.

It felt like it was an easy way to relate without giving too much information. If we use "Autoimmune disease" instead of MS, there will probably be a lot more people who will understand what we deal with. 26-50 million American have an autoimmune disease compared to 2-4 with MS.

[RoyceNewton]

I guess so, I have never thought that I needed to make anything easy or comfortable for any body but myself, but you do have a point

[Kenu]

Good point 👍 Ken 🐾🐾

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador]

I like your approach and explanation, but I feel like that it is a homogenized approach to this condition that is called 'ms'. Perhaps it could keep those 'busybodies' at bay...

[falalalala in reply to carolek572]

That and a cattle prod.

[goatgal]

Because autoimmune conditions are so widespread, describing MS as an autoimmune condition may be easier for others to understand. I don't like to think of MS as a disease because unlike many diseases, it isn't communicable so I never call it by that term.

[falalalala in reply to goatgal]

I like the way you think.

[rjoneslaw]

u make a valid point.

i agree with you when you say it that way the person begins to understand as you begin to explain what MS is if the convo goes deeper.

It also saves you time and energy of having to defend and explain to someone who is a complete A**HOLE about the whole thing. You know those people are out there running wild with their belief that they know everything and whats best for you. Then you just want to scream F*** YOU and beat them to a bloody pulp .

If you do beat the person to a blood pulp you have a good defense;

1st due to my condition there is no why I could have done that because I have severe fatigue and I would never have the energy or strength to do something like that

2nd I have balance issue I'm unable to stand up long enough to even do that

3rd I have walking problems . How am I going to go after them when they run if I can't even walk or run after them for that matter. I don't know anyone who waits around for a beating do you?

4th I have muscle spasms, weakness, and stiffness which make it impossible for me to lift my arms or legs to do such a thing

5th I have vision difficulties so it's difficult to focus and land any kind of blow

to seal the defense

6th I have vertigo and I'm dizzy so explain my ability to do such a thing

7th I have incontinence issues so you would see a trail or pool of urine or bowel at the crime scene. Did you find my DNA at the scene.

I'm just saying

[falalalala in reply to rjoneslaw]

Cattle prod might be the way to go.

[rjoneslaw in reply to falalalala]

that work

[mrsmike9]

I felt like "Autoimmune disease" is the title of the book and "MS" is a chapter in the book. My "book" has 3 has "chapters" under the title. MS, RA and Collagenous Colitis.

[IFwczs]

Everyone knows MS by now thanks to many celebrities with it. Some autoimmune diseases are more common and known, such as RA and MS. I always tell, and no one has asked me before what that is.