What's your age?

[Howie]

I know most women don't like to disclose their age, but I am curious. And how long have you been Dxed with MS?

I am 65, and have been DXed since I was 44.

[agate]

Heh. The hens are zipping their lips on this one, maybe.

I was dx'ed when I was 39. A little arithmetic and attention to detail will yield the other answer.

[nuthatch]

This hen will spill the beans! I will be 67 in a couple of weeks. I was diagnosed at 47.

[Virginia]

I've got to think about this one. Right now my lips are sealed.

[Howie]

Thank you Nuthatch.

Okay Virginia, can you at least tell us how long you have had an MS dx?

[Virginia]

Ok Howie, I’ll tell you that I got a very late diagnosis about 20 years ago. Another clue is I should have gotten it at least 25 years before then, maybe 35 years before.

[agate]

Also, Virginia, you went into some detail about your dx in the hootswithowls thread.

Howie will have a lot to work with now. Does he get a prize if he figures it out?

[Howie]

You're right Agate. MS affects mostly women, before the age of 40. But then there's Howie. Male last time I checked, and DXed at 44. Why do I have it?

[agate]

You said it yourself--MS affects "mostly women." There are many men with MS too. Do you remember Eldon Deakins, Richard Long, Stevesjpr (not sure I have that user name right), and countless others on here years ago? Steve in Alaska ( Steve L?)? Even now on here there are several other males. They're not here often but they drop in now and then. You're not alone.

There seems to be no reason anyone has come up with about why MS affects women more than men though some think hormones have something to do with it.

This is from the MS Society Webpage:

Gender: MS is at least two to three times more common in women than in men, suggesting that hormones may also play a significant role in determining susceptibility to MS. Studies have suggested that the female to male ratio may be as high as three or four to one.

[Jeanie Z]

:) I finally got a diagnosis in 1987. However when taking my medical history the neuro said he thinks I have had MS since I was 18 and I am now 78.

I had a thyroid storm, mono, cancer 3 times, silicone poisoning, etc. I have three lesions, central optic nerve, central auditory nerve and left medial nerve. Jeanie :)

[Virginia]

Howie, do you now see why I call Agate our detective? She can figure most things out. I think its that determined mind of hers.😁

[agate]

Haven't figured Howie out yet though, Virginia.

[Virginia]

Howie is an enigma. I doubt that any of us could ever figure him out.

[agate]

Every message board probably needs a mental challenge. Some have brain games. We have Howie.

[Howie]