AMN - 35. When the symptoms began (26), I use to smoke (not much, 5 a day max). Have read that smoking onsets some cases of MS. I have to be honest, I stupidly enjoy smoking once in a while, but now, if I smoke 1, then my symptoms worsen potentially. Wanted to ask if there were other smokers in the community and what were your experiences. Thanks

Hello there, I'm 36 with AMN. Looking back i'd say the symptoms began at 28ish although I wasn't fully diagnosed until 34 (partly my fault as I was reluctant to see a specialist about it). I was an ardent non-smoker all my life up until diagnosis but I started smoking (like you - about five a day) as an accessible way to try and relax when ever I felt anxious. It only lasted for about a year but in that time I noticed how my symptoms instantly worsened to the point that I could hardly walk - for this reason alone I can say that I will never touch a cigarette again. I've always liked a drink but I have to put a lid on that too! I noticed that alcohol and cigarettes together were even worse - now I just have a couple of pints and that seems to do the trick. I hope that helps. Your profile sounds similar to mine (age, onset etc), i'm under two specialists; one here in the Midlands and a Dr. Lachmann at UCL. I'm currently just taking off the shelf supplements to try and lessen the symptoms, I don't need walking aids but I find it gets tricky in the cold weather. Luckily I have full adrenal gland function - i've been told that it will most probably stay that way so i'm glad of that. If you want to share any other info let me know. Here's some encouraging news I found recently: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11913689 Cheers, Matt

Many thanks Matt, Same boat... alcohol + cigarette a deadly combination and somehow relived you were not smoking at the time of onset. Thanks for the article... very interesting and hopefully we'll live to see something that can help (sometimes I wonder if I should be more involved to try an influence the speed of development for me and for future generations) I'm also at UCL but under Dr. E. Murphy. Can I ask you what supplements are you taking and if you have found one that makes the difference? (I take: Omega 3, Complex B, CoQ10, 5HTTP (once in a while when I feel down)+ bicicare (for the blader) + Hidrochortison (for the adrenal function)) in addition I just ordered Carnitine, vitamin D and ginkgo bilova (a very nice good morning cocktail!!!) another interesting article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ana.22363/abstract Thanks again for getting in touch and wish you a good year! Fernando

Hi Fernando The supplements i'm taking at the moment are: CoQ10, Vitamin D3, Lipoic Acid and L-Carnitine (I was taking Lions Mane Mushroom aswell - hard to get hold of!). I have to say i'm really not sure if any of these have made a difference (i've been on them for about 9 months), I find that I walk better when I am in a relaxed environment so I guess it's more psychological, I also feel that the more walking I do the looser I feel. I'm about to undertake some new Physio focusing on exercise bikes so i'll let you know how that goes. Thanks again, Matt

I'll add the Lipoic Acid to the cocktail then... and try to walk more... Thanks for the advice (Its good to know about someone else going through the same difficulties in life... in Spanish we say "shared sufferings are half sufferings")