Can MS cause almost psychotic behaviour? Need help. - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

elmnop · 03-01-2007, 10:06 AM

My husband was diagnosed with RRMS this past summer. He has been in remission but might be entering into a relapse as he is starting to get the fatigue that prompted him to go to the doctor in the first place.

My question is, he has extremely violent outbursts that he NEVER used to have. Sometimes, he literally frightens me and I am not one to frighten easily. We've had our share of fights and I'm never one to back down but I literally walk away and go into another room with our children if I get the sense that anything is brewing.

I can go into more detail if necessary but for now, this is just a general question. I decided to look for help here because last night I literally was at the point where I was going to take my children and leave (they are 4 and 20 months).

Thank you!

dgibson70 · 03-01-2007, 12:50 PM

I'm not a doctor so take this for what it's worth...

I don't think violence is a common symptom of MS. Could it be that he's just not coping well with this diagnosis? Have you told your neuro about these outbursts? My feeling is maybe this is his own way of coping with or way of not coping with such a difficult time. You know how men can be, even in the year 2007, they still want to be the providers so maybe he feels he can't be that anymore.

I do suggest though you talk to his doctor because if it's not psychological then there really could be something going on in his brain that is causing these mood swings.

hkholwerda · 03-01-2007, 02:02 PM

Is your husband on any meds? The reason I ask is because when I was on steriods I was very difficult to deal with. Once they were out of my system everything went pretty much back to normal......

Punkdizzle · 03-01-2007, 04:05 PM

violent outbursts like what? i ask because i went through something like that shortly after my Dx of MS ( honestly i am still going though it)

i have always had a short temper and would yell at the drop of a hat if something got on my bad side or someone pushed the wrong buttons.. my wife was use to this and just let me be.. (9 times out of 10 it had nothing to do with her anyway) the only time she actually got scared was the first and only time i was put on oral steroids ( prednisone ) those things turned me into a crazy..

now it seems i am more prone to throw only what i can describe as little kid temper tantrums.. if something sets me off i will punch things/throw stuff or go outside and toss rocks against a tree till i get it out of my system and calm down.. (i have never touched another human though).. its pretty often if you see me working under a car chances are you will also see a tool come sailing out from underneath with a string of "sailor mouth" if i manage to hurt myself on something.. i wouldn't say its psychotic (and neither have any of my DRs ) they just seem to think i need to work on some anger management.. and i am more stressed now then i was before because of the MS Dx.. i may not really want to believe i am more stressed but subconsciously i probably am..

oh yeah and like hkholwerda said... meds can also cause this. even the ABCR drugs in some people..

elmnop · 03-01-2007, 05:53 PM

Mostly, his outbursts are like my 4 year old sons, but on a larger scale... since he's bigger he can do a little more damage. Throwing or kicking things... but he will kick something until it is absolutely demolished.

It is a little embarrassing to even post this because I don't want to give the idea that I am a "battered woman" or in an "abusive relationship" as he has never laid a hand on me until last night. And, my dad taught me to take care of myself. Instincts in the following situation were to reach back and poke his eyes out - if he were a stranger, and not my husband.... but he is my husband and I know he's hurting, but I cannot live like this. He literally grabbed me from behind, around the throat and cut off my air supply and picked me up and started to twist. I'm a good 5'11" and 160lbs, I'm no featherweight. He's not a big guy. He's 6'0" and about 185lbs. I thought he was really going to kill me. I stopped struggling, reached back and smacked his face and he immediately loosened his hold and gently set me back down and started to cry and apologize. What got us to this point is that he called me a couple of really ugly names and I can only take so much before I start to mouth off as well.

PS - Both children were asleep and tucked safely in their rooms at the time.

I called his doctor today. But, his doctor will not even discuss the fact that he has an illness with me unless we both go in to an appointment together. So, today, no further incidents and hubby is still apologizing and we've made a doc appt to go together. Doc said to take Seroquel at bedtime (50mg) as it will help him sleep (he's fatigued yet an insomniac) and it is also an anti-psychotic. But, his doc says we do need to talk all of these things out.

The only other meds he takes are Topamax and Propanolol (I think that's how it's spelled). Doc said he would go on copaxone when he relapses again but doesn't want him on anything during remission as he doesn't want him to build up a tolerance.

All of this is very new, and frightening to us. I'm leaning more towards depression as his problem because he is also more prone to tears. I've seen him cry more in the last 6 months than in the previous 10 years we've been together.

I don't want to make him sound like a bad guy. He's normally a very gentle and loving person. He was always high strung and would get angry sometimes, but his anger would not culminate into these types of fits.

Thanks for listening.

And, I'm starting to wonder if this is the right doc. We like him, but it seems like he should be DOING more. Or am I wrong?