b'pregnant. What should I do? Helen G.passing on the MS to your baby, far from certain. Binns: None of the oral medications are safeWenowknowthatenvironmentalfactors, to take during pregnancy or breastfeeding.such as diet and viral exposure, play as much You may want to have a conversation withor more of a role than genetics alone. your neurologist about switching yourDear MS Nurse, medication to one of the B-cell-targetingI have had an elevated heart rate since medications that are infused every six months.this are started three weeks ago. Could MS This could be done to delay conception fornow be affecting my heart? They told me the the next year, allowing that medication to tar- steroids would help the are go away, but get the cells that cause inammation in thethis is concerning.Samantha Z. central nervous system. Once you have twoBinns: Steroids, in the doses used to manage or three doses in your system, those cells mayares, leave many of us with elevated heart rates be suppressed for several months, allowingor higher blood pressure for weeks (four to six you to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term.on average) after we have taken them. It would Followingdelivery,youcouldgetanotherbe wise to mention this to your primary care dose of your medication and should be abledoctor so they are aware and can advise you if to safely breastfeed, if you desire. As far asthis continues past that six-week mark.As we welcome the cooler months, what are some ways you take care of yourself with changes in your symptoms? Tammy Botzum: I get warm very easily. Dressing in light layers helps during cold mornings and evenings because I can quickly get rid of a layer when needed. I open a window in the house when I have to.Jeanette Meech: Heave a sigh of relief. I do better in the cold. Carmen Velazquez: Im not sure how I feel anymore. Cold, chills, hot, MS, menopause? Every day is different. I just stay in my home these days. Michalle Little: I just keep moving. Diana Dowacter: Staying cool is the best. Hamilton MyHammy: I have temperature gauges in my house because I can never trust what the real temperature is. I am burning up but its 70 in the house. Other days I am freezing and its 78.35 msfocusmagazine.org'