Hi all! I'm not a new member, but apparently I never posted in this thread yet. Some of you may recognize my name.

I am not diagnosed with anything. Symptoms since 1999, although dizziness and achiness since the 1980s. A neurologist in 2000 all but told me I had MS (scaring me spitless), then acted like he'd never said it. I've had MRIs with nonspecific "spots," but never had an LP nor VEPs. The auditory EPs were off-the-charts abnormal on both sides, my only really bad test result, but this also is nonspecific.

In 1999 I suddenly lost the hearing in my left ear (when I sneezed hard) and got much dizzier. Before and after the hearing loss I had a cascade of very odd, varied neurological-type symptoms, but all pretty minor. I still sometimes get strange new symptoms, but nothing "big" or tell-tale--just bizarre.

Saw an ENT ear specialist and two neurologists, but no diagnosis. Last neuro visit was in 2003. Hopefully I will never have to see a neurologist again!

Since then I've returned to the neuro-otologist (ear specialist), and between his allergy shots and my excellent blue capsule by the name of Strattera, the dizziness and concentration problems are basically a thing of the past!!

In about three weeks I'm having Doctor Week (not on purpose, it just worked out that way):

If it's Tuesday, this must be the ophthalmologist (yearly visit--last year the guy, bless him, figured out a glasses prescription to get rid of my strange "ghosting" that occurs when I read looking down, even though he and the neuro-ophthalmologist were stumped as to why it happens).

If it's Wednesday, this must be the rheumatologist. My first (and probably last) rheumie visit ever, and I HOPE but don't necessarily expect that he will be able to help me treatment-wise and MAAAYYYBE even a teeny bit diagnosis-wise with the longtime muscle and joint achiness and the "weak" legs and easy fatigue, all of which have gotten worse recently.

I will just be relieved if he doesn't tell me "it's normal," "it's nothing," and doesn't get that little smirk that tells you he's got you ALLLLL figured out just because you're a middle-aged woman with invisible symptoms. But if that happens, well, I guess I'm used to it. I won't let it drive me to the brink this time.

If it's Thursday, this must be the new gynecologist (previous one retired). Thank goodness I have no issues there, although supposedly you are supposed to get postmenopausal bleeding checked out--but everything always turns out to be nothing.

If it's Friday, it's the good ol' yearly smash-o-gram.

Some of my weird symptoms (which are too numerous to list, even in a place where no one is likely to dismiss me as a hypochondriac!) include seven-years-unexplained Lhermitte's, lots of paresthesias (crawling, "cold" or itchy spots, vibrating shin/foot, etc.), electric shocks in my face and elsewhere, and weird "double shocks" that occur simultaneously in a foot and the upper leg, hip, groin, or ribcage of the same side.

I can "push buttons" in one place (e.g., top of my left big toe) and get a simultaneous reaction (shock) in my left elbow and hand! Bizarrely crossed wires, I conclude.

I am in Portland, OR, have kitties and grown-up kids (the grown-up part is still questionable in their early 20s!), and a devoted hubby. Despite the increasing leg heaviness/weakness and lack of muscle stamina, I work part-time as a library clerk in a VERY busy library, and part time doing freelance work (sit-down at the computer, thank goodness!). I love both my jobs and feel very lucky to be functioning so well despite knowing something's wrong.

Best wishes to all,
Nancy T. (age 50--got the AARP invitation, haven't got the colonoscopy invitation yet, but I'm in no hurry! )