[mrshamilton]

So, it's been a long journey to this board. I was in the hospital for a weekend for stroke symptoms that couldn't be found on an MRI, I was tested for MS, Lupus, and every other disease under the plant. Two different neurologists said all my symptoms were due to "stress". I knew that wasn't right. Looking forward to writing both of those docs a nice long letter.

All it took was one good doctor who actually listened to me. I was diagnosed yesterday with autoimmune cerebritis. However, I don't have lupus according to recent tests. So I'm a bit confused because everything I've read connect autoimmune cerebritis to lupus. (I think my doc linked it to the HELLP syndrome I had during my first pregnancy...not sure...still so many questions.) I was also put on anti clotting medication for hypercoaguabilty which I had during my pregnancies. PET scan shows low cortical to cerebellar ratio on PET spot view. Low blood flow to my brain has caused my brain to look like that of a very old woman. I am only 44. Not even sure I have posted to the correct board... Any insight would be helpful. Anyone with similar problems?? Going to have SPECT scan on Friday to delve further into this problem.

I was given an antistroke medication to take and Plavix. Whew! I was already exhausted all the time, now I'm really tired. Hopefully, this side effect will wane with time. Very happy to be finally diagnosed but not sure what the future holds...

.
Your diagnosis seems more descriptive than explanatory. I had/have many of your symptoms + more. My current working theory is, or includes, thorasic outlet syndrome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoracic_outlet_syndrome

TOS would provide the pathway which causes these symptoms. TOS is caused by a crimping of the subclavian artery, the artery below the clavicle. Among other things the subclavian artery feeds the thymus and the vertebral arteries in the neck. The vertebral arteries feed the lower brain, including hypothalamus, pituitary gland and visual cortex.

Together the hypothalamus, pituitary and thymus are the brains of the immune system. Backwards displacement of the manubrium causes crimping of the great vessels in patients with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS):

http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/me...bstracts/474.4

Good luck.

[Magirose]

Hi you can have this condition with other systemic autoimmune disorders. I suffer from Behcet's syndrome and you can have it with that. There is a form of neuro Behcet's which has detectable neurological problems. Or you can, like me, have Behcet's with neuro aspects but no neuro decay if that makes sense. Symptoms like that are treatable and reversible.