I am in the process of making my first appointment at a local MS clinic. I don't want my symptoms to spell out MS, but some of them are getting too severe to ignore, or to neglect to have checked out.

Up until I was diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis in 2002 I was the picture of health. In the course of 4 surgeries surrounding the removal of my colon and creation of a j-pouch (so I don't have an ileostomy) I took several courses of flagyl, which they now blame for my peripheral neuropathy . . . which is why I discovered this forum. After all the surgeries I developed/was diagnosed with Crohn's. But I have come to the conclusion that my symptoms must be addressed, and MS at least ruled out, if that is the case.

My fatigue I have always attributed to very broken sleep, no more than 3-4 hours at a stretch before my digestive system awakens me. But it has been getting worse, in spite of normal blood work. And the fatigue seems to strike somewhere between 3pm and 7pm with some regularity. It is of the variety that feels as if you have spent the day in a swimming pool, and hauling your body out on land leaves you feeling weighted down, with heavy arms and legs.

I have never had a stellar sense of balance or great coordination, but for my whole life attributed that to being non-athletic. But the light-headedness and real vertigo were not explained after a visit to an ear/nose/throat specialist, who did such a complete exam it included a hearing test and multiple vertigo tests for inner ear issues. An episode of vertigo, made considerably worse by laying down, prompted my visit to this specialist.

My feet are almost completely numb. Two sets of EMG/NCV tests do not show slowing of the nerve impulses, and this has been carrying the diagnosis of small nerve neuropathy. But it has progressed into spasticity in my feet and ankles. A podiatrist just said I needed to stretch my achilles, but even though I do that throughout the day on a regular basis, my feet still feel as if they are locking into one position, being crushed, or contorting on their own into grotesque positions. Walking is getting very painful, and my feet feel as if they are broken, or fell like they have lumps on the bottom, or won't bear weight. It has been slowly progressing up my legs.

Although stress from the chronic pain of Crohn's can cause the mind to surrender, the fact that increasingly I have trouble finding words, must proofread everything for nonsense typing (used to have decent typing skills), transpose letters and words often, and my ability to concentrate is disappearing are of significant concern for me.

And over the last year my GI reflux has increased. Of course, with a greatly altered GI system it is hard to separate issues.

My symptoms become almost unlivable when it is hot and humid.

But when I came across a symptom that not everyone has . . .the MS girdle "hug" . . . the tears came. I not only get the tight band feeling, but it moves, mimics gall bladder pain (had that out) and makes me constantly fear that I have terrible adhesions strangling me inside . . . all of which would make me call my gastroenterologist, except for the buzzing. I get this buzzing vibration in my torso . . . that has made me check my laptop to make sure it is not touching me, and has even caused me to check to make sure we are not having a small earthquake! I live 25 minutes outside of Seattle, and the Pacific Northwest is one of the MS hotspots nationally.



What can I expect (and not expect) when I go to my first appointment? I know not all clinics are alike, but I am somewhat clueless as to what to expect. And am I crazy? I know I am getting afraid for my future . . .