[Cheryl60]

Hi there,

I am new to this board. I am still living in a state of disbelif about all of this. after reading all the threads regarding everyone's symtoms and the problems they have had, I feel now that I'm not "crazy" after all. I've had /am having roughly 90% of the MS symtoms for the past 16 years. I am 52 years old.

The back/neck pain, electical sensations, tingling, numbness, bright light & heat sensitivity, pain and numbness in foot, shooting pain and tingling in arms and just recently, numbness in my cheek, lip and eye twitches, dizzyness, nausea, constant buzzing in ears, Confusion, inability to concentrate & communicate effectivly, sometimes my words come out garbled and I don't even realize what I'm saying until I hear myself.

This started for me in all actuallity during the holidays in 2011. I was hospitalized for a stroke (TIA) MRI's were done to confirm this. Several months passed and I started feeling sick again. No one was around that was sick. I started feeling dizzy, confused, In a constant state of brain fog and my left arm went numb to the point that I couldn't touch my thumb to my forefinger. When I tried I felt like there was a disconnection. My cheek and lip went numb and started tingling again. Soooo. I thought I had another stroke.

I was already on Blood thinners, I immediately quite smoking (cold turkey) and brushed this episode off. I started feeling better and that was the end of it.

3 weeks ago, I put in an application for employment with a trucking company only to find that I am no longer medically certifiable, (neurologist) so.. After questioning me about how I was doing, I told him what was going on, numbness, tingling etc, shaking inside, twitches, leg cramps, foot pain etc. All experienced in a come & go matter. Needless to say, he sent me for another MRI of the brain and requested that I get a transesophageal echocardiogram. This proceedure is scheduled for this monday. Anyway, Several days ago I called in for the MRI results only to be told my neurologist wanted me to go in for a lumbar puncture (scheduled for 8/6) He said that I had whate matter on the brain and that I should be tested for MS.

Here is what the MRI results say...

--------
There are scattered foci of abnormal white matter signal in both hemispheres. The significance of these is uncertain. In this age group, they could be due to small vessel ischemia but other entities are also possible. There is no evidence of an AV malformation. No intra axial or extra axial mass could be identified. IMPRESSION: 1. SCATTERED WHITE MATTER SIGNAL CHANGES WHICH ARE NONSPECIFIC BUT COULD BE DUE TO SMALL VESSEL ISCHEMIA. CLINICAL CORRELATION IS ADVISED.

Anyway, Any imput regarding this mri would be helpful, as I just dont understand this.

I'm hoping all goes well. If it turns out that I do have MS, I'll be relieved to know that this isn't just in my head, and maybe people will look differently upon me by knowing there is a medical reason for these symtoms and that I'm not just some lazy person who wants to sit home and rest. (yes I'm fatiqued too :-)

Sorry for writing this book

[SallyC]

Hi Cheryl and welcome to NeuroTalk.

It looks like the Radiologist reading your MRI is not sure but thinks it's TIAs. MS is not mentioned or demylination. Further testing is warrented and I suppose that's why your Doc had ordered a LP for you.

Good luck with your tests and please let us know your results. We'll be right here.

[Cheryl60]

Originally Posted by SallyC

Hi Cheryl and welcome to NeuroTalk.

It looks like the Radiologist reading your MRI is not sure but thinks it's TIAs. MS is not mentioned or demylination. Further testing is warrented and I suppose that's why your Doc had ordered a LP for you.

Good luck with your tests and please let us know your results. We'll be right here.

Thanks for your reply SallyC. Thats kinda what I though when I read the results, there was no mention of demylination anywhere. The nurse is the one that said the white matter could be demylination and that he wanted to test for MS as well as infection.. So... Guess I'm stuck in "not knowing" land!

[caroMom]

Hi everyone! I last visited this on-line group in 2010, but have not been back due to life circumstances (major move from one state to another). I am having a really hard time now. I have had MS since 1989 and the progression has made life really hard. I am finally coming to terms with the fact that I no longer have RRMS and the survival tools that worked then do not work now. I am getting over an upper respiratory virus that knocked me on my back for going on 10 days now. When I had a fever in the beginning I experienced temporary worsening of my symptoms and could not walk or use my right hand. That has since subsided but I am so tired now and spend a lot of time in bed. Not sure how to crawl out of this emotional black hole. My kids are at camp and my husband is back at work after a bout of double pneumonia. I had a preview of us as old retired folks and it was NOT pleasant. My support network is non-existent since we moved back to CT last year. Help! How have others coped when life turns really dark?

[SallyC]

Welcome back Caromom. Sorry for the reason for your return, but glad you are home. Come on in and join the party.

To answer your question....Prozac & LDN are what keep me going, in my SPMS old age.. Since there is no cure, along with some Methyl B12, Fish oil and D3, it's the best I can do, at the moment.

[lumcdonald790@yahoo]

Hi. My name is Lu and I was finally diagnosed about 8 months ago. The neurologist felt my case was mild and wanted to observe for awhile. I think he was hoping I would not have to be put on anything. A few months after diagnoses, I had a bad spell. I was put on Copaxone. Headaches have gotten much better and further apart! yea! But my hair is shedding terrible. Not sure what to do. It is getting thinner and thinner. Anyone have any words of wisdom? Please help!

[Dejibo]

hello to all that I missed. Sorry you needed to find us, but glad we were here to be found. isnt it nice when you see that others are the same? I thought I was half crazy that i could smell things burning or the grocery store freaked me out till I saw others did the same thing! Welcome to the club house.

[NurseNancy]

hi cheryl and welcome to NT.
i agree with sally's assessment. wait for your LP results then make an appt with your dr to discuss all these test results.

your dr sounds like he's open and listening to your concerns/sx's.
please keep in touch with us and let us know how you're doing.

[NurseNancy]

hi caromom,

i'm really sorry you're having such a tough time.
infections, especially with MS, can really knock you for a loop.
please try to be gentle with yourself and give yourself permission to rest as much as you need to.

if you're not getting any better i'd see your dr again.

try not to look into the future much. we have no control over that anyway.
take 1 day at a time and plan for that. keep hydrated and eat what you can to keep your strength up.

it sounds like both you and your dh have been thru a lot and can lean on each other, and us, to get thru this.

please keep us posted.

[jtsal212]

Hi I am Sharon

I am currently undiagnosed as MS, therefore Im not sure if Im welcome here. I am looking for help. For I have many of the Symptoms. I was very sick 2 years, ago bad infection, and severe pneumonia. I am in my late40s. however have had many problems overall with my back and had multiple back surgeries and I have metal in my back, (No MRI can be performed) My SED rate has been on the rise in the last 10 years each year higher than the previous, I have some nerve damage and have chronic pain. Lyrica has saved me from excruciating pain in my leg where the nerve damage is, so overall up until 2 years ago which is unrelated to pain or anything else, I just developed a terrible paroid gland infection and one of the worse cases of pneumonia that the doctors themselves told me later did not expect me to make. They were new doctors becuse my personal doctors did not use this Hospital since I live 1 hour 15 away from the. Initially they thought the SED rate was from the infection, but I told them NO that overall I have had a High SED rate which keeps climbing over the years. 10 years ago it was 65, currently it is 103. I have regular pain that has nothing to do with my chronic back pain. Aching, suffering, unable to function until I have medicine in me each day. I never know what each day will bring. I have been tested for any and everything other than MS. During the time was ill in 2010 it was discovered I had 2 measurable nodules in my one lung and a possible granulous??9not sure on spelling. The pulmonoligist said they were not cancer he could tell and even to get a biopsy it would be impossible to get to them but wanted to follow up with CTs every 3 mos then every 6mos still. They also discovered and Andrenal Gland tumor and kind of are like ??? up in the air as to what to do about that. My infectious disease spec. wanted and wants a PET Scan ordered but the Pulmonolist has to order it and he wont. My eyes (I never wore glasses) have gone from perfect to needing reading glasses, no biggie right?? thats the norm with getting older, but the difference is in one day I can go from using 1.5, strength. to 4.00 and not needing any all in the same day, and can read print as small as bible print and then on others days/weeks I cannot. My eyes need eye drops about 10 times a day. I have numbness in my feet and leg everyday. Sometimes I can step on small piece of glass and not know it until I see blood all over. This has not been a one time thing it has occurred several times. I cannot overdo it or I pay a heavy price for it and am not functional. I am at my wits end as far as a diagnosis and I know the High SED rate of 103 is not good. I have kind of become lost in the shuffle and I know this forum is not for diagnosis but u may be able to give me non-professorial advice if possible. Im so disgusted and dont know what to do. I was never sick or in the hospital my entire life up until 2 years ago when i was in 4 times.....lots more but that is the highlights, does anyone have any thoughts for me, it would be greatly appreciated..................thank you