[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...

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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