I remember you! Sorry your starting to have a hard time again but congrats on the new job! There is nothing more satisfying than helping others. Good for you!

Now, September 1st is around the corner. I'd say you should see a doctor. Why not? Even if they don't think it's ms, it may be something that can be helped. Besides, you need your bp meds so I don't think you have any options.

Good luck with the new job and welcome back. :hug:

Hi Jan, I'm so glad you came back *home* for some much needed and much deserved support. You have always been there for us when we needed you and we want to be here for you, now..:hug:

I don't have anything to add to the excellent advice you have already received, but just want to let you know that I am in your corner, rooting for you..:)

Feel better. :hug:

Hello Jan yes it is Frank, you and I have chatted before, hope you are feeling better, AMN is right this is a great place to be for support, :hug: and prayers

hi jan,

i'm glad you've found your way back to us. i remember you too.

i agree with the others. 9/1 is only days away.
i think finding a good internist is the 1st step you should take.
a thorough PE with a new dr may be just the ticket you need.

then he/she can refer to specialists. maybe you need some new mri's too.
but, in any case starting with a fresh dr is step #1.

i understand the pressure of the probation period. just do the best you can which i'm sure will be great.

good luck and let us hear from you.
best,

Hi Jan,

Is there anyone else in your extended family that have had autonomic dyfunction?

Are autonomic abnormalities and brain lesions are your primary symptoms? Has your doctor discussed/have you researched all the potential causes and symptoms of Dysautonomia?

From what I understand, PwMS don't often have autonomic abnormalities early on in the disease process, and most don't experience those symptoms at all. Some do, of course, but if there are other diseases that have both Dysautonomia and lesions/atrophy more commonly.

Either way, this must be scary. However, if they can nail down the cause, at least they may be able to treat the underlying illness.

Cherie

Again a BIG WOW for all your support. Its humbling let me tell you to receive. A good lesson for me though.

Cherie, no one else in my BIG family has this autonomic stuff, but my mom had very similar symptoms and I always thought they just put her DX in the arthritis box and never did an MRI. She colllapsed at her desk at work and was told she had seizures. She was on meds for years without a single seizure and the meds wore down her heart dying of congestive heart failure.

This started with tingling in my face. I have had iritis and sensitivity to my eyes, moving them or blurriness.
Dizzy spells that last for seconds or weeks, months.

Balance, unsteady walking, buzzing and spasms in my legs. SPASTICITY in my legs and back are the longest and only one never corrected even for a day.

BALANCE problems for a long time until I went to this amazing nutritionist. It has improved since seeing him 2006. I was near organ failure in his first eval of me.

SHAKING inside my head is what brought me to the other neuro who thinks I have a form of narcolepsy along with these autonomic problems. This shaking ONLY happens when I am on my side or sleeping or having just fallen alseep. He thinks the autonomic problms ARE a form of narcolepsy.

These 2 neuros take my autonomic problem seriously. I always seem to present with TIA/Stroke or heart attack. in the ER, they admit me, then dismiss me as having "altered consciousness"... hmmm..

I have had swallowing problems Brain Atrophy, major cognitive problems, SPEECH difficulties, SPACING out which is the scariest part part. I try to cover all my other symptoms on the job.

Yet I have managed to work. With the stress of my new job, and having to get up so early may be provoking all this new stuff.

My last PCP, a great female doc who stayed on top of everything, gave me a RX for my beta blockers knowing it will be a while to find the right MD now.

Thanks again.. I am on a journey.. like it or not.
Warmly,
Jan

Jan, one of the differential dx for MS is adult-onset autosomal dominant leukodystrophy.

"An autosomal-dominant leukodystrophy presenting in adulthood, causing motor and cerebellar deficits, usually with prominent autonomic dysfunction. The genetic defect is unknown.

Especially resembles primary progressive MS, with chronic upper motor neuron and cerebellar deficits accompanied by confluent white-matter lesions on MRI and occasionally IgG abnormalities in the CSF.

Family history with autosomaldominant inheritance. Automatic involvement is also prominent early."

http://www.neurology.wisc.edu/public...bs/Neuro_2.pdf
(see #56, at the end of the document).

I think there are different kinds of leukodystrophies too:

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/l...odystrophy.htm

Cherie