OMG. I am so sorry. I was thinking of Cushings. (I have had so many tests.)
I looked up Crohn's again. (paying greater attention) It could almost fit my "IBS" Situation. The Gasto put me on Antibiotics. (The strongest ones available) and they worked.... as long as I was on them. I took them for over a year. (Before this I was having MAJOR bowel problems. Diarrhea almost every day- which is why my pediatrician thought I was lactose intolerant...which after they finally tested me i was not.) Now that I am off of the antibiotics again. It is not too bad. But every so often I will get a flare up, that fits. My question is: Could Crohn's cause my earlier problems... and then these now? I saw when I looked it up that it might be caused by an autoimmune problem... possible connection, maybe? I will have to ask the Dr's on the 15th. (They aren't gastro, but they might be able to help.)

Hi, Macophile, and welcome. I'm not sure if I just missed it or if you confirmed that you never had an MRI of the brain. Please let us know. I hope that's NOT the case but if it is, I am stunned!

Hey Macophile,

Was reading your thread and have a question for you. Can you please elaborate on your irregular periods. How are they irregular?

Oh, heavens. I didn't mean for it to sound that way. I have, by this time, had no less than 4 MRI's of my Brain. (The last one took place 2 days ago.) And I am scheduled to have one every year for the next 10 years.
(And thanks for the welcome, and the mistake catch!)

Ok, Lets see. When I started they didn't occur but every 6 months or so. Then I had some that lasted for around 4 months (without stopping... it was small amounts everyday, but still. and there would be like 1-3 months in between series...) Then I had one that lasted 3 days But I was bleeding so much I went to the ER. (They sent me home, but told me to come back if it didn't stop) then I had another one that was lasting for a while so I went to my regular Dr....and she put me on low dose birth control pills to regulate them.

Ok here's an off the track thought.

Has anyone mentioned Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

It can mess with your hormones and once hormones are outta whack well its hard to get them back. And hormones are like a three legged stool with Adrenal, Thyroid and Sex HOrmones and they are all intereconnected and the stool gets lopsided and falls down then they are not in balance.

But PCOS is also connected to insulin resistance and sugar problems that as we know are connected to neuropathy.

And while I doubt this has a connection to you since you are now on birth control pills and likely not having bleeding problems, have yu had your iron and ferritn checked? Low iron and ferritin can also be connected to neuropathy. And low iron affects thyroid synthesis and an out of whack thyroid can also minic neuropathy problems.

LIke I said though since you are on Birth contro pills its unlikley that you are low in iron unless you have trouble absorbing it which can be connected to gastro issues. Howver the low dose pills would tend to make the insulsin and sugar problems worse.

Sorry thats all the throughts I have.

I hope you get to the bottom of it.

Whew!! If you look at my signature, you'll know why I asked. ON is very closely associated with MS and although it can be caused by other things, in the absence of an explanation, the patient should be watched closely as many do go on to get an MS dx.

They have indeed mentioned PCOS. I have had many tests for it, but apparently I do not meet enough of the qualifications to be diagnosed with it.

That is interesting about the iron. I will have to double check, but I am pretty sure they have tested that numerous times, and my levels are normal. If I find they havent, I will make sure they will. Thank you so much for your thoughts.

I did figure that was why you asked. The LP said I have a low probability of coming down with MS, but Just to be safe (And because, as you sid, in the absance of other explanations), the dr. says I am still going to have the MRI's every year. Thanks for your help.

Just FYI, I don't know the percentage offhand but a good number of MS patients will not have a positive LP. (I never had an LP myself -- I was "lucky enough" to have enough lesions show on my brain MRI to skip that step.)

Good luck to you, Macophile! I hope you get answers and feel better soon.