No Dx, stuck, PCP wants gastric bypass?
 

Ugh, so I am stuck on the search for answers to my seemingly neurologic issues. No Dx at all at this point. I've seen 2 different Neurologists. One said it's all in my head and tried to put me on antidepressants. I am not depressed! Though there are days I'm very frustrated and down about my symptoms and not having an answer still not clinically depressed.

Second neurologist said there is some weakness/parathesis of my left leg, but he can't find a definitive explanation as to why and said I could not see him again unless my PCP find something else and sent me back to my PCP.

So, go to see my PCP after that and he doesn't examine me or do any further tests, just comes in and says he recommends I have gastric bypass surgery. :( OK, my BMI is 47% so I can understand I do need to lose weight and it's been a constant up and down struggle all my life so I can understand the suggestion and realize it may be a good idea. I have until mid November before I see him again and start the 3-month presurgery process. I am leaning toward going through with it.

My PCP said if the weight loss from surgery doesn't help with my problems then at least my weight won't be a deterrent for the specialists to look further and should help the Dx process. His opinion is that if I do have undiagnosed MS (which he is still leaning toward that I do have) then this surgery doesn't carry any additional risk or complications than it would with anybody else.

After all these tests what I do know is this:
- I am not diabetic or prediabetic.
- My TSH is good, so no thyroid issues that they see (though I do want my Free T3 and T4 tested as thyroid disease runs in the family).
- My Cholesterol, BP, and such are all good. (I have a naturally lower BP than most, but it's nothing serious and my normal range is just a few points below normal with a 'normal' BP being on the high side for me)
- VEP is normal.
- Spinal MRI is clear
- Brain MRI showed 1 lesion and some 'cupping'? This was not really explained to me very well so not sure of the implications of this.
- I have a large white area in the left sinus, which appears to be sinus polyps, that will be addressed and removed likely in the next few months. (sinus polyps also run in the family so no big surprise there).
- Muscle enzymes are normal.
- Slight inflammatory response but nothing serious.
- Some mild disc degeneration and a tiny spur on disc on my neck (Not a surprise, had a horseback riding accident as a teen so knew I had some back/neck damage from it). Also a mild kyphosis of my neck.

No spinal tap was done though I had requested from each neurologist, they both said it was unnecessary and that was that.

So at this point I'm seeing an OB/Gyn next week due to issues with my cycle. Last one lasted 17 days and I am now 10 days late... though home pregnancy tests come up negative. I've had Menorrhagia for many years and benign uterine cysts are not uncommon in the family so it's suspected that is the issue. I also have a copper IUD so that may be contributing.

I see a cardiologist in the next month also as/if I start the pre-surgery process just to make sure my heart is good for surgery; though there is no indication of any issues there at all. All blood tests are normal, BP is great, Cholesterol is good.

I guess at this point I'm just not sure where to go forward.

Sounds as if you are on the ball concerning tests and pre surgery. Do have your other thyroid numbers checked.
It's difficult when weight becomes an issue along with other symptoms...I have been overweight most of my life, even though i exercise. I'm being serious about my eating since being told I'm pre diabetic. It's not easy, but if I don't have the stuff in my house, I don't eat it.
I hope that you can get some answers regarding your neurological symptoms. Make sure to keep a symptom journal with dates of onset & dissipation. Many of us took years before we got answers. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia years before I got an MS dx.
Keep in touch-there's a lot of info and support here!!:hug:

(((((((Juniebear)))))) I hope you get answers soon. Let us know
how the bypass:eek: goes.

I've known gals who had terrible periods with IUD's. That is, very long periods such as you had, resulting in severe anemia, and then no periods for a while, then back to the heavy periods.
I know one person who had a gastric bypass and it changed her life for the better. Much better in every way.
What do they make of the spot on your brain? Why not significant? Wrong location? Drs. once said that MS lesions had to be around the ventricular cavity or it was not likely MS, but since then (here) I've heard of others who had lesions in various parts of the brain who got diagnosed.

I have hyper menorrhagia (too much blood with period) and resisted hysterectomy for 5 years, finally had it. There are ways to fix the uterus other than removing it now. Scraping, I guess, although it has a different name. It does make the person infertile, so it has that same effect as hysterectomy, but much less invasion of the body. I have a younger friend who had it and was delighted with the results. I would not use that IUD if I were you. I think they are awful for many women.

Thank you for the support! It means a lot. I am getting my thyroid panel fully done in a couple weeks and have my initial appointment with the surgeon on the 14th. I'm very nervous about the whole thing, but also excited in a way.

I have not gotten an answer on the spot on my brain MRI from either neurologist. They just seem to wave it off and when I ask they just say they cannot tell me what it is from or how long it has been there. I'm not sure of the part of the brain it is in, but it's at the end of the 'Y' structure in the middle of the brain at a certain level of the MRI. It's on the Left top of the Y and slightly off from there. Also there is a bit more 'white' than is normal around the Y itself I guess? But, then was told by the first neurologist that it wasn't anything, just maybe a 'scar' from a horse riding accident I had 17 years ago. :confused:

I guess at this point I'm going through with the weight loss surgery and then if the neurological symptoms persist will go in again and hopefully get answers more quickly without being looked at and being told "you're just fat". *sigh*

Id also suggest trying to see a neuro with a specialty in MS...they know better what to look for...
keep us up to date now!!:hug: