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Neurology (Expert Forum)
false positive tests in person who had encephalitis
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false positive tests in person who had encephalitis
by Mary, Dec 19, 2000 12:00AM
it is believed i had viral encephalistis in 1973 at the age of 15, i am now a 42 yr old women.
i have many labs that come back postive, ana, sed rates, lyme [no active lyme in western blot]. test for the myathenia gravis antibodies -- most dr's feel they may be false postives.
my mri also shows a large archnoid cyst moving brain mass in the left upper front, but also shows a lesion in the basial gangial.[in addition to a prolactinoma]
my personality changed after the illness and i had a complete mental breakdown at 18. i have been able to come back from the mental changes with proper diet and no drinking.
however i have extreme pain in my muscles, ringing in my ears, balance problems and dizzy, speech problems, vision blurring and doubled, sleep with oxygen do to low blood gases and weakness - i would think that it could be mg ---- but the pain is uncontrolable - local dr said is fms, however will rx the mestinon which helps.
could the pain be related to the encephalitis?
i have many labs that come back postive, ana, sed rates, lyme [no active lyme in western blot]. test for the myathenia gravis antibodies -- most dr's feel they may be false postives.
my mri also shows a large archnoid cyst moving brain mass in the left upper front, but also shows a lesion in the basial gangial.[in addition to a prolactinoma]
my personality changed after the illness and i had a complete mental breakdown at 18. i have been able to come back from the mental changes with proper diet and no drinking.
however i have extreme pain in my muscles, ringing in my ears, balance problems and dizzy, speech problems, vision blurring and doubled, sleep with oxygen do to low blood gases and weakness - i would think that it could be mg ---- but the pain is uncontrolable - local dr said is fms, however will rx the mestinon which helps.
could the pain be related to the encephalitis?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Dec 20, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Mary:
Sorry to hear about your problems. Which MG antibody types do you have? You may be one of the unfortunate few who have two different processes occurring at the same time. Since mestinon helps, it may be from the MG. It might be that you have a cholinergic deficit from another reason that the mestinon is helping with. I can't tell, but the EMG would help with the diagnosis of MG. The part the early life encephalitis is playing in you symptoms is difficult to tell. If you had herpes encephalitis and your temporal lobes were affected, then some of the symptoms might be related, such as dizziness, mental problems, etc. What does your EEG look like? However, by your description of the brain MRI, you not telling me that the temporal lobes are abnormal. So, the encephalitis may or may not be playing a part in your symptoms. I am sorry I can't be more exact but without examining and knowing more, I am alittle in the fog. Yes, some of your symptoms might be due to the encephalitis or it may not. Your symptoms do have the flavor or fibromyalgia. But, there is no clear etiology for FMG and so the autoimmune findings of MG may or may not be part of the symptoms your experiencing also (if the diagnosis of MG is made by EMG and binding or blocking antibodies).
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Sorry to hear about your problems. Which MG antibody types do you have? You may be one of the unfortunate few who have two different processes occurring at the same time. Since mestinon helps, it may be from the MG. It might be that you have a cholinergic deficit from another reason that the mestinon is helping with. I can't tell, but the EMG would help with the diagnosis of MG. The part the early life encephalitis is playing in you symptoms is difficult to tell. If you had herpes encephalitis and your temporal lobes were affected, then some of the symptoms might be related, such as dizziness, mental problems, etc. What does your EEG look like? However, by your description of the brain MRI, you not telling me that the temporal lobes are abnormal. So, the encephalitis may or may not be playing a part in your symptoms. I am sorry I can't be more exact but without examining and knowing more, I am alittle in the fog. Yes, some of your symptoms might be due to the encephalitis or it may not. Your symptoms do have the flavor or fibromyalgia. But, there is no clear etiology for FMG and so the autoimmune findings of MG may or may not be part of the symptoms your experiencing also (if the diagnosis of MG is made by EMG and binding or blocking antibodies).
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
eeg done many years ago, i was told no sign of sezuires - that is all info provided
i think it is very possible i have mg
however been told pain is not part of the illness
i wonder if the pain could be related to prolactinoma - because part of the pituitary appears missing and my growth hormone is low [no growth hormone treatments] and my free t4 is low [normal tsh so no sythroid]
but then you have the encephalitis factor too
could it be that i am a mixed dx and will not be a clear cut case of any condition and the best i can hope for is the treatment of my symptoms
how do you communicate with dr's when things are like this - how do i avoid being seen as somatic [that has currently been ruled out, but fear if i push for more info that dr's will reconsidered that]
have a wonderful holiday [sorry, but a answer to this confusion would be the most wonderful gift for me and mine]