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Neurology  (Expert Forum)
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Will cognitive thinking improve with Medicine,I was diagnoised with M.S.?
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MedHelp Member's Question

Will cognitive thinking improve with Medicine,I was diagnoised with M.S.?

by GSousa, Jan 31, 2006 12:00AM
Hi, I am 49yrs. old and newly diagnoised  with MS.,I was wondering if my thinking would improve with the proper meds.I suffer with many of the symptoms, balance and coordination,bladder,vision,hearing,thinking,climbing,muscle weakness,etc.I started getting sick in May of 2003, and progressively have gotton worse.I had to have many neuro test done.It has taken so long to get this diagnoisis. I am still in the process of finding the right medicine that agree's with me, and also take some of this fatigue away!Thank you so much for listening, and I hope to hear from you soon.I've been trying to post a question for a long time,God bless,and thanks again,Gail.
Doctor's Answer

by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Jan 31, 2006 12:00AM
Cognitive dysfunction is relatively common in MS, occurring in up to half of patients, and tends to be related to the degree of physical disability. While there is no specific treatment, it is hopeful but not proven that disease modifying therapy will slow the pregression of cognitive as well as physical disability. Neuropsychological testing and followup will helpestablish a baseline and compare changes over time - ask about this if you have not had it already



Symptoms of MS like fatigue are treatable and potentially reversible, and medications like modafanil and stimulants have shown some success in clinical trials. Other comorbid conditions like depression etc can contribute to both cognitive function and fatigue and should be evaluate and treated as well.



Good luck
Member Comments (24)

by DFGadd, Jan 31, 2006 12:00AM
To: Gail
What were some of your initial symptoms, if you don't mind me asking?

by GSousa, Jan 31, 2006 12:00AM
Hi, thanks for asking,in 2003 I did,nt know what was wrong with me.I was in great shape.It happened in June of 2003.I noticed I could'nt run very well, which was odd for me because I worked out at the gym,and was pressing up to 80#'s at that time.I started to get headaches,not knowing I had very high blood pressure230/110.And i just didnt feel good.I started to have symptoms as if i had a stroke,but the hosp.down where i live said they could'nt find anything wrong.I was bitten by a moisquito in june 2003, and right after that i became ill. Though all the testing the Dr's did for Triple E, and Lyme Disease,they also thought I had Ms.,but never put Dye in me for all of the MRI's i had.So, everything was normal,so they said,but I started to have a hard time climbing stairs,my vision was very blurry,double vision terrible fatigue,and numbness and tingling down my right side of my face and right side of my body,which is very weak. I went to Boston and to sum things up,the neurologist ordered me an MRI with and without dye.The results showed,many leasons on the brain.I was told I have Multiple Scelosis.It took my reumotologist to notice something was going on besides,Fibromyalgia.So he sent me to Brigham and Womans Hospital,where I meet my Neuro.I was so greatful that my Dr. did'nt think it was all in my head,like some Dr.s lable you when they cant't seem to find what is wrong with a person.If the Neuro down here,where I live was qualified enough, he should of known, the only way to see a clear cut image is to use the speacial dye, that he was supposed to use.Sorry I'm rambling on, hope this helps you.Sincerly,Gail

by nobodysp, Feb 01, 2006 12:00AM
To: GSousa
Hi. Please forgive me if I am intruding. Am I right in understanding the first MRI's you had with no dye showed no lesions, and the MRI you had with dye showed lesions? MS was ruled out for me based on an MRI without dye. I too was in great shape, running daily, and now am barely able to walk.     Do you mind me asking, do you have much pain?



I am still searching for a diagnosis. I started seeing doctors a little over a year ago when I was limping without known cause. I had many other symptoms at the time, but did not connect them yet.



Although it is true MS is not curable, it is good you got the right diagnosis. You will be better off with treatment then you were without. I wish you the best of luck and good health.

by GSousa, Feb 01, 2006 12:00AM
To: nobodysp
Hi!, thank you for responding.I also have a niece that has MS., and her specialist told her the only accurate way of diagnoising a patient with an MRI, is with the water based dye,I cant pronounce it, but it begins with a G-----.My memory isn't the greatest anymore.I have medical problems that I didn't mention,which in fact I don't mind talking about. I was diagnoised with what you call Band Heterotopia,the neurologist where I live told me that was from a seizure disorder. It has to do with nodules on the brain,and some throughout my body.The DR. reading all the MRI's I've had said it showed lots of grey matter and white matter, and lots of scar tissue,for which was unexplainable,so since he could'nt understand it he ignored it and said my results were normal! When in fact,I had to fight for myself,to say somethings not right,my Primary care Physician said o.k. your going for a third opinion(which she thought all my problems were emotional the same time my mother died,I became ill, and not because she died,but because i had caught a bad viraus which I never fully recovered from.It's pretty sad when your own PC does'nt have faith in you. I have fibromyalgia, and my Rheumatologist noticed neuro problems, and he is the one that sent me to a specialist in Boston.With that MRI it also showed a large Mass in my abdominal area.I had an VUSound done and it showed an enlarged left ovary,plus three complex cysts.I'm waiting to see If i need to be opperated on,I feel like I'm six mths. pregnant.The thing is,I had a Histerctomy yrs. ago,along with many other operations.And to finally answer your question,yes I have days with alot of pain. I have good days and bad days.When i have attacks from MS.,it seems like I never fully bounce back. Do you mind if I make a commant?I hope your nickname does'nt stand for nobody special,because everyone has special qualities,even when that person does'nt think so.For I myself am going through a lot of changes,I know first hand that you have to except what comes your way,even when I've lost my strength,cognitive thinking,etc. I pray alot,it helps me to finally be at piece,no matter what thee outcome is from all of my medical problems.The mind is a powerful thing, it can tear you apart or, for myself I had to trust in God, and never give up for I know theirs always someone worse off than myself.Thanks again for listening,Sincerely Gail.

by zzzzzzzzzz, Feb 03, 2006 12:00AM
Thankyou so much for cofirming what I suspected and noone has been able to answer.I had an MRI 3 months ago and was absolutely stunned to find it was 'normal' at the time I had had three months of horrendous symptoms such as left arm & leg weakness, double vision, vertigo, bladder problems, nystagmus, tinglings & numbness, headaches, poor coordination, Inability to sit up unsupported, swallowing & speech difficulties etc etc. My Physician deffinately thought it was a demylinating disease -said he could see the nerve damage in my eyes -and ordered an urgent scan. But turns out he was a newby & didn't fill out the forms properly! So I got the scan a month later when most symptoms had resolved leaving just numb toes & eye problems. I have since discovered the dye was not used in my MRI & was wondering about it as I now seem to be at the beginning of another attack. Onset was August 16 last year. I have had to cut back alot of my work as I'm in alot of pain most of the time. I finally get to see a Neuro in three weeks & I'll be asking about the dye. I live in New Zealand where there is a shortage of neuros so if you're not at death's door, you have to wait a long time. Its so hard not knowing whats happening to you and not being able to explain to others. I am glad that at least You have a diagnosis and you can begin to learn how to manage it. I wish you well and love what you said to nobodysp. I was thinking the same myself. These dificulties sure can damage ones feeling of self worth if we let them.

by GSousa, Feb 03, 2006 12:00AM
To: zzzzzzzzzz
It's funny you said your first attack was on August 16,my first attack was on August 16,03(which just happens to be my birthday!I was in the hospital for 11 days that year. It took all this time.I could'nt understand why the Dr's could'nt find anything wrong, not realizing they needed to use dye.When I have attacks, it is differcult for me to walk,my body feels like it weighs ten tons.I remember also that I could'nt hold my head up,as time went on I had more and more symptoms.Do you know what I had to come to terms with,not being able to work.I am a Supervisor of an Elementery Kitchen.It took yrs. to work my way up the ladder for that job,I miss the little children,my cognitive thinking ,balance,vision,and hearing,lack of strength is keeping me from doing my job. I have excepted it now knowing God has a plan for me.zzzzzzzzzz I wanted to say that in the past three yrs.,I've gone through my stages of why me,crying alot,praying everyday,go three steps forward,five steps back,starting over again,but I've learned to take whatever comes my way,I have found my piece,when you get angry enough to say ,o.k., Gail pick yourself back up ,life is to short,enjoy your family,enjoy mother nature. It's funny, I look at things in a whole new prospective.I've found my piece.I enjoyed hearing from you,Sincerely Gail

by nobodysp, Feb 04, 2006 12:00AM
To: GSousa
Wild, my problems started in late summer too. And my birthday is August 17th. I would have counted my problems as starting the summer before last, but a couple years before that is probably when it really started, because that's when I went through horrible testing because I had pain for weeks at a time like a UTI, but no UTI. The tests ruled out everything serious and I didn't go back for more humiliating tests just to be told it was nothing, so it just comes and goes like everything else. I also had a limp with no pain an no aparant cause that would show up for a couple weeks, disappear, then reappear months later only to disappear again. Since then, I too have had to cut down my work (to almost nothing), which is very bad for us because I was just starting to work more and was pushing for a raise. Now I can barely handle standing in line at a store. or walking across the parking lots to my kids' school.



Yes, my name is pretty obvious, but that was only after months of going to a doctor who was treating me horribly. I am not having that problem now, but at the time, I was stuck with a PCP who thought I was a nutcase and passed on that opinion to every specialist he sent me to.  When I tried to explain it was not just back pain, there was much more going on, he shook his head and rolled his eyes