Do I have MS?

[A2328]

In 2010, I was down for four months with excruciating and unexplained head "heaviness" (like a bowling ball swinging back and forth in the back of my head) that kept me from sleeping, walking, eating, etc. I also had severe sound sensitivity, ear ringing, and shaky vision. Several ER trips, a hospital stay with MRI and lumbar punctures yielded nothing. The Mayo Clinic in Arizona accepted my case and after spending over a week there having every tesr imaginable (more MRIs, lumbar punctures, evoked potential test, autoimmune panels), they could find no diagnosis. I thought I was dying. I then was given Klonopin to help manage my anxiety and it seemed to all of a sudden help my head-swinging symptom and sound sensitivity. I took Klonopin for about a month and most of my symptoms eventually subsided in that time.

In 2012, I had another MRI done. No lesions showed up.

Recently, the shaky vision started again. The head-swinging has also returned (although much less severe), the ear ringing, and the pins and needles in my arms/legs. I'm scheduled for another MRI next week.

Does anyone know how many MRIs may be "clear," on average, before lesions start to show up? I had at least 3-4 MRIs from 2010-2012, and nothing.

I don't know what else might be causing all these symptoms.

[essdipity]

Once again I totally agree with immi. If an anti-anxiety medication helps you again, I think that will tell you a lot. In that case,  please seek therapy so you can get rid of the cause of your anxiety. You'll be glad you did. Best of luck.

[immisceo]

If the Klonopin helped, and symptoms subsided when it was taken, and all other tests revealed nothing, it may be that you're dealing with an extreme form of anxiety. To be clear, your physical sensations ARE REAL. I'm not debating that.

But in the absence of other evidence, it may be a prudent course of action to continue to pursue treatment for anxiety simply to see if that helps bring your symptoms under control again. It may turn out that your next MRI shows something. It may not. Regardless, you deserve to feel better. Mental health and its maintenance is every bit as valid and important as our physical health. Just an observation from someone with MS who spends far more of her time seeing after her mental well-being!