Aa
No DX and at the end of my rope
I don't know if anyone can help me. I badly need a friend and an ear right now.
This past winter I kept getting sinus infections. By mid-Februrary, I found myself at home trapped by all the snow (I'm in Virginia) in a rental house that has had some serious water damage issues (the landlord has gone through several sump pumps in the past year and pipes have burst behind the washer within the wall and nothing was ever done to dry the water except the passing of time). Anyway, the more the snow melted, the more water accumulated in the already water-logged crawl space and the sicker I became. Serious sinus issues (including nose bleeds), disorientation and dizziness, shortness of breath, agitation, the worst headaches of my life and severe fatigue. Weight was dropping off of me. After several doctor visits (including an ER visit) and blood tests I was scheduled for an MRI and a CT scan and visits with an allergist, a neuro and an ENT.
As suspected, I had serious upper respiratory issues going on. No one seemed to care about the weight loss. My PCP put me on two different rounds of antibiotics. An emergency room doc diagnosed me with migranes and prescribed Vicodin (I never got the prescription filled). The ENT had to vacuum out my ears to get rid of excessive fluid and put me on more antibiotics. The allergist confirmed allergies including mold and put me on inhalers and allergy meds. The pulmanologist scheduled me for a breathing test. Another PCP put me on antifungals and other antihistamines. Lastly, the neuro told me that if the house had [I]that[/I] much water damage to (as she put it) "just move" and then added, almost as an afterthought, that the MRI showed a brain lesion in my right forehead and I might have MS -- or maybe not. I sat there, stunned. I was scheduled for evoked potentials and began to learn all I could about MS.
I continued to get sicker and sicker (more weight loss, dry heaves, serious insomnia and the worst fatigue I've ever felt in my life). People urged me to get out of that house. I moved in with friends about a month ago, leaving all of my belongings and pets in the house (it's impossible to move when you're this sick, all alone, on unpaid leave from work and uncertain of when or IF you'll recover) only going back to take care of my diabetic cat and to pack a few things once a day IF I have the energy.
Almost overnight, illness robbed me of the place I called home for 8 years, my schoolwork (I'm PT student), my income, my job, my animals, my sleep and my sanity. Not only did I not know what was wrong with me medically, I didn't know if I would lose my job, fail my classes and a host of other worries (including being in a wheelchair and/or never being able to work or drive again). I am single and have no family. The stress has been unbearable. I became even sicker. I lost 30 lbs in two months, found myself shaking uncontrollably at times and started exhibiting symptoms that are related to panic attacks but also MS (such as a buzzing feeling in my left ankle and extreme muscle weakness in my whole body -- something I never felt until the "possible" dx of MS).
I was amazed at the support from a lot of my friends but equally amazed at how people I THOUGHT were my friends dropped me like a rock, insinuating I was somehow just "making all of this up." One such friend was the guy who promised to drive me to my evoked potentials (60 miles away) on April 9th. I had to reschedule for the 21st of this month and found someone else for transportation. I applied for short term disability with my job. By the morning of the 21st, I literally hadn't slept for days and was up all night before the appt (they can only do the tests at 8am 60 miles away and that meant being up at 5am). Shaking uncontrollably, with serious muscle and joint pain and throwing up, terrified they were going to give me neuro tests at a time when I was absolutely a wreck and misdiagnose me, I rescheduled the tests -- and have been kicking myself ever since. It turns out they only do one test on one patient each day and only at 8am -- which means my appointment is not until May 10th and the chances of my getting in sooner are slim to none.
I've looked up so much info on MS and read how people have had "episodes" of numbness, or vision issues or dizziness, then years later find out it's MS. I've never had any previous issues and wonder if I am literally making myself crazy since I never had any MS symptoms until I was told I maybe have it. I've seen posts (even on this board) how some people choose to forego meds or not tell their employers, etc. HOW can that be? I haven't been able to function for over two months. I finally got a mold air test of the house. The bedroom (where I worked from at home and of course slept and spent most of my time) showed significant toxic mold issues (four different types to be exact). My constant searching of the internet shows my symptoms to be consistent with mold poisoning and MS and a host of other illnesses. Who knows.
I am moving completely with friends within the month so I can recover financially and hopefully medically. At this point, however, I no longer believe I will [I]ever[/I] feel okay again. I've been sick for so long I don't remember being well.
My muscles are like lead. I can't sleep. When I do sleep, I wake up exhausted. At times I am too weak to hold the phone up to my ear or even walk out to the porch. Up until January, I had a ton of energy and was a regular gym-goer. Now, at times I feel like I'm dying. I'm that sick. My entire body feels the way you feel after a car accident. My lower back aches. My joints ache. I'm getting hot flashes and chills. My heart will race and breathing is difficult. I literally feel like I have a terminal disease. Then the buzzing will start in my left ankle and I worry that's it's MS.
Still undiagnosed with [I]anything[/I], my whole life has been taken away from me -- except I'm still alive -- and I'm starting to even feel bad about [I]that [/I](yes, at this point, I'm very depressed). Almost every MS video on YouTube talks about the unbearable pain and torture of MS. Montel Williams likens it to being burned with metal rods. All I see are people in wheelchairs. I feel so horrible already, [I]more [/I]suffering is what I have ahead of me?
My doctor listed my return to work date (for my disability forms) for May 15 - pretty optimistic since my evoked potentials aren't until May 10th (although, of course, they were supposed to be earlier). How long does it take to get evoked potential results back? If I have a lesion and fail one or more of the evoked potentials (which I most likely will if I am so stressed, have no sleep and 60 miles to get there at 8am), is that an immediate diagnosis of MS? Some people seem to find out immediately and other people say they had to wait for specific episodes of flare ups before they are diagnosed. What is an episode? I have had no relief in over two months. I would think an episode would be something that shows up and then goes away. Me on the other hand? I feel like I've been poisoned and every day is something I try to get through.
I'm afraid of being diagnosed with MS. I'm afraid of being [I]misdiagnosed [/I]and given meds I don't need. I'm afraid of being diagnosed with nothing and left to suffer even longer with no diagnosis of [I]anything [/I](you'd think in this time I'm waiting they'd at least test me for diseases similar to MS). I am so scared and very depressed and ...the end of my rope was well over a month ago. I was a relatively happy healthy person before and now I'm searching for reasons to live.
This past winter I kept getting sinus infections. By mid-Februrary, I found myself at home trapped by all the snow (I'm in Virginia) in a rental house that has had some serious water damage issues (the landlord has gone through several sump pumps in the past year and pipes have burst behind the washer within the wall and nothing was ever done to dry the water except the passing of time). Anyway, the more the snow melted, the more water accumulated in the already water-logged crawl space and the sicker I became. Serious sinus issues (including nose bleeds), disorientation and dizziness, shortness of breath, agitation, the worst headaches of my life and severe fatigue. Weight was dropping off of me. After several doctor visits (including an ER visit) and blood tests I was scheduled for an MRI and a CT scan and visits with an allergist, a neuro and an ENT.
As suspected, I had serious upper respiratory issues going on. No one seemed to care about the weight loss. My PCP put me on two different rounds of antibiotics. An emergency room doc diagnosed me with migranes and prescribed Vicodin (I never got the prescription filled). The ENT had to vacuum out my ears to get rid of excessive fluid and put me on more antibiotics. The allergist confirmed allergies including mold and put me on inhalers and allergy meds. The pulmanologist scheduled me for a breathing test. Another PCP put me on antifungals and other antihistamines. Lastly, the neuro told me that if the house had [I]that[/I] much water damage to (as she put it) "just move" and then added, almost as an afterthought, that the MRI showed a brain lesion in my right forehead and I might have MS -- or maybe not. I sat there, stunned. I was scheduled for evoked potentials and began to learn all I could about MS.
I continued to get sicker and sicker (more weight loss, dry heaves, serious insomnia and the worst fatigue I've ever felt in my life). People urged me to get out of that house. I moved in with friends about a month ago, leaving all of my belongings and pets in the house (it's impossible to move when you're this sick, all alone, on unpaid leave from work and uncertain of when or IF you'll recover) only going back to take care of my diabetic cat and to pack a few things once a day IF I have the energy.
Almost overnight, illness robbed me of the place I called home for 8 years, my schoolwork (I'm PT student), my income, my job, my animals, my sleep and my sanity. Not only did I not know what was wrong with me medically, I didn't know if I would lose my job, fail my classes and a host of other worries (including being in a wheelchair and/or never being able to work or drive again). I am single and have no family. The stress has been unbearable. I became even sicker. I lost 30 lbs in two months, found myself shaking uncontrollably at times and started exhibiting symptoms that are related to panic attacks but also MS (such as a buzzing feeling in my left ankle and extreme muscle weakness in my whole body -- something I never felt until the "possible" dx of MS).
I was amazed at the support from a lot of my friends but equally amazed at how people I THOUGHT were my friends dropped me like a rock, insinuating I was somehow just "making all of this up." One such friend was the guy who promised to drive me to my evoked potentials (60 miles away) on April 9th. I had to reschedule for the 21st of this month and found someone else for transportation. I applied for short term disability with my job. By the morning of the 21st, I literally hadn't slept for days and was up all night before the appt (they can only do the tests at 8am 60 miles away and that meant being up at 5am). Shaking uncontrollably, with serious muscle and joint pain and throwing up, terrified they were going to give me neuro tests at a time when I was absolutely a wreck and misdiagnose me, I rescheduled the tests -- and have been kicking myself ever since. It turns out they only do one test on one patient each day and only at 8am -- which means my appointment is not until May 10th and the chances of my getting in sooner are slim to none.
I've looked up so much info on MS and read how people have had "episodes" of numbness, or vision issues or dizziness, then years later find out it's MS. I've never had any previous issues and wonder if I am literally making myself crazy since I never had any MS symptoms until I was told I maybe have it. I've seen posts (even on this board) how some people choose to forego meds or not tell their employers, etc. HOW can that be? I haven't been able to function for over two months. I finally got a mold air test of the house. The bedroom (where I worked from at home and of course slept and spent most of my time) showed significant toxic mold issues (four different types to be exact). My constant searching of the internet shows my symptoms to be consistent with mold poisoning and MS and a host of other illnesses. Who knows.
I am moving completely with friends within the month so I can recover financially and hopefully medically. At this point, however, I no longer believe I will [I]ever[/I] feel okay again. I've been sick for so long I don't remember being well.
My muscles are like lead. I can't sleep. When I do sleep, I wake up exhausted. At times I am too weak to hold the phone up to my ear or even walk out to the porch. Up until January, I had a ton of energy and was a regular gym-goer. Now, at times I feel like I'm dying. I'm that sick. My entire body feels the way you feel after a car accident. My lower back aches. My joints ache. I'm getting hot flashes and chills. My heart will race and breathing is difficult. I literally feel like I have a terminal disease. Then the buzzing will start in my left ankle and I worry that's it's MS.
Still undiagnosed with [I]anything[/I], my whole life has been taken away from me -- except I'm still alive -- and I'm starting to even feel bad about [I]that [/I](yes, at this point, I'm very depressed). Almost every MS video on YouTube talks about the unbearable pain and torture of MS. Montel Williams likens it to being burned with metal rods. All I see are people in wheelchairs. I feel so horrible already, [I]more [/I]suffering is what I have ahead of me?
My doctor listed my return to work date (for my disability forms) for May 15 - pretty optimistic since my evoked potentials aren't until May 10th (although, of course, they were supposed to be earlier). How long does it take to get evoked potential results back? If I have a lesion and fail one or more of the evoked potentials (which I most likely will if I am so stressed, have no sleep and 60 miles to get there at 8am), is that an immediate diagnosis of MS? Some people seem to find out immediately and other people say they had to wait for specific episodes of flare ups before they are diagnosed. What is an episode? I have had no relief in over two months. I would think an episode would be something that shows up and then goes away. Me on the other hand? I feel like I've been poisoned and every day is something I try to get through.
I'm afraid of being diagnosed with MS. I'm afraid of being [I]misdiagnosed [/I]and given meds I don't need. I'm afraid of being diagnosed with nothing and left to suffer even longer with no diagnosis of [I]anything [/I](you'd think in this time I'm waiting they'd at least test me for diseases similar to MS). I am so scared and very depressed and ...the end of my rope was well over a month ago. I was a relatively happy healthy person before and now I'm searching for reasons to live.
Thank you again all. The most frustrating part of this is that doctors don't seem to be doing anything to rule out anything else. It's like they're suspecting MS but haven't discussed anything else. That scares me a LOT (not just for diagnosis but misdiagnosis). A friend is taking me to my PCP tomorrow to find out what blood testing I have had done (I don't know since I've been so sick) and what has or hasn't already been ruled out. All I want to do is go back to work and get on with my life.
Hi Kendra,
It must be so hard to go through such an abrupt change... of everything.
First of all, please be sure to check into what you should be wearing when you go back to collect your belongings ie. face mask for breathing, etc. You don't want to get any sicker. I found this link with information that was used for workers going into contaminated buildings after Hurricane Katrina. It may help, it has some good information, like wearing protective goggles, etc.
emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/workers.asp.
Second of all, I'm new to some of this terminology, but I did have an evoked response test done 2 weeks ago and it was by an ENT. This particular ENT also has the distinction of being a Neurotologist, also new to me, and he performed a BAER as well as an ENG on me, for dizziness. Perhaps you don't have to take that long drive, see if the ENT performs any of these tests. Surgi-menopause is right, it is testing for Vestibular disorders. I had never heard of the term until 3 weeks ago. Check out www.vestibular.org which is where I found the ENT I chose to use, and luckily for me, I already knew him because he operated on my youngest twice to put in ear tubes.
.........I was a relatively happy healthy person before and now I'm searching for reasons to live.
Third of all, please have faith. This too shall pass, or at least get better.
Don't let the turkeys get you down, like the "fair weather friends" or the circus clown, "doctor" who referenced that he wouldn't stand on his head... what's that all about?
Good Luck to you. I hope you and your pets all come out of this just fine.
Take care,
Sheila
It must be so hard to go through such an abrupt change... of everything.
First of all, please be sure to check into what you should be wearing when you go back to collect your belongings ie. face mask for breathing, etc. You don't want to get any sicker. I found this link with information that was used for workers going into contaminated buildings after Hurricane Katrina. It may help, it has some good information, like wearing protective goggles, etc.
emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/workers.asp.
Second of all, I'm new to some of this terminology, but I did have an evoked response test done 2 weeks ago and it was by an ENT. This particular ENT also has the distinction of being a Neurotologist, also new to me, and he performed a BAER as well as an ENG on me, for dizziness. Perhaps you don't have to take that long drive, see if the ENT performs any of these tests. Surgi-menopause is right, it is testing for Vestibular disorders. I had never heard of the term until 3 weeks ago. Check out www.vestibular.org which is where I found the ENT I chose to use, and luckily for me, I already knew him because he operated on my youngest twice to put in ear tubes.
.........I was a relatively happy healthy person before and now I'm searching for reasons to live.
Third of all, please have faith. This too shall pass, or at least get better.
Don't let the turkeys get you down, like the "fair weather friends" or the circus clown, "doctor" who referenced that he wouldn't stand on his head... what's that all about?
Good Luck to you. I hope you and your pets all come out of this just fine.
Take care,
Sheila
What a blessing that strangers would want to pray for someone who looked like they weren't feeling well! What does the pulmonologist have against a simple chest x-ray? If he wants more specificity than an x-ray can give, you have the right to ask for an MRI of your lungs to avoid the higher amount of radiation of the CT after having so much radiation from them in a short time span!
Kendra- if you are still having dizziness but the fluid has cleared out, have you gotten a referral to an ear nose and throat doctor for vestibular testing?
Kendra- if you are still having dizziness but the fluid has cleared out, have you gotten a referral to an ear nose and throat doctor for vestibular testing?
Two different doctors ruled out cancer but you wouldn't know it to look at me and with some of my symptoms. The last time I was in Wal Mart for meds (earlier this month), two different strangers stopped me to ask if I was okay and both offered to pray for me. It was nice but boy did it rattle me.
Docs gave me two head CT scans in the same week saying it was no big deal (!!!). I was too sick to protest (later finding out that a CT scan is like 400 xrays). The pulmanolgist said he recommends a CT of my chest to rule out infection. I expressed concern over that much radiation in such a short amount of time. He rolled his eyes and told me he's not going to stand on his head to get me to take a chest scan. He instead scheduled a breathing test to test my lung capacity and that's not until May 17th.
I plan on taking legal action against my landlord when I start to regain my health. I have photos of the water damage, witnesses, dates and times (especially the dates and times I asked him repeatedly to check for mold and he refused) the mold report and people willing to testify for me if needed. But yeah that's all down the road. All I want is to be able to function enough each day to at least be able to read a book or watch TV or talk to a friend on the phone. Today is the longest I've been online for a long time and it's mostly nervous energy.
Docs gave me two head CT scans in the same week saying it was no big deal (!!!). I was too sick to protest (later finding out that a CT scan is like 400 xrays). The pulmanolgist said he recommends a CT of my chest to rule out infection. I expressed concern over that much radiation in such a short amount of time. He rolled his eyes and told me he's not going to stand on his head to get me to take a chest scan. He instead scheduled a breathing test to test my lung capacity and that's not until May 17th.
I plan on taking legal action against my landlord when I start to regain my health. I have photos of the water damage, witnesses, dates and times (especially the dates and times I asked him repeatedly to check for mold and he refused) the mold report and people willing to testify for me if needed. But yeah that's all down the road. All I want is to be able to function enough each day to at least be able to read a book or watch TV or talk to a friend on the phone. Today is the longest I've been online for a long time and it's mostly nervous energy.
Thank you all. You have no idea how much. Thank you.
The neurologist saw one lesion and immediately said MS. No other possibilites and no other tests despite my not having any symptoms other than fatigue and dizziness. She didn't even bother to tell me what the evoked potential tests were or what happens from here either way. She only prescribed Valium (60 tablets with 5 refills ??!?) for dizziness, ignoring the fact that the MRI (I found out later) showed significant liquid in my left ear and scar tissue from childhood ear infections.
When I went to the pulmanologist he got a copy of the MRI report and told me more stuff about the MRI than the neuro had. I have absolutely no faith in health care anymore. I'm going to tell them what I want and need instead of hoping they will help me. I have an appt for anxiety meds on Monday and someone helped me reschedule my final exams for medical reasons (I didn't know you could do that).
"What you are putting yourself through is far worse than MS for the huge majority of patients." - Wow. Clear as day and yet I coudln't see that. Honestly.
Thank you, everyone.
The neurologist saw one lesion and immediately said MS. No other possibilites and no other tests despite my not having any symptoms other than fatigue and dizziness. She didn't even bother to tell me what the evoked potential tests were or what happens from here either way. She only prescribed Valium (60 tablets with 5 refills ??!?) for dizziness, ignoring the fact that the MRI (I found out later) showed significant liquid in my left ear and scar tissue from childhood ear infections.
When I went to the pulmanologist he got a copy of the MRI report and told me more stuff about the MRI than the neuro had. I have absolutely no faith in health care anymore. I'm going to tell them what I want and need instead of hoping they will help me. I have an appt for anxiety meds on Monday and someone helped me reschedule my final exams for medical reasons (I didn't know you could do that).
"What you are putting yourself through is far worse than MS for the huge majority of patients." - Wow. Clear as day and yet I coudln't see that. Honestly.
Thank you, everyone.
If you weren't so sick and single, I would think of hiring a good lawyer to go after your former landlord for lost wages and suffering. But having felt badly myself (not with MS or mold), I know what it's like not wanting that kind of stress when you are so stressed already. I can see this whole situation is overwhelming to you and if you are a Christian, I urge to cry out to God in your distress.
I don't know if the two were related or not, but a woman in a church I used to attend was exposed to mold in their bathroom and wound up being diagnosed with cancer. Given your weight loss, have they checked any cancer markers or done any other diagnostic testing to rule that out? With all the imaging, did they x-ray your lungs?
I don't know if the two were related or not, but a woman in a church I used to attend was exposed to mold in their bathroom and wound up being diagnosed with cancer. Given your weight loss, have they checked any cancer markers or done any other diagnostic testing to rule that out? With all the imaging, did they x-ray your lungs?
Yes I hear you and the main thing you are living in is a state of fear. I have been there before and after diagnosis.
Projecting into the future does not help. No two cases of MS are the same and no one not even a doctor can predict what will happen to me tomorrow.
This is a tricky disease to diagnose. Neurologist time works in six month intervals. They like the wait and see approach.
I have had MS for forty years but was only diagnosed last year. I have a lot of pain but I get around o.k. I have had to reinvent myself.
The mold thing is bad. I am glad you are no longer living with it.
The depression is real. I needed to get a good counselor who specializes in chronic illness. At the time I told my Doctor I could not afford a counselor. He explained it would be more expensive if I were hospitalized which was my next stop.
Your at the end of your rope, I hear you. I have written the same thing. We at the forum are wrapping the rope around your waist and hanging on until you feel stronger or are on solid ground.
Alex
Projecting into the future does not help. No two cases of MS are the same and no one not even a doctor can predict what will happen to me tomorrow.
This is a tricky disease to diagnose. Neurologist time works in six month intervals. They like the wait and see approach.
I have had MS for forty years but was only diagnosed last year. I have a lot of pain but I get around o.k. I have had to reinvent myself.
The mold thing is bad. I am glad you are no longer living with it.
The depression is real. I needed to get a good counselor who specializes in chronic illness. At the time I told my Doctor I could not afford a counselor. He explained it would be more expensive if I were hospitalized which was my next stop.
Your at the end of your rope, I hear you. I have written the same thing. We at the forum are wrapping the rope around your waist and hanging on until you feel stronger or are on solid ground.
Alex
i would say it is quite normal to feel so worried now with all you have going on. just the menitoning of "brain lesion" is enough to blind side anyone at first.
then you have all these unexplained weird symptoms you didn't have before. then the myriad of doctors and tests and still no concrete answer. chronic pain and chronic symptoms in itself turn most peoples world upside down.
mold and that type of thing is an issue these days and does affect/effect people negatively. so moving, if one can, is probably a good option though a pain in the butt.
as for MS, i can't say. but i can say many many folks on this list hit the same wall at first, as you are hitting with symptoms and trying to find an answer(s) to your unexplained symptoms.
it does take a bit of time and a good doctor who really wants to diagnosis and treat you to help out with that. not all doctors are created equal but many are truly good at what they do.
a lot of people on this forum can and will lend experience and hope. so hang in there, you are not alone
>>being burned with metal rods.
hmm, never heard that before. i always use the analogy of it being like i have shingles embedded in my body firing away. buring rods or burning shingles, kinda the same thing, huh?
and no i can't spell and yes i miss words due to i thought i typed them but i didn't, so bear with me. LOL
then you have all these unexplained weird symptoms you didn't have before. then the myriad of doctors and tests and still no concrete answer. chronic pain and chronic symptoms in itself turn most peoples world upside down.
mold and that type of thing is an issue these days and does affect/effect people negatively. so moving, if one can, is probably a good option though a pain in the butt.
as for MS, i can't say. but i can say many many folks on this list hit the same wall at first, as you are hitting with symptoms and trying to find an answer(s) to your unexplained symptoms.
it does take a bit of time and a good doctor who really wants to diagnosis and treat you to help out with that. not all doctors are created equal but many are truly good at what they do.
a lot of people on this forum can and will lend experience and hope. so hang in there, you are not alone
>>being burned with metal rods.
hmm, never heard that before. i always use the analogy of it being like i have shingles embedded in my body firing away. buring rods or burning shingles, kinda the same thing, huh?
and no i can't spell and yes i miss words due to i thought i typed them but i didn't, so bear with me. LOL
Hello, Kendra. We welcome you to the forum. You'll find that this is a good place.
You have a great deal going on, and your emotions seem all over the place. That is so understandable, but you'll need to get a little more focus if you're to find answers.
First, mold and other allergens can and do wreak havoc, for some people more than others. You absolutely need to stay away from that toxic environment to see what benefits that brings. There have been any number of TV specials about environmental poisons. I think your first medical need is for complete ENT and allergy care. Your weight loss could well be related to the beating your whole system is taking.
Extreme system-wide muscle weakness is not likely to be an effect of MS. Aching in the joints is not an MS symptom. A single brain lesion might or might not be significant, and this needs more investigation. And you should know that you can't 'mess up' evoked potentials by being overtired and distraught. Tests measure responses that are way beyond anyone's ability to influence.
My untrained medical hunch is that you are suffering severely from the toxic effects of your old environment, coupled with extreme stress. A great many of your symptoms--racing heart, difficulty breathing, total weak feeling--are found in people under huge duress.
I think you should go ahead with all tests that are scheduled, while doing your best to regain your emotional equilibrium, maybe with some temporary medication. If you do turn out to have MS, that is not the worst thing in the world. What you are putting yourself through is far worse than MS for the huge majority of patients.
Please take a deep breath, count to 10, and relax to the extent that you can. You are more than welcome to post as much as you want and to tell us how things are going.
ess
You have a great deal going on, and your emotions seem all over the place. That is so understandable, but you'll need to get a little more focus if you're to find answers.
First, mold and other allergens can and do wreak havoc, for some people more than others. You absolutely need to stay away from that toxic environment to see what benefits that brings. There have been any number of TV specials about environmental poisons. I think your first medical need is for complete ENT and allergy care. Your weight loss could well be related to the beating your whole system is taking.
Extreme system-wide muscle weakness is not likely to be an effect of MS. Aching in the joints is not an MS symptom. A single brain lesion might or might not be significant, and this needs more investigation. And you should know that you can't 'mess up' evoked potentials by being overtired and distraught. Tests measure responses that are way beyond anyone's ability to influence.
My untrained medical hunch is that you are suffering severely from the toxic effects of your old environment, coupled with extreme stress. A great many of your symptoms--racing heart, difficulty breathing, total weak feeling--are found in people under huge duress.
I think you should go ahead with all tests that are scheduled, while doing your best to regain your emotional equilibrium, maybe with some temporary medication. If you do turn out to have MS, that is not the worst thing in the world. What you are putting yourself through is far worse than MS for the huge majority of patients.
Please take a deep breath, count to 10, and relax to the extent that you can. You are more than welcome to post as much as you want and to tell us how things are going.
ess
I am so sorry to hear you are going through so much right now. I would guess that once you are in a mold free environment you will start to feel better - perhaps slowly. MS is a very scary diagnosis, whether confirmed or not! I can tell you that the majority of MS patients never end up in a wheelchair. There are disease modifying drugs that can help keep the beast at bay at least and for a severe episode (attack, exacerbation) there is also help. I just had one those episodes after 27 years of being symptom free. But it is scary and leaves you with such uncertainty. All you can do is take one day at a time, tackle one issue at a time. If you need something for anxiety and/or depression, don't be afraid to ask for it. Yes, some people get a diagnosis right away and others not so quickly. That is one of the problems of MS - it is so unpredictable! But there are many on this forum who will be willing to embrace you as friend and you can pour your heart out here and feel safe. Hopefully you will get some sort of answer soon. We are all friends here and we all wish the very best for you. GrannyJo
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Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease
