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MS Symptoms

Hi Everyone,

I've recently found out that I may have MS.  I have an appointment with my neurologist on the 22nd of this month.  I've had vision problems and fatigue for the last 5 years that have not been diagnosed.  My optomologist couldn't figure out why.  Last week I developed tingling, muscle spasms and pain in my left arm.  My symptoms have become less intense but have not dissapeared infact I am having tingling and spasming in other parts of my body on my left side.  Including my face, leg and foot. My primary doctor was not concerned about stroke so he refered me to the neurologist.  
My question is this...
Most of my symptoms are on my left side but my vision issues seem to manifest on the right.  I have flashes of light in the peripheral of my right eye and night blindness in the center of my vision on both.  Its a blurred spot shaped like a donught that doesn't change size.  Is that consistant with symptoms of MS?  If its my right brain affected would it cause symptoms on my left side and right eye?
I'm really lost in all this right now and I'm not sure if I will be taken serriously by my doctor. Everything is very confusing.  I'm trying to become as educated as I can so I can help understanding and get a correct diagnosis. I've read somewhere that Migraines can cause scaring that looks like MS on an MRI and I have had migraines for the past 12 years.  I orrignally saw this neurologist to be diagnosed with migraines.  I'm hoping that it will not interfere with my diagnosis.
I'd appreciate any help you can give me in understanding how this all works.
Thanks,
Anne
4 Responses
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Avatar universal
Well, at least the neurologist is ordering a brain MRI.  I've never heard of a chemical imbalance causing symptoms like that either. Unless, like you said, was he saying a mental disorder? That's far fetched to assume something like that about you, especially when the neuro doesn't even know you.

I hope you find answers soon.

-Kelly  
Helpful - 0
198419 tn?1360242356
Hi CS-Anne,

Welcome to the forum.
Kell is right - migraine and headaches among other things can cause brain changes. However, I would like to hear about your physical exam, and (if you don't mind) did the doctor speak to you about your history?

Asking this because it's important to be thoroughly examined, and then with the assistance of test results, the doctor can begin putting together the possible cause to what you are dealing with. If it's migraine so be it, but you deserve a thorough exam.

I cannot speak technically to the eye issue - however, optic neuritis is very common with MS. Not sure if that is what you are experiencing though. Did the opthamologist offer a dx of any kind?  If not, will he/she refer you to someone more experienced?

Sorry for all the questions.   I'd want to run away for sure if chemical imbalance was mentioned to me - especially on the 1st visit! Geesh!

Thanks for joining us, and hope we can help.
-Shell
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Saw my neurologist today he did order the MRI he said to rule out MS.  He said he suspected a chemical imbalance as the cause of my symptoms and that he does not think it's MS. I'm not finding any information online that correlates a chemical imbalance with my symptoms.  I am not depressed.  When I received this information I really had no idea what he meant but accepted it.  Was he inferring I have a mental disorder?  I showed him video of my toe moving involuntarily on my phone.  I'm kind of confused.  I hope the MRI cam clear this up.  If a chemical imbalance is the issue and he was not inferring a mental disorder I'd still like to know what I need to do to take better care of myself.  

Thanks for your comment Kelly.  I don't think he's even considering that migraines might affect the scan but we will see.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello and welcome to the forum.  
I have heard that too, about migraines causing spots in the brain.  And also, how migraines can cause neurological types of symptoms.

When you talk about what side of your brain is affected - you can have lesions in different places in your brain that may or may not cause symptoms. Your eye problems can be related to inflammation of the optic nerve.

If you think this neuro won't look at you with a clean slate, maybe there's a neuro that specializes in MS that you can go see, instead?

Good luck,
Kelly
Helpful - 0
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