MS or tumour

[sbr497]

Hi,

I am 40 year old with hypertension, high BP and migraine on and off.

My problems started about 14 years back with unbearable body ache, headache with blurred vision.
The problems slowed down after initial few months but my health never recoved back to initial ones.
Now I had headaches and body aches probably couple of times a week. But always felt dull,
my intellectual level nowhere closer to what it was before all this started. I visited different
doctors at least 20+ times hoping someone would find diagnose. This continued for next 3 years.

I then went to a shop and while looking at different illness I found a book on MS.
After studying it thoroughly, I was able to relate most of my symptoms to MS.
So, now I changed my tactic and directly approached a neurologist and told him about
frequent headache. After 2-3 visits, he said that one of the doctors he discussed my case
thought that I might have MS. So I went for a brain MRI (dont remember exact type).
The results came back with words such as - multiple healed kochs .....
Pardon me as I dont remember exact spelling (especially if koch is right)
Anyway, I went and showed it to my doctor and he said that I did not have MS.
I really did not believe him. I had at least 7-8 major symptoms that any MS would have.

Its been 12 years hence. I have lived assuming that I have MS. I have been fairly successful
in my area. But for the last 6 months I have been having lot of bodyache and headaches.
I am not worried about the intensity of these but the frequency. Throughout these 12 years
I always had bodyache and headache but it used to be twice a week or so. But now its
4-5 times a week. In the last 4 months I have noticed sudden fall in my vision.
This is really worrying me. I am not so much worried about MS since
I have accepted and tried to live with it. But I have started worrying if I had brain tumour and not MS
to begin with.

1) Can someone tell me if MRI that said multiple healed kochs can point to tumour also.
2) Or there is hardly such chance.
3) Is there a possibility that I really have just migraine headaches and with MS in background it makes it worse.

Few things I have observed about myself ...

1) blurred vision
2) difficult to remember things
3) a bit confused sometimes
4) tired all the time
5) weak muscles
6) feel heavyness in body
7) skin has become very dark over years. To the point that many people do not even recognize me
8) bulging eye lids
9) premature graying hair
10) looking at least 7-10 years elder to my actual age (I look 45+ while I am 40 now)

God bless the soul who reads and responds ...

Regards,

[sbr497]

Yes, I had that tested sometime back. Everything came normal. Actually the test was done twice. Thanks anyway

[jensequitur]

The bulging eyelids and hyperpigmentation makes me think you might have a problem with your thyroid - it's worth checking out!

[sbr497]

Thanks.

I am very paranoid about seeing a neurologist.
It also has to do with the fact that I am able to live my life without major incidents
in the last 14 years.

My BP is perfectly controlled (actually 120/80). I have never taken any medicines for
migraine. It is in the family.

I was thinking about this yesterday and one thing that struck me that the original MRI did not point to tumor:
I have lived almost last 16 years with these issues. If the MRI was really pointing to tumor (especially malignant), I dont think I would have lived a normal life for 14 years.
That makes me a little happy. What is your opinion?
Are there cases where people live more than 15 years with malignant tumors?

Looking forward to your inputs ...

Regards,

[sllowe]

Hi there,

Welcome to our forum.

I'm so sorry you have so much going on.  It's been a long while since that MRI 14 yrs ago. The name (that you mention trying to remember) is not something I'm familiar with.  But, your list of symptoms is a good start to a timeline.  If your interested in making one we have a health page on how to prep them (top right hand corner of the site).

Is your BP and hypertension controlled? And, you have migraines to boot?  My guess is that any one of these three can and oftentimes do cause brain and vision changes not to mention feeling badly overall.

You've been so honest with us here and I can tell that your ready to address some of this with a Dr. and soon. I hope we can help you weed through some of this to get a sense of direction for your next steps.  You can count on our support, which I'm hoping puts some of that worrying at ease.

Thanks for joining us.
Shell

[HVAC]

Only a Neurologist can diagnose a brain tumor or MS. My Neurologist ruled a brain tumor out before diagnosing me with MS.

If you think you have MS it is important to follow up and get a diagnosis one way or another. If it is MS there are drugs to slow the progression.


Good luck.

Alex