Please tell me if this sounds very likely like MS

[Lindavid2004]

I went to the doctor today and my MRI results on my brain didn't show any legions. I don't want to press the issue with my doctor to run anymore tests...I already mentioned getting an MRI on my spinal cord on my last visit and he just wanted me to get an MRI of my brain. He's an older doctor and probably isn't up-to-date on MS.
Here are some of my symptoms I've had:(some symptoms come and go) tingling in different parts of my body (especially on my left side)...always or about always have tingling...numbness in different parts of my body (feet partially numb about all the time, if not all the time), fatigue (sometimes I need help getting up off the couch), shooting pains in my face and head, pains in my eye, itching all over, dizziness in head, leg weakness, off-balanced, leg shakiness, stiffness in legs and arm, burning in foot and leg and other parts of body, frequent urination, twitching, slurring in speech, problems swallowing, cognitive problems ( including word recall, poor short-term memory, language problems, poor attention) HEAT INTOLERANCE..my legs have gotten extremely weak and I got really dizzy after getting overheated before and other times I have had symptoms after getting overheated. I can't even remember all the symptoms I've had.
When I was around 6 years old when I got up to walk after sitting on a chair or couch, my legs were extemely weak...I also had a rash on one of my legs, so my mom and dad called the hospital and they thought I might have had an allergy to the Penicillin I was taking...so I thought the leg weakness was because I was allergic to Penicillin.. my doctor said leg weakness wasn't a Penicillin allergy reaction, so now I think I might have had MS way back then...40+ years! I've had fatigue, problems with speech, urinary frequency for a very long time...and I've had some symptoms off and on for a long time. I only noticed numbness and tingling in the past 2 or 3 years, except for some numbness and burning on my right thigh.
So, please tell me with all these symptoms that I have, if you think it's very likely that I could have MS. Awhile back I was thinking at least 80% that I may have MS and my husband said 95% after he heard a lot of my symptoms.
Linda

[stillsearching1121]

I can relate.  I don't have a dx yet but some of my symptoms are MSers and some aren't.  Sometimes I think maybe I'm overthinking and adding in symptoms that maybe don't belong.  Or maybe some of my symptoms are side effects of meds to control other symptoms and therefore clouding the picture.  I am in the process of coming off of some meds in order to attempt to get a clearer picture.  I had about a 2 year stretch where I was in the bext shape of my life btween "episodes".  I'm trying to return to as similar of a med and food regimen as I did then so I can see what is actually in the forefront of my complaints.  Look up all of the meds you are on and see if any of your symptoms are listed in them.  I have been on Zoloft for PPD after each pregnancy.  Well, coincidentally, each "episode" has occured postpartum.  When I looked up the side effects of Zoloft, I had 13 of the side effects listed under SEVERE: contact your physician right away".  As of yesterday I have started to wean off of that.  If someone had told me my sx were just side effects I would have gotten angry and thought they were discounting my situation.  I want to assure you that I am in no way doing that.  I know how frustrating it can be to have your body "betray" you daily and not be able to find out why or how to make it better.  

This is a very confusing and frustrating rollercoaster but find comfort in knowing you are not alone on this ride.  There are many people, like myself, seated next to you at times screaming at the top of our lungs to get off.  I've just recently joined the community although I have been searching for almost 6 years.  Hang in there.  I know we are all on this journey for a reason and have the opportunity to grow and strengthen as a result.  I wish you luck!  I wish you a speedy dx...whatever that may be.  And I wish you health!

[supermum_ms]

Hi Linda, welcome to our little corner of the web, you might find reading through our health pages, to be somewhat helpful. Though i am thinking its unlikely to be MS and possible one of the MS mimics, there's a health page on those too. Something is wrong and getting to the bottom of it may take some time for you and your dr's to work out.

I'll try and explain my thinking, remember its only one opinion, others may differ but I see that there are quite a few inconsistencies in what you experience for MS to be the more likely dx. I gather your in my age group, mid to late 40's that doesn't negate the possibility of it being MS but since your taking your sx back to the age of 6, MS is less likely with your sx list and MRI evidence after 40 years. Lets assume your timing is way off, and you've just added childhood experiences that dont belong with the now sx, you'd still end up with a long list of secondary sx if it was being caused by MS.

I quite often bring up the point regarding primary and secondary sx, or evidence (clinical or test results). While its true that your sx do in the majority (your husbands right but dont tell him he's right or you'll never hear the end of it lol) are common sx experienced by pwMS, but you dont mention any primary sx or primary evidence either clinical or from test results to indicate a neurological cause.

Primary sx eg lost sight in one eye a sx of ON. Primary evidence clinical eg - positive neurological exam indicating possible brain lesion(s) ie unilateral clonus. Primary evidence test results eg - MRI shows cerrebellum, periventricular etc brain lesions, which are types of classic primary evidence.      

I'm so sorry today isn't a good day for me, i'll have to leave it there for now and try to get my head on straight and get back to it later, again sorry!

JJ