Aa
What does it mean with 2nd attack of Transverse myelitis?
Hello everyone I am so glad I found this forum. My name is Joanna and I am 36. In 2005 (December) I was hospitalized and diagnosed with TM. Just last month I was hospitalized again for the same thing I do have some results here with me and would like to know your opinions on it
a) MRI of brain and cervical spinal cord revealed a T2 hyperintensity at the C3 level of spinal cord.
b) LP= showed 32 nucleated cells in tube 1 and 22 in tube 4. There was a lymphocytic predominance. Multiple oligoclonal IgG bands were observed. Elevated IgG index.
CAT Scan= show intracranial atherosclerosis whis is atypical of this age.
c) MR brain: There are two punctate foci of T2/Flair hyperintensity within the white matter of the left frontal lobe.
Now my question is this when I had the first attack the only test that was inconclusive was MS. Now with this attack what do you think? I am trying to get an appointment to see a Dr. now.
a) MRI of brain and cervical spinal cord revealed a T2 hyperintensity at the C3 level of spinal cord.
b) LP= showed 32 nucleated cells in tube 1 and 22 in tube 4. There was a lymphocytic predominance. Multiple oligoclonal IgG bands were observed. Elevated IgG index.
CAT Scan= show intracranial atherosclerosis whis is atypical of this age.
c) MR brain: There are two punctate foci of T2/Flair hyperintensity within the white matter of the left frontal lobe.
Now my question is this when I had the first attack the only test that was inconclusive was MS. Now with this attack what do you think? I am trying to get an appointment to see a Dr. now.
I was out there refreshing all I know about TM, and was about to write and tell you that I thought your risk of this being MS was very high, when I saw your news.
Well, trudge on over to our camp. We wear the badge of the diagnosed, but we aren't a lot happier about it. It is good to know the name and the game of the enemy, but the problems are still there. Even though it's been a possibility for you, you may have some strong emotions popping up here and there. You'll likely have even more questions. That's why we are here.
Since we are "global" there is almost always someone around to talk to. That's nice in the middle of the night. And remember, we really have no taboo topics.
Welcome to the other side of the mountain.
Quix
Well, trudge on over to our camp. We wear the badge of the diagnosed, but we aren't a lot happier about it. It is good to know the name and the game of the enemy, but the problems are still there. Even though it's been a possibility for you, you may have some strong emotions popping up here and there. You'll likely have even more questions. That's why we are here.
Since we are "global" there is almost always someone around to talk to. That's nice in the middle of the night. And remember, we really have no taboo topics.
Welcome to the other side of the mountain.
Quix
While I'm thinking of it, Joanna - would you mind starting a new post with your diagnosis and how it happened? That way everyone will be sure to see it.
my best, L
my best, L
Hi AT34 - thanks to Udkas' sharp eyes and note we are finally seeing your message here. We're not always so good about reading posts all the way to the end.
Let me welcome you to the other side of the mountain - it can be quite the climb to get here through the testings and false starts. I'm so sorry you have MS but glad that you have some answers.
As you've been told, we are here to help you with questions or just an ear to listen. We have a great group here as you know. I hope this place will be special to you and help with the mental adjustment you are facing.
Be prepared for the roller coaster ride - you will have a number of ups and downs in the next few weeks and most of the highs and lows are without warningIts quite the trip but please believe me when I say that for most people this disease is not as bad as it used to be.
Did the doctor talk with you about treatment?
Again, we're here for you when you need us. Hang in there and I'll watch for you around.
be well,
Lulu
Let me welcome you to the other side of the mountain - it can be quite the climb to get here through the testings and false starts. I'm so sorry you have MS but glad that you have some answers.
As you've been told, we are here to help you with questions or just an ear to listen. We have a great group here as you know. I hope this place will be special to you and help with the mental adjustment you are facing.
Be prepared for the roller coaster ride - you will have a number of ups and downs in the next few weeks and most of the highs and lows are without warningIts quite the trip but please believe me when I say that for most people this disease is not as bad as it used to be.
Did the doctor talk with you about treatment?
Again, we're here for you when you need us. Hang in there and I'll watch for you around.
be well,
Lulu
Hi there,
I am so sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with MS, but you are in good company with this forum. There are many people on here who have been dealing with MS for a long time and lots of newly diagnosed like yourself who can understand the implications of the diagnosis and how it can affect you emotionally.
If you have questions about the disease modifying drugs there are plenty here who can offer help. I am not sure how long you have been dealing with symptoms but sometimes there is relief for knowing what you are dealing with, limbo can be confusing and draining both mentally and financially going back and forward from testing.
Thinking of you, this forum is a great place to vent and get support, and there is a great deal of information on the health pages on MS, you just click the yellow icon on the top right hand side of this page.
Thinking of you,
welcome again to the forum.
Udkas.
I am so sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with MS, but you are in good company with this forum. There are many people on here who have been dealing with MS for a long time and lots of newly diagnosed like yourself who can understand the implications of the diagnosis and how it can affect you emotionally.
If you have questions about the disease modifying drugs there are plenty here who can offer help. I am not sure how long you have been dealing with symptoms but sometimes there is relief for knowing what you are dealing with, limbo can be confusing and draining both mentally and financially going back and forward from testing.
Thinking of you, this forum is a great place to vent and get support, and there is a great deal of information on the health pages on MS, you just click the yellow icon on the top right hand side of this page.
Thinking of you,
welcome again to the forum.
Udkas.
Well guys I was hospitalized on Saturday and got home today. I have been diagnosed with MS as there are lesions on my spine. It is a hard thing to hear but at least I know now what is going on. I will keep you all updated on my progress. This thing can hit you at anytime as I am learning.
Listen to Udkas as she is our resident expert on TM :)
I was originally diagnosed with TM back in 2008 and also hospitalized. I remember the doctor saying that it only happens once in your life, but there was a slim possibility that it could happen a second time.
I think the others covered the fact that since we are not doctors or experts on your particular labs, they do look suspicious and its good to hear you will be seeing a neuro.
How much have you recovered since the relapse last month? TM can be tricky. Sometimes you recover quickly, like in a few months, and sometimes it can take up to a year. I recovered to at most 70% five months after the event. I later went on to be diagnosed with MS a year later because of subsequent attacks and MRI changes.
We would be interested in hearing how your appointment goes. We all learn so much from each other and hope you will share what you learn if you are comfortable.
Take good care while you get through this challenging time.
Julie
I was originally diagnosed with TM back in 2008 and also hospitalized. I remember the doctor saying that it only happens once in your life, but there was a slim possibility that it could happen a second time.
I think the others covered the fact that since we are not doctors or experts on your particular labs, they do look suspicious and its good to hear you will be seeing a neuro.
How much have you recovered since the relapse last month? TM can be tricky. Sometimes you recover quickly, like in a few months, and sometimes it can take up to a year. I recovered to at most 70% five months after the event. I later went on to be diagnosed with MS a year later because of subsequent attacks and MRI changes.
We would be interested in hearing how your appointment goes. We all learn so much from each other and hope you will share what you learn if you are comfortable.
Take good care while you get through this challenging time.
Julie
Hi there,
and welcome to the MS forum. Transverse Myelitis can often be the very first beginning of MS. TM can occur by itself as a one of attack but usually when it reoccurs there is either an underlying condition like Lupus or the first attack was the start of MS. It is rare for TM to reoccur without another underlying illness but not unheard of.
People who have complete paraplegia from TM very rarely go on to have further attacks, but partial TM is very often the start of MS.
I have TM and according to my neuro the longer I go without developing MS the less likely it is to occur. Also if you have a lesion in your brain it's more likely to end up being MS. My brain MRI was normal. I guess if your TM was caused by a vaccination you would be less likely to develop MS too. My neuro told me he had indicators that would tell him that my TM was more likely to go on and have me develop MS. Apparently I don't have those markers he was looking for.
I can't comment on your LP findings as I don't know much about that side of things but with TM they can be normal and they can also be normal and you can still have MS but sometimes a LP can get you the MS diagnosis and there is things that they can find in your spinal fluid with TM too.. sorry out of my depth here.
I hope your neuro appointment goes well.
Welcome to the forum .
Cheers Udkas.
and welcome to the MS forum. Transverse Myelitis can often be the very first beginning of MS. TM can occur by itself as a one of attack but usually when it reoccurs there is either an underlying condition like Lupus or the first attack was the start of MS. It is rare for TM to reoccur without another underlying illness but not unheard of.
People who have complete paraplegia from TM very rarely go on to have further attacks, but partial TM is very often the start of MS.
I have TM and according to my neuro the longer I go without developing MS the less likely it is to occur. Also if you have a lesion in your brain it's more likely to end up being MS. My brain MRI was normal. I guess if your TM was caused by a vaccination you would be less likely to develop MS too. My neuro told me he had indicators that would tell him that my TM was more likely to go on and have me develop MS. Apparently I don't have those markers he was looking for.
I can't comment on your LP findings as I don't know much about that side of things but with TM they can be normal and they can also be normal and you can still have MS but sometimes a LP can get you the MS diagnosis and there is things that they can find in your spinal fluid with TM too.. sorry out of my depth here.
I hope your neuro appointment goes well.
Welcome to the forum .
Cheers Udkas.
Thank you so much for responding. I am in the process of getting an appointment to see neuro. I am just taking one day at a time as this can be frustrating I know that there will be more tests to come but that is fine by me as long as they can figure out what is going on.
Hi Joanna, We're glad you found us, too!
You are going to see an MS neurologist, right? It sounds like you need to see this type of specialized doctor to review all of these results. Here's what I make of them, but remember I am not a doctor or a medical expert.
a) there is at least one probable lesion in your cervical spine.
b) The Multiple o-bands, I assume were unique from the ones found in your blood serum. This would be a good suport result for a diagnosis of MS, but not by itself. there has to be other evidence of the disease.
Elevated IgG shows that you have something suspect going on in your immune system - the types of things that elevate the IgG include: aids, multiple myeloma, chronic infection, multiple sclerosis and some other autoimmune diseases. Again, just by itself the elevated IgG does not prove much.
I honestly don't know anything about the rest of your LP results. Sorry.
c) there are suspected lesions in your brain
It's not surprising that the only inconclusive test you had last time was the MS - it is a diagnosis of elimination. That means they first rule out any of the MS mimics are being the cause of your problems and then see what is possible left.
Welcome again - I hope to see you around.
Lulu
You are going to see an MS neurologist, right? It sounds like you need to see this type of specialized doctor to review all of these results. Here's what I make of them, but remember I am not a doctor or a medical expert.
a) there is at least one probable lesion in your cervical spine.
b) The Multiple o-bands, I assume were unique from the ones found in your blood serum. This would be a good suport result for a diagnosis of MS, but not by itself. there has to be other evidence of the disease.
Elevated IgG shows that you have something suspect going on in your immune system - the types of things that elevate the IgG include: aids, multiple myeloma, chronic infection, multiple sclerosis and some other autoimmune diseases. Again, just by itself the elevated IgG does not prove much.
I honestly don't know anything about the rest of your LP results. Sorry.
c) there are suspected lesions in your brain
It's not surprising that the only inconclusive test you had last time was the MS - it is a diagnosis of elimination. That means they first rule out any of the MS mimics are being the cause of your problems and then see what is possible left.
Welcome again - I hope to see you around.
Lulu
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