Unable to Diagnose

[tes1975]

I am a 36 yr old woman who has been for an MRI which came back normal.  I have been experiencing many symptoms associated with MS. My father has been living with Ms for the past 16 years and I am all to familiar with the disease.  my symptoms include .... blurred vision, double vision, smokiness in my vision, severe headaches, fatigue, sensitivity to heat, body aches especially in my arms and legs, stiffness and bladder problems.  

My question is that if my MRI came back normal what is my next step to finding out whether or not I have MS.. Does anyone know if there is another condition that I may have that is making me have all the above mentioned symptons.

I was just at the Neurologists last week and he is sending me for another MRI / Angiogram.  MRI will be of both the head and spine.  Is it possible for something to show different on this scan than that of the one I had only 2 months ago?  

I know that there is something wrong with me and it is frustrating to not have the answers. I am new to this group and I am glad to see that I am not the only one facing this.  

[Ricobord]

Be sure to get tested for Lyme Disease and Bartonella, both tick borne infections, ideally at IGeneX, a specialty lab. Most standard labs miss 30-50% of actual cases, according to doctors who treat a lot of Lyme.

Lyme is everywhere in Canada, despite officials and many doctors who still deny it.  I have both and my symptoms mimiced MS.  Bartonella makes the neuro (and GI) symptoms of Lyme worse. You can find more info at canlyme. org.

If you have any doubt about an MS diagnosis, be sure to get tested for Lyme before taking any immune suppressing drugs.  Steroids are devastating for a Lyme patient.  I ended up in the ER a few days after being given steroids, and began a 4 month downhill cascade of worsening symptoms and hospitalization.

If steroids make you feel better, that is a confirmation of an overactive immune system.

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome to our little MS community, you might like to have a read through our health pages, found just to the right of your screen. The ones on the Mcdonald Criteria and MS mimics may give you some good ideas on tests etc.

2 months between MRI's is closer than whats common but its possible that the first MRI was not done the way your neuro needs them, eg MS protocol. 1.5T vs 3T. constrast etc It is entirely possible for a new lesion to show up but it wont necessarily give you anything more than you have, it just depends on a lot of things, though as i said it is possible.

A lot of your sx are a bit vague, the visual sx though can be tested and can be important additional objective evidence leaning towards or away from MS. eg Optic neuritis (ON), adult onset Nystagmus, diplopia (double vision). A neuro-opthalamologist is best but a good optomitrist can do initial testing and refer you on if its necessary. I'd be getting my eyes looked at and make sure blood tests have been done eg Lupus, RA, Vit B def, pre-menapausal etc etc

Cheers...........JJ