Where to from here?

[Idab]

Hi everyone - yes, I have been in the wings of this forum and as mentioned in my last posting, I would pop in from time to time to get the encouragement that emanates from all you good people.  Also just been trying to come to terms with the anti-depressant treatment:

I have been on cipralex for the past 7 weeks now, but because my next Neuro visit is only in Nov (ha ha), I am battling with what seems to be side affects mingled with old symptoms...
Side affects – nausea and trembling jaw, which subsided within the first week, however increase in appetite and weight has remained throughout (swollen hands and face)
Advantages – eased the swallowing difficulties, although the food still takes its time to go down, I do not have to tell myself consciously that I am now going to swallow, gives me a sense of upliftment – I have become numb to little things that would ordinarily have upset me – no more heart flutterings.  No more pain in the lower back part of my head.

However,  the current symptoms I have:
·         Watery eyes and blurry vision, heat/burning patches throughout my body
·         Neck burning pain – stiff neck
·         Leg/bone gnawing pain (
·         Cramping that feels as though the muscles are detaching from the bone
·         A sensation of urinating, when there is no urine (a warm sensation of water being relieved from my bladder)
·         Battling to hold the urine in
·         Severe constipation – almost as though the sensation of going to the toilet has ceased
·         Severe headaches with lots of eyepain  (lasting 3 – 5 days)
·         Excessive sweaty hands
·         Disorientation and just tired
·         Unable to remember anything, without making a note of it
·         Skin rashes

Quix just your thoughts on my recent visit to my Gynae (I know it is not MS related, but sometimes when a Dr mentions something different a spark of hope seems to appear that this might just be the answer) and her suggestion that I go off the Melodene contraceptive pill (which I have been on for 10 years) and switch over to the Mirena Contraceptive method, which she believes will help minimize the severe migraines I get on a monthly basis (this in turn will also minimize all the aspirin I take).  I have been seriously thinking, could it be possible that the contraceptive pill is causing all my daily bone pain in my upper legs and exhaustion, slurred speech and in general all the sickness I went through last year?   However, I am concerned that because this is also a form of contraceptive, how would it possibly minimise my migraines and with my history of bladder and stomach pain, could this approach cause unwanted infection.  Only when you have some time.

Take care of yourselves and keep the flame of hope going, if not for your continued health then in your continued search for a diagnosis.
IDA

[Idab]

Thank you so very much for replying - I was a bit concerned for the delayed response, but thought that maybe it was a bit off the subject of MS and yes Chris you're right, there has been so much on the go and so many questions to be answered and from people more desperate than me.  (that's where I can thank the anti-depressant - it just seems to take the ‘edge’ off everything)

Kristin, thanks for your note on your contraceptive experiences.  I will be speaking to my hubby as I think that is the best route to go (him being 'fixed').  My medical aid has turned down the Mirena method anyway as they say this will not solve the migraines as the Mirena is just another form of contraceptive - you just don't pop the pill every day.  My biggest concern at present is the constant gnawing pains in my upper legs (Oh heck this has been going on and off now for almost 2 yrs)  It started after I had a severe bladder infection and I just kept putting it down to dehydration.  It disappeared or was just pushed to the background when I went through all my stomach problems throughout 2006.  Now that there is no more stomach pain, the leg pains have become more prominent.  I am trying to get a script of anti-inflammatory's as this seems to alleviate the pain.  I went for a bone scan a week today and this came back clear for which I am most thankful.  I am also slurring quite badly, but I still believe this has to do with my back teeth, which I lost at a very young age - I think my whole jaw is changing - anyway the docs I have seen say it is nothing to do with my teeth?  Therefore, I am hoping that once I go off the contraceptive pill - many of these symptoms will become a thing of the past.

Thank you Carol - I will never say no to prayers as we never know just whose prayers God will answer.

Take care all of you.  You are Gems in mine and many of these people's lives.
IDA

[grannyhotwheels]

Hi Ida, It's a pleasure to meet you.  I don't have any real answers for you but I would like to tell you that I will pray for your pain to subside.  Also, I will pray that your doctor can give you some answers.  I know how hard it is to just go from page to page (like floridamom2 said) without getting any answers.  

Hang in there and keep after your doctor to not skip pages.  Tell him to diagnose the first page before you turn it.  I know it has to be frustrating for the doctors also,  I'm sure that they would love to know the answers to all of our problems.  Sometimes we get doctors that want to act like God and think they know everything, trust me I've had that kind before.  Just make sure that your doctor is covering all the bases.  Because like Kristin said you have similar symptoms that are neurological.  I would want that checked out.

I'll be praying,
Carol

[floridamom2]

Welcome again and very nice to meet you!!  My experience with contraceptives and MIgraines was very similar to yours.  I had a day or two every month of a severe Migraine (redundant - I know) and then my menses would start.  I decided that after my daughter was born 6 years ago I was tired of these hormonal headaches and asked to go off the pill to try and see if that worked to eliminate the Migraines.  It did and I hardly ever have Migraines any more.  The down side is we have had to use alternative means of contraceptives but it has not been a problem for us and in January my husband will be "fixed!".  

When my symptoms started in Mid May I started noticing that 4-5 days before I started my period I would get an increase in my Symptoms of weakness, fatigue, blurry vision and numbness & vibrations.  I have restarted the BCP's to see if the extra Estrogen will keep this from happening.  I am only one month  so I am still unsure.  

I don't know if this helps you at all but thought I would share my experience so far.  Alot of your symptoms sound neurological in nature and are similar to mine.

Have a nice weekend and Take care!
Kristin

[Momzilla]

Hi, Ida!  It's good to hear from you after so long.  Sorry you're still having symptoms and no real answers.  It's so frustrating.  I'm glad you're still lurking about.  We miss having you around!

I don't know how you went to page two without an answer, but as you have noticed, it's SO busy here!  You're as important as ever, so I'm going to bump you back to page one, so everyone can give your note a better look.

Take care!  Feel better!

Momzilla*