confused

Have been seen by 5 diffrent neuroligist, and each one gave diffrent diagnosis. some say ms and some say  not sure, and some say tb of the brain. i was in afghanistan for a year in contact for several hrs with local people.

my symptons are neck and upper leftside back pain, double vision, numbness in left  pinky and ringfinger
had numerous MRI's and showed 8 legions but some doctors say that the shapes of the legions are not the same shape as MS. I also had LP  and showed high white cell count

Can anyone give me any advise about any other  exams I could request.I'm also on interfaron which is shot every once a week

[Super_sally888]

Hi Mark,

Welcome!  This is your first post here.

If they said TB of the brain, are they treating you for that?
If it is TB, it should improve with treatment?
Some others will probably jump in here, but at least you need a proper exam and exclusion of other possible causes.
Why are you on the interferon?  For MS?

Sally

[Quixotic1]

Hi Mark, I'm sorry to hear of your dilemma and suffering.  Welocme to the forum.  I am pretty far out from my experience with TB meningitis and encephalitis.  The patients I treated were horribly ill and certainly not up to posting on a forum.  Typically the spinal fluid shows high white cells, predominately lymphocytes over neutrophils and the total protein was SKY-HIGH, often several times normal - in the 100's.

The cell count is rarely markedly elevated in MS.  On the CSF fluid they should have also done an "acid-fast" stain for the mycobacterium of TB and a TB culture should be cooking, may take up to six weeks.  The cell count result points AWAY from MS.  Were there any oligo-clonal bands found?

I think you should get a consult with an academic Infectious Disease Specialist.

So are they giving you double coverage for MS AND TB  (triple anti-tuberculous drugs?)?

I am ignorant of the diseases of that region.  I'm sure TB is among them as it is present world-wide.   But I don't know what else.  I feel an ID evaluation is important.

I wish I knew more.  Good luck and do keep us posted.  CNS infections are a mimic of MS and we learn a lot from people as they get their problems sorted out.

Quix, MD (not actively in practice and a pediatrician to boot)

[wildcolonialboy]

What are the symptons of MS? For the past 16 years I've been treated for an idiopathic seizure disorder---taking lots of Dilantin. I've never been diagnosed with epilepsy after countless MRIs, EEGs. Recently, I had a breakthrough seizure though I always take my meds. I'm 46 years old and in reasonably good health. I've been depressed for some time, irritable, forgetful, disorganized at work. Sometimes, my legs twitch---usually at night before bed. 2 maternal aunts and a 1st cousin on my mom's side have MS. We're of Irish ancestry---who knows who had what back in the old country.I seem to urinate alot, frequently throughout the day and often 2 times at night.My most recent MRI showed non-specific white matter, though my doc didn't seem concerned about this. Apparently, lots of adult MRIs show this I'm told.I'm being treated by an epileptologist and wondered whether my symptons might suggest something else.Should I consider MS as a cause of my condition?