MS symptoms and calcification of choroid plexus link?

[utahmomma]

I was seen in the ER approximately 6 weeks ago for crushing headache, backache, and

[utahmomma]

Thank you so much for your information.  I am having an MRI this week and your words will help me keep everything in perspective.  I am hoping that my symptoms are simply post meningitis / encephalitis and it is not MS.  I've had enough medical conditions to deal with and don't need one more major one!  Your words have really helped me - thank you for all you do for those of us on this forum.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH]

First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.    
   The calcifications of the choroid plexus are a normal finding and are in no way related to your symptoms or MS.  The symptoms that you describe are common after viral encephalitis, but you should have more testing to investigate the cuase of your symptoms.  Viral meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain) causes headache, neck stiffness, photophobia, fatigue, and often resolves with little to no residual deficit.  However, sometimes the infection also involves the brain itself, this is call encephalitis.  Encephalitis is often associated with meningitis and depending on the virus can cause seizures, hemmorrhage, necrosis, infarct, demyelination etc.  The  effects of encephalitis are often longer lasting and in some cases, permanent.  I would recommend that you get an MRI/MRA of your brain to look for areas damaged by the encephalitis.  I would also suggest an EEG to evaluate for evidence of seizures.  I think MS (multiple sclerosis) is less likely in this senario, but the MRI (with GAD contrast and with a C-spine) will help evaluate for this.  Your LP will show signs of inflammation (high IgG index (tourtelotte) and likely oligoclonal bands) due to your recent viral meningitis, and thus the LP will not be very useful in your case.
I hope this has been helpful.

[utahmomma]

Thanks everyone for your kind words.  My internal med MD has ordered a head and back MRI in a week and a half (that's with a rush).  He tested my reflexes yesterday and my entire left side has diminished reflexes and large areas on foot/leg and arm/hand without reaction to pain.  My eyes were also "flickering" (my word, not his) and I get vertigo if I move my head quickly.  

I can't get into a neurologist for over a month and that was just a lucky call right after they had a cancellation - this was for the 2nd choice clinic.  My doctor wants me to go to my local med school's neurology department and I'm trying to get an appointment with them but they are completely full until March or April.  I'm going to set an appointment with them anyway even if just for a 2nd opinion.

This is just frustrating - to go from thinking it was just meningitis 6 weeks ago to progressively losing more function and feeling . . . it

[young at heart]

Your symptoms could be compatible with MS.
A CT is not a good diagnostic tool for MS.A MRI of the brain and spine would be your best options.
A neurologist can rule MS out.

[pick]

the more i read ms symptons the more i realize i do noy have ms  a dr cant even diagnose for sure so my advice to you is to keep doing what you have been doing and take it all with a grain of salt good luck to you god bless

[Demiguise]

I remember your prev-problems posted. I'm sure the Dr will have
a better answer than mine, but the calcifications were't
mentioned because they probably thought you wouldn't relate to
what ventricles were & maybe because Dr felt it was related to
past body trauma from illness. Choroid Plexus is a 'system' of
4 brain ventricles that produce CSF there & for spine. Illness
can cause slight calcification w/ unknown cause including just
plain aging do to body physiology. Location of 3rd will maybe
say more than calcification at 4th. Later you had LP. CSF is
made abt 3 times a day & goes up/down spine & around brain.
1 days LP may differ from another. They usually try to focus on brain lesions/demyelin/csf/clinical for MS. The forums are
talking abt MS like it's a cold going around. There are many
factors to dx. Gd-luck.