Severe Cramping and Visual Disturbances

I have had various neurological symtoms (symptoms) for the last 3 years--numbness, dizziness, vertigo, double vision, intention tremor, drunken gait, etc. and my most recent brain MRI said I had lesions indictive of MS.

My question is: I have had over the past year on numerous occasions severe bowel cramping about 1/2 hour after eating (does not seem related to what I eat) and four times did not made it to the bathroom on time.  When the bowel cramping hits, I also lose control of my bladder, and often have visual disturbances as well--usually it looks like "snow" in the air--unfortunately, three times when this happened to me was when I was driving!  This never happened to me prior to the onset of the other neurological symptoms.

My family physician gave me hyoscyamine for the cramping, but I hate to take it everyday for fear of constipation, plus I don't need it everyday.

Could this cramping and associated visual disturbances be related to MS, or just a coincidence and related to the intestines?  Should I see a neurologist or a gastro-enterologist (spelling?) person for this, or both?  

FYI, I am a 45-year old caucasion female, raised in the Washington metropolitan area.

Thanks so much for this wonderful service!

[CCF neuro MD MM]

Bowel cramping , incontinence and visual focussing are all controlled by a branch of the nervous system called the autonomic nervous system. It is possible that your symptoms could be related to an MS lesion which is affecting the central
( in the brain ) pathways of the autonomic nervous system.
This would be an unusual but not unheard of manifestation of MS,
so you would also probably need to be seen by a gastro-enterologist to outrule a local cause in the bowel. Since MS has already been mentioned I think you should start by seeing a neurologist who specializes in  autonomic nervous system dysfunction. This is an unusual subspecialty ,

[Is CCF Reply complete? Ends with a comm]

Thanks for your response! However, when I click on the response, it seems to end with "this is a an unusual subspecialty,"--was there additional information intended?

[M. C rain or MS'er]

I have MS,diag. in 1986 at age 35, which started with double vision, severe fatigue but the oral prednisone treatment my Neuro put me on did seem to have it all subside.I had to take co. disab.  3-98 due to stress and more MS problems more related to cognitive and fatigue.  I had had 3 or 4 spells sine 1986 until I had to take disab. as I'm one of those who just keeps on going like the energizer battery bunny.  Since I took disab. I have had a rash (4-5) of 1 to 2 week episodes, loosing bladder  and bowel control, and fatigue so bad I have to remember to do exercises in bed as I may never get out of bed other than for the necessaries. A recent exacerbation has been going on for about two months and it involves my eyes.  When looking to the left, both eyes make the motion of a coma ",".  I've tried two dosages of oral prednisone. I'm still having some movement but it is better. It is hard to explain but it feels like it is harder to focus on things up close and while sitting on the patio today I looked through just one eye at a time and the left eye was like lookingthough a sunglass lens where as the right eye saw things much brighter? Very similar to yours symptoms.

If  CCF Dr. reads this, would appreciate your input and thoughts on this.

[CCF neuro MD MM]

Completion of message.........
this is an unusual subspecialty and will only be found in large specialty, probably University based neurology groups. You could ask your local neurologist to suggest someone, our specialist here at the Cleveland clinic is Dr Robert Shields Appointments office - ( 216 ) 444 5559

[shirley]

Neurologists specializing in autonomic nervous system dysfunction
are knowledgeable in what areas exactly. Do they differ greatly from movement disorder neurologists? I have most of the problems mentioned above as well as Dystonia, disc problems, tremors, jerks,twitches,pineal gland cyst or tumor,etc., etc. etc. And sometimes, I don't feel well. Ha! Also memory and cognitive thinking is way off. Thanks for any help.

[snowflake]

Hi Shirley,

I'm not a doctor--I'm the person who posted the question you commented on.  I just wanted to say that if you really want an answer, you may need to post it as a separate question.  The doctors are not obliged to answer comments under the questions.  Plus, it's been a while since you posted it, so it's a ways down on the list of questions now.

Also, if you want some more info on the autonomic nervous system, you can do a general internet search on it.  It seems like there are 2 of them--I don't recall the terms, but basically they control things that are usually kind of automatic in our bodies, like digestion, heart rate, sweating, body temperature, and so on.  So I think most of the things that you mentioned that are different from the symptoms I mentioned, are not related to the autonomic nervous system--but remember, I'm not a doctor!  Anyway, i know that a "movement disorder" doc and an "autonomic nervous systems" specialist type doctor are not the same.

Good luck getting some answers, and some help!  I like your sense of humor with "and sometimes I feel bad...".  That's great!

Hang in there~

[shirley]

Thanks, Snowflake.  I'll try your suggestions. Iwasn't sure how this forum worked. Appreciate the info.
Shirley