Need AnswersI am a

[onilee]

I am a 53yr. old female.  Who has lost the last 27yrs. of my life,  Diagnosed finally with MS after 14 yrs. of agony.  ALL the treatments I have gone  through since that time, have done nothing but make me worse!!  Now my neurologist says theres nothing you haven't tried.  There really is nothing to do for you, unless something new comes out, but if they fall into the same groups of treatments I've already had it still will be nothing.  I have thought for quite a while now, that I may have some other auto-immune illness.  One neurologist whom my sister went to for her MS, seen me and came to the conclusion  that I indeed had something neuroloical but not MS.  I will always remember that.  Could someone please give me a list of other diseases that may mimic the MS?  Thank you

[chucksusanb]

I agree, a good Rhuematological follow up should be in order.  Perhaps they could pinpoint it right away with the correct blood tests.  I do hope you find your answers soon.

Susan

[oona]

Get the ANA and Anti-DNA right away. Have you asked your primary to investigate another possible autoimmune disorder? YOu might be right, there could be more than one thing happening and there's no harm in checking things out, good luck!

[thyroidian]

Hi .
With MS being an auto-immune neurological disease, there are many auto-immune diseases which can mimic MS, due to auto-immune diseases having overlapping symptoms.
That is why it is hard to diagnose,off symptoms alone, you need a thorough blood work up, and also imaging tests to rule out other disorders.

My best advice to you would be to find a neurologist, who will test for MS, and the tests you need for this would be a MRI= of the brain and spinal cord. also a lumbar puncture to check for O=bands, often found in MS, also VEP, which are visual essential provoked eye tests. along with bloodwork.

Then if it isnt MS, then you need a good auto-immune bloodpanel doing. ANA. Anti-DNA, ACA, LA, etc, etc, there are numerous,

There are a good few auto-immune diseases which can mimic MS, such as Sjorgens, Lupus, and the Antiphospolipid Syndrome,
The Antiphospolipid Syndrome often gets mis-diagnosed for MS, so you definately need testing for this.
This is a two simple bloodtest,which your doctor could carry out and is simple, the blood tests needed for this are.
ACA= Anticardiolipin antibodies
LA= Lupus Anticoagulant.
You only need to test positive on one of the tests.

Hope this has helped you, and if you need me for anymore help just give me  a shout.
Good Luck
Nicola