MS symptoms coming and going for over a year

[tgent99]

I was very healthy until December 2013. I started having odd vision issues and a feeling in my ears that I needed to pop them constantly. The vision was not dizzy but things just didnt look normal. I also had a lot of gastro issues and was taking some different medications for this while waiting to see the gastro dr.

My GP wanted to make sure I didnt have anything going so I had a MRI of my brain with contrast that came back clear. No issues.

My vision symptoms went away but I was still dealing with the stomach issues in January and then they cleared up. I finally go in to see a gastro doctor the first part of Feburary and all my test came back clear.

I began having numbness and tingling in my right side of arm and leg beginning in Feburary. It would come and go along with the stomach issues, vision, a popping feeling in my ears. Sometime it would last for a day sometimes just a matter of seconds. I had a lot of blood work done that was all inconclusive. It was annoying but didnt bother my day to day life.

I would do weeks without symptoms then they would come and go up until April when they started to get worse. I was driving then felt an electric feeling run from right side of my body to left side. THen I began having bouts of fatigue, numbness and tingling on both sides of body. VIsion issues. It started being more dibilitating. I was standing in the kitchen one night and felt like I was going to have a heart attack and went to ER. Ran several test and all came back clear. Started having pain in my ribs and chest and went to Cardiologist. All test came back clear.

I had a period of 6 weeks that I averaged 3 doctors visits a week. Every test they ran came back negative. I saw 3 different neurologist who tried putting me on different medication that only made me feel worse. I missed an entire month of work due to fatigue and numbness. One of the medications caused me to have TERRIBLE migrain headaches and I ended up in the ER again. They did a CT scan that came back clear. My vision problems at this point were non stop along with fatigue.

After numerous failed perscriptions and doctors visits I tried the holistic approach and began to just take vitamins. After about a month off the prescriptions i started to feel normal again. I would have numbness and tingling from timet o time but the vision problems started to go away. My gastro problems seemed to slowly go away. I would have tingling in my face from time to time but was almost at full energy levels by August.

This has continued since August. Feeling mostly normal with rare vision issue and the occasional tingling in my face and head area. I would have weeks where I wouldnt have any symptoms and days where it would be constant. This was up until 2 weeks ago.

Since then all my symptoms seem to be coming back. The vision issues, gastro issues, numbness, lots of tinginlg and numbness. Random bouts of fatigue that feel like they come in waves.

I am so confused on what to do. I was told I didnt have MS but all my symptoms seem to come and go just like MS. Just not sure where to turn next. I dont want to start being test subject for more medications that make me feel bad but I dont want to feel like this all the time either. Anyone have any advice....I for some reason believe I have MS. I dont want to have it but if I do i would like to make sure I stay on top of it and get help for it.

[razan21]

Have you had an MRI ? Years went with many similar symptoms then an MRI gave the all conclusive diagnosis. Finally getting a diagnosis at least settles the nagging question of what the H is going on here.  

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

I have to agree with Alex, its doesn't really sound like MS even though as you've mentioned it comes and goes, MS relapses don't typically behave like what your describing, improve with vitamins etc. Keep in mind that there are many conditions that have the same or similar symptoms to MS, some are neurologically caused but most are not.

I would definitely recommend double checking your medical reports. If every neurological tests (Clinical exam, MRI's, nerve conductor etc) since 2013 have been 100% normal, not inconclusive but normal ( inconclusive can mean something abnormal was found but there wasn't enough evidence to identify the condition causing it), it's less likely to be due to a neurological condition like MS and more likely something else entirely.

If you haven't had your vision assessed, you might consider getting the odd vision checked out, but unless your meaning it goes double, eye ball bounces, lose of vision in one eye etc it probably isn't neurological but at least if you get your vision assessed you'll know and have evidence on the health of your vision.

Cheers..........JJ

[tgent99]

Thanks for talking to me. In regards to the neurological exams they all come out normal. I have seen 3 neurologist and every test was inconclusive. I had one doctor who specializes in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia say it could be one of them but nothing certain.

I realize I am fortunate not to be diagnosed with MS but that would at least give me piece of mind to know what is going on with my body. If the symptoms continue I will try and get my GP to schedule another MRI just to make sure. I just dont know at what point a doctor will order a lumbar puncture to determine the diagnosis.

I am sure you have had a rough time as well and know what I am going through. I keep a positive mind as much as I can. I just have my days and weeks where it really starts to get me down.

Thanks
Todd

[HVAC]

Your symptoms do not seem like MS to me. The only two vision issues with MS are optic Neuritis which would not come and go like that or double vision.  If you have ever had ON it would show up on a MRI.

Gastro issues could be many causes. As can fatique have many causes. I am not sure what is going on. It could be several different things. It is hard to say you have been checked by so many doctors. That is not uncommon in todays medicine with all the specialties. MS has the same symptoms as many illnesses.

MS is neurological so there is an easy way to rule it out. Have a primary care do a neurological exam which is reflexes and such if it is normal it is not neurological and not MS. If it is abnormal you follow up with a neurologist. It has to be abnormal in a certain way to be MS. In mine it showed I had damage to my brain stem and I was not getting signals to my left side of my body the same as my right.

If it might be MS it can take years of follow up to get a diagnosis especially if you have clear MRIs. My first MRI showed MS and I was not diagnosed for two more years, I had 5 abnormal MRIs, and finally an abnormal Lumbar Puncture to help diagnose MS.

Alex