Do I possibly have MS?

[elie777]

I HAVE BEEN SICK FOR MANY YEARS SINCE 1974, RIGHT AFTER GIVING BIRTH TO MY FIRST DAUGHTER.  I HAVE EXPERIENCED A MULTITUDE OF SYMPTOMS,  FROM MY ARM TURNING GREEN FOR LACK OF CIRCULATION, TRIGEMERAL NEURALGIA, OPTIC NEURITIS, LYMES, EPSTEIN BARR VIRUS CHRONI, ANTERIOR UVEITIS, SEVERE FIBROMYALGIA , THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME, (MY FIRST RIB ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS REMOVED)  MY VEINS AND ARTERIES WERE BEING COMPRESSED.  IN 1984 I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PROBABLE MS. DUE TO MY CLINICALS SYMPTOMS.  I REFUSED TO BELIEVE I HAD THAT DISEASE, SO I ASKED FOR A SPINAL TAP WHICH COME BACK NEGATIVE, ONCE AGAIN IN 2009 I HAD ANOTHER SPINAL TAP AND IT WAS ALSO NEGATIVE FOR MS.  HOWEVER, ON JANUARY 2009 I HAD AND MRI OF MY BRAIN THAT SHOWED SOME ABNORMALITIES IN THE WHITE MATTER OF MY BRAIN AND RADIOLOGYST SAID CHECK FOR DISAMILINATING (SP) DISEASE.  I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOR WEEKS AT THE TIME THE BAND AROUND MY ABDOMEN   FROM THE WAIST UP ALL AROUND TIGHT RUBBER BAND.  AND ALSO A NUMBNESS AND PRESSURE OF MY SCALP AND FACE, FOREHEAD.  MY LEGS,ARMS AND SPINE BURN CONSTANTLY .  I HAVE TROUBLE CONCENTRATING, SHORT TERM MEMORY,  MY PRIMARY DOCTOR JUST ASKED FOR AND ADDITIONAL MRI AND I JUST GOT THE RESULTS;  MORE DEFINED FOCUS OF INCREASED T2 SIGNAL WITHIN RIGHT PARIETAL SUBCORTICAL WHITE MATTER WITH APPROXIMATELY 3-4 FOCI OF SIGNAL WITHIN THE PERIVENTRICULAR WHITE MATTER ADJACENT TO THE BODY OF THE LEFT LATERAL VENTRICLE.  MOST SUGGESTIVE OF MILDLY PROGRESSIVE CHRONIC SMALL VESSEL ISCHEMIC CHANGE.  THE SKULL LESION HOWEVER, IS STABLE.  ANY ADVISE WELCOME.

[Lulu54]

Hi elie,

It sounds like the neuro you are seeing is willing to go the distance here in finding answers to your symptoms .

The pain around your ribs as you described them sounded like the MS Hug - your neuro picked up on that too.  What else has this doctor suggested to nail this dx?

Just keep in mind that even though you have other diseases such as lyme, you can also have MS.  Unfortuantely our bodies can do more than one at a time!

be well,
Lulu

[elie777]

bump

[elie777]

Hi steph yes I was treated for Lymes with 1 year on injections of antibiotic called Bicillin LA but my symptoms are back the new symptom is the band around my abdomen from the weist to underneath my breast.  I just saw a Neurologist and she is ordering an MRI of my thoracic spine.  She feels that my clinical symptoms discribes MS and the Optic Neuritis also.  So my diagnosis is Probable MS.  She sais it is very hard to diagnose MS.  I have been prescribed Lioresal for the band around my abdomen.  She called it MS Hug.  Do you take this drug and does it work?  Thanks for your reply.  

[steph74]

Hi Elie,

I know there are a number of people here who can answer your question more thoroughly that I can, but what struck me is that it seems like you've been dx'ed with one (or more?) of the main "MS mimics."  One of these is certainly Lyme Disease.  Were you ever treated for Lyme?  Second, the MRI report seems to suggest small vessel ischemic disease as a likely cause of your sx.  What does your doctor say?

As a side note, I think more people will respond to your note if you break it up into paragraphs, or just insert lines when you remember.  :)  It makes the text much easier to read.

Stephanie