HELP: MS tests negative, MS symptoms, in wheelchair for 14 months

[canadaeh415]

Hi, I'm a 52 year old female, was basically healthy.  Five years ago, my left side became numb. I thought I was having a heart attack. Went to hospital and was told I was o.k.  My left foot stayed numb for a few days and it went way.

Five years later, I started having tingling and numbness in my left foot again.  I thought it was a circulation problem.  A few days later, it was my whole left side that numb with pain and tingling.  Within a week I couldn't walk and have been in a wheelchair since.  I am also tired, dizzy, brain fogness etc.  I have had MRI's several times in the last 14 months as well as LP.  All tests are negatives.  My GP still thinks it's MS and is sending me again for another MRI and to a 2nd Neurologist for a 2nd opinion.  Anyone been in this situation?
Thanks for yours replies!

[SarahL2491]

Well, I had, according to my current neurologist, MS for 31 yrs before getting a Dx.  Many of us have spent years and seeing many neurologists before getting a Dx.

Sorry that you are having such problems.  Of course, there are other neurological difficulties than MS.  As Doublevision says, there are other tests.

Keep a timelog of your symptoms and how long they last; they can prove helpful when talking to new doctors, they act as kind of a road map to them!

[doublevision1]

My situation was quite different than yours in that my dx was straightforward after my second attack. I just wanted to mention that I used to live in Northern Alberta and was a patient at the MS clinic at U of A. There is a great team of neurologists there. If possible your GP should try to refer you there as they have the most experience with MS vs a general neuro. In addition to follow up MRI and LP, they could administer other testing such as evoked potentials.

I'm sorry for what you're going through and hope that you find some answers soon. Fight for those answers and be your own best advocate. Keep us posted on how you're doing.