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Help! Have I got MS?
I have had back and neck pain for years along with extreme fatigue, supposed migraines, cluster headaches vision loss. Diagnosed with degenerative disc, sciatica. Diag. early menopause 2 yrs ago due to fatigue, memory loss etc but periods still regular. More recently pins and needles, facial numb feeling down r side; pronounced weakness in r side. Loss of bowel control on 3 occassions, hospitalised due to bowel incontinence, urine urgency, back pain and facial numbness - tested for cauda equine - negative. Rec'd MRI spine which showed ' nothing of real significance'. Bone scan - no result as yet. Had visit from neuro who advised head MRI and Lumbar puncture but discharged by ortho so now having to wait through outpatients. While in hospital urine urgency changed to retention. Leg spasms started and occasional pain in r eye. Now on crutched to be able to walk, so exhausted can hardly function and hair been dropping out for several weeks.
Protein and blood in urine; no idea whats wrong but most freinds etc saying MS. Phoned hospital as no word of tests or previous results to be told to be patient! PLEASE HELP ME I AM SO DESPERATE CANNOT STAND MUCH MORE!!!
Protein and blood in urine; no idea whats wrong but most freinds etc saying MS. Phoned hospital as no word of tests or previous results to be told to be patient! PLEASE HELP ME I AM SO DESPERATE CANNOT STAND MUCH MORE!!!
Hang in THERE- THEY CAN RUN JUST SO MANY TEST-
WILL HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING! LET US KNOW!!
AND WELCOME!! TICK
WILL HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING! LET US KNOW!!
AND WELCOME!! TICK
Thank you for your support. I am getting nowhere with anyone hospital or doctors. Its like I have been 'lost in the system'. I am so exhausted even if I am just up for a day without doing anything! I am trying to hold down a part time job so that we dont lose our house and to try and keep myself sane but I am struggling. The doctor thinks all these symptoms are unrelated but I dont. After each 'episode' I have been left with increasing levels of fatigue which I dont think can possibly get any worse. I now wonder if the back pain is actually the degenerative disc exasperated by the fatigue. I have been told there are no real problems with my back so this would explain it. The more exhausted I am trying to hold my body up all day the more sore I become.
The symptoms come and go mostly apart from the fatigue and tremors (but these do get much worse from time to time) and from what I have been told these are classic symptoms of MS. Do I suggest to the doctors that people have said to me it sounds like MS? I do not know if this is what they are even considering. I also do not understand why they would send me home without any tests to discover what was causing the numb like sensation in my face.
As for urine results they are still not back 12 days later?! I think someone has mucked up somewhere.
The symptoms come and go mostly apart from the fatigue and tremors (but these do get much worse from time to time) and from what I have been told these are classic symptoms of MS. Do I suggest to the doctors that people have said to me it sounds like MS? I do not know if this is what they are even considering. I also do not understand why they would send me home without any tests to discover what was causing the numb like sensation in my face.
As for urine results they are still not back 12 days later?! I think someone has mucked up somewhere.
Hi, just wanted to welcome you!!! This is a great place for support and knowledge!!! Take care, Dawn
Wow. poor lady! You are really going through h*ll now, arent' you. You have come to the right place and we can at least help you understand what is happening and what should come next.
The neurologist is correct. You are having a whole series of neuro symptoms and you desperately need a "good" MRI of the head and a spinal tap would also be a good idea. Do you have MS? There is no way we could know, but you are having some of the more severe symptoms we see with MS. However, many neuro and rheumatological (autoimmune) diseases share these same symptoms.
One thing that might lead away from MS is the blood and protein in the urine, unless it is a urine infection. It is critical that you know as soon as possible if this is an infection so it can be treated. Urinary retention really causes urine infections easily. Ifr urine retention is severe it can lead to kidney damage, which can also show up with blood and protein in the urine, so someone needs to be checking that NOW.
Another possibility with the blood and protein in the urine and the hair falling out is Lupus. Has your doctor checked you for Lupus and the other autoimmune diseases? At least an ANA and a Sed Rate?
Do you know what part of the spine the MRI was done for? Was it just Lumbar or did it include the cervical and thoracic spine. At this point you need a good MRI of the brain (with and without) contrast, an MRI of the cervical and thoracic spine.
These symptoms are progressing so fast that it is quite urgent that you get the proper work up NOW. I know that often things move slowly in the NHS, but you should be given priority and get the basics of this done now.
I hope your GP can expedite the basics and get you in to see a Neurology Consultant and get the MRIs and basic blood work done.
Plese keep us posted. We have a whole bunch of members in the UK, so you have plenty of company. You;re a member of us now, and we really care about what is happening to you.
Remember, the urine problem could be very serious, so getting that checked on is vital!
Welcome, again.
Quix, MD
The neurologist is correct. You are having a whole series of neuro symptoms and you desperately need a "good" MRI of the head and a spinal tap would also be a good idea. Do you have MS? There is no way we could know, but you are having some of the more severe symptoms we see with MS. However, many neuro and rheumatological (autoimmune) diseases share these same symptoms.
One thing that might lead away from MS is the blood and protein in the urine, unless it is a urine infection. It is critical that you know as soon as possible if this is an infection so it can be treated. Urinary retention really causes urine infections easily. Ifr urine retention is severe it can lead to kidney damage, which can also show up with blood and protein in the urine, so someone needs to be checking that NOW.
Another possibility with the blood and protein in the urine and the hair falling out is Lupus. Has your doctor checked you for Lupus and the other autoimmune diseases? At least an ANA and a Sed Rate?
Do you know what part of the spine the MRI was done for? Was it just Lumbar or did it include the cervical and thoracic spine. At this point you need a good MRI of the brain (with and without) contrast, an MRI of the cervical and thoracic spine.
These symptoms are progressing so fast that it is quite urgent that you get the proper work up NOW. I know that often things move slowly in the NHS, but you should be given priority and get the basics of this done now.
I hope your GP can expedite the basics and get you in to see a Neurology Consultant and get the MRIs and basic blood work done.
Plese keep us posted. We have a whole bunch of members in the UK, so you have plenty of company. You;re a member of us now, and we really care about what is happening to you.
Remember, the urine problem could be very serious, so getting that checked on is vital!
Welcome, again.
Quix, MD
Welcome to the forum. I'm so sorry that you're feeling so bad.
You clearly have some awful symptoms, but they aren't necessarily caused by MS, particularly since you have a lot of back issues that date to before your current problems.
You do need a complete evaluation by a neurologist, so try to make that your first priority. A brain MRI is definitely in order. Do you have a good primary doctor? He or she should help you get through this maze of symptoms and direct you to the right resources. You could have MS, but without the proper testing you can't know that.
I urge you to keep at it and don't give up. You'll get lots of support from our forum.
Sending best wishes,
ess
You clearly have some awful symptoms, but they aren't necessarily caused by MS, particularly since you have a lot of back issues that date to before your current problems.
You do need a complete evaluation by a neurologist, so try to make that your first priority. A brain MRI is definitely in order. Do you have a good primary doctor? He or she should help you get through this maze of symptoms and direct you to the right resources. You could have MS, but without the proper testing you can't know that.
I urge you to keep at it and don't give up. You'll get lots of support from our forum.
Sending best wishes,
ess
Hi
I am also very new to the forum, as of yesterday and am in the position of waiting for test results to see if I have MS. It is the most frustrating, anxious time and not knowing what is wrong is so worrying. I think it is easier to deal with something if you know what it is and with you experiencing so many different symptoms, it sounds like it will take time for them to get to the bottom of things. No-one on this forum is going to be able to tell you if you have MS and I too wish that someone could answer this question for me. I have just had my latest MRI scan results back and there was not much change although one lesion shows some activity which accounts for some of the symptoms I have recently been experiencing. All the blood test results that I have had back are normal and I am not sure if this is a good thing as I understand they were for elimination purposes. I am still none the wiser and have to wait for my next neuro appointment which I have just found is on Thursday... Suggest if you are in so much discomfort that you go to your Doctor who may be able to give you something to ease some of your symptoms. Thinking of you and offering support.
I am also very new to the forum, as of yesterday and am in the position of waiting for test results to see if I have MS. It is the most frustrating, anxious time and not knowing what is wrong is so worrying. I think it is easier to deal with something if you know what it is and with you experiencing so many different symptoms, it sounds like it will take time for them to get to the bottom of things. No-one on this forum is going to be able to tell you if you have MS and I too wish that someone could answer this question for me. I have just had my latest MRI scan results back and there was not much change although one lesion shows some activity which accounts for some of the symptoms I have recently been experiencing. All the blood test results that I have had back are normal and I am not sure if this is a good thing as I understand they were for elimination purposes. I am still none the wiser and have to wait for my next neuro appointment which I have just found is on Thursday... Suggest if you are in so much discomfort that you go to your Doctor who may be able to give you something to ease some of your symptoms. Thinking of you and offering support.
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