optic neuritis

[jennifer1821]

Hi. I have been very confused about symptoms that I have been having on and off over the last eight years. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I was very healthy up until age 20 when I was working out at the gym i noticed my vision was becoming blurry. By the next morning I noticed a big bling spot in my left eye. After a couple of opthamologists I finally saw a neuro-opthamologist who wasn't sure whether it was anterior ischemic optic neuropathy or optic neuritis. He decided not to give solumedrol and after a couple of months my vision improved( although I still had a visual field defect). He said that it was probably just a one time occurence and it shouldn't happen again. I had an MRI and it was negative. The only other symptoms at that time were very bad headaches and episodes of vertigo. I went on with my life and was doing great until age 25 when I noticed the blind spot and blurred vision again. I went back to the neuro-opth and he said the papillitis had returned. I also started having some mild tingling around my chin , lips, fingers and toes. I also began having the same vertigo and episodes of vomiting. I had another mri which was negative also, but this time he did some more testing like vng and balance testing because he said that I had "abnormal smooth pursuit" and said that my eye muscles were weak . I was given instructions for eye exercises but no diagnosis of anything except papiliitis left eye. My vision returned to baseline and I began feeling better and forgot all about these episodes until this past summer. At age 27 the papillitis in my left eye flared up again except this time it was a lot worse. I had a blind spot over half of my visual field. Saw a different neuro-opthamologist( we moved in 2006) and he diagnosed optic neuritis. Mri only showed enhancement of entire left orbital field. i was referred to a neurologist who, along with the neuro-opthamologist ran a lot of labs, ana, lyme, esr, cbc,b12, etc. All were normal. This time I got the solu-medrol but my vision didn't return to baseline. i wasn't having any other symptoms until January when I began feeling extremely tired and my legs felt wobbly. I started having tingling in my right arm and both legs. It would feel like my right arm and right leg were "going to sleep" it would only last a day or so and then go away for a day, then come back. One time I had a burning pain in both legs from the waist down that lasted only about 16 hours, thankfully. Then I began having deep shooting pains down both arms to my hands. Also kept feeling like I was going to fall over while walking. Saw neuro again and had mri of brain repaeted, mri c- and t- spine and lp. All were normal. Neuro wanted mri of 3T instead of 1.5T butinsurance wouldn't pay. I had a gtt, b12, tsh, etc which of course were normal again. I was still having episodes of paresthesias, and muscle weakness until about 3 weeks ago. For about 2 1/2 weeks I was also having trembling of my hands and could barely write at times. i was having twitching of my right fingers and then it just stopped! Then my family noticed that my left eyelid was drooping for a few days. Now it all seems to be gone again. I am now 9 weeks pregnant and vey confused as to what's happening. my neurologist is now going to do emg/nerve conduction studies and even suggested another mri of the brain(before i knew i was pregnant). He is baffled also. He said I am still demyelinating suspect though? and is questioning whether to start immunmodulatory therapy? I am so worried. Any advice?

[lee815]

I feel for ya girl you do have a lot going on i think there's a site you should take a look at.  http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx    Look under About MS and see if this helps you with understanding you symptoms look at the symptoms part. It sounds to me like there may be somthing wrong with your centeral nerves system (CNS) However there are a lot of other nerves sysptoms that mimic MS and other diseases. Optical Nerutries is one of the first sysptoms of MS but also other things.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         This site may lead you in the right direction I wish you and your unborn blessing the best of luck!! Have a great day and try to keep a good positive attuied twords your jurney.  Sorry for the wrong spelling.   Best of wishes----LEE

[cjacks]

HI Jenn

Welcome to the forum.  It sounds like you have a lot stuff going on. This is a great place for knowledge and comfort , with some of THE best people.  Stick around , read as much as possible.  There is a section towards the top right of the page  'Health Pages'  go there ,  ( MS Index ) a ton a good info.  

I don't know much about this  and don't want to speculate on your situation . but I know that with MS a pregnancy will stop sx. And everyone here has children , with no ill effect on the babies.  I hope more people will respond to your queries.

May I make a suggestion.  Some people , as you know , have visual problems , and have a difficult time reading text that is in one large paragraph .  It is easier reading if a post is broken up into different paragraphs, for separate thoughts.

All the best to you and your family,  I wish I had more for you.     Hang in there

HUGS       Jo