MS or not MS?

[SunnyBob]

I need some help. I am sure my question is not the forst of this type.  
I am 30 y.o. male. I have been having some MS symptoms for a while and I am now really worried about my health status. I will explain everything in detail and see whether anyone here can help me with an advice.

1. I noticed some transient (2-10 sec) ringing in my ears either left, right or both. It started back in 2009 maybe. It may come and go. Sometimes 1-2 times a day. Sometimes it does not appear for quite a long time. Recently I have been having them almost every day 2-3 times.
2. In autumn 2012, while working in the office (usually I work 5 days a week 8 h per day) I started noticing that my left hand gets kind of numb, but so subtle that I can not call it numbness. I still have equal response to touch and pain stimulation in both left and right hand, but it kind of feels that lefty is weaker. This was not a disturbing symptom, but I got it noticed.
3. In the beginning of April 2013 I started having light tingling (paresthesia) in my left leg. Since then it is worsening and now it became quite disturbing. E.G. I am having troubles falling asleep when it tingles. It comes and goes. If I cross my legs it comes so quickly. Definitely quicker than in healthy person.  I really started stressing out.
4. The last week of April 2013 I started developing fatigue and depression. Depression may be due to the fact that I realised that the symptoms may be an MS. The fatigue comes usually after few hours since I am awake. Sometimes at 2pm sometimes at 11am sometimes at 3pm.

So all this symptoms brought me to a hospital, where neurology has a special MS department. I spent 6 days there. They made MRI with and without contrast, Lumbar Puncture and Evoked Potential tests.

MRI Brain: No pathological changes in brain MRI
MRI Cervical: No pathology
Evoked potentials: Hands and Feet - clear. Eyes P100 test showed that my left eye has 106 and right 107ms. So it seems within a normal range (I read in some sources that everything unto 114ms is normal. However, the docs said that it may indicate some demeilination, but it is not MS specific to have this 106 and 107ms latency. So they are in doubt about this.
Lumbar Puncture will be ready next week.

Blood Tests found extremely low Vit D - 9.8 microgram/ml. B12 is within norm.
Some of the doctors say that Vit D may be the reason for the symptoms.
Doctors so far say that it may not be MS. Waiting for Lumbar Puncture results.
I need your opinion.

Thanks in advance.

[SunnyBob]

I still hope it is not MS and just something neurological that is stress related. Since my symptoms are getting getting better I hope I will not go MS route. I can see that Vitamin D supplements that I ve been taking for 1 week now are helping. At least with fatigue and depression. We'll see. Thanks for replies again! :) Wish you all good health and getting better! Cheers!

[kwarendorf]

Hi SB- It sounds like you're getting closer.

Some people do react badly to high dose, IV steroids. Many do not. Some people also react badly to the oral taper that is suggested following IV steroids. It's a gradual step down from the high dose IV, in pill form.

For many of us the steroids we take are Solu-Medrol. This is the IV fluid version of methylprednisolone.  If you really want to see the possible side effects, I will post a link at the end of this message. I am of the belief that you can talk yourself into some side effects. I am not in anyway saying that people do have very real side effects from meds of any kind. For me, the less I know the less inclined I am to see phantom effects. With my last relapse I had a 5 day Solumedrol course. It was completely without side effects and the benefit was immeasurable!

Steroids do not impact MS itself. They work to reduce the inflammation that is caused by the MS. They will not cause your MS to worsen. In my case the reduction of inflammation was almost immediate and allowed me to function like a normal person.

IVSM (Intravenous Solu-Medrol) was my best friend :-)

Kyle
PS Here's the link to the possible side effects of methylprednisolone.

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/methylprednisolone-side-effects.html

[Mikeyslost]

I can't speak to the ms side of your questions cause I to am in a similar situation. However I do have low vitamin d and one o my doctors told me tha if your natural steroids that your body makes (like testosterone) are low will cause your vit. D levels to be low. He said the reason this happens is because your body starts to use vit d to offset the decencies of the decreased steroid production.  Just an FYI. Good luck with everything!

[SunnyBob]

Hi everyone!
My hospital informed that the Oligoclonal band results were positive. However, the amount of the positive Oligoclonal antibodies is low and therefore not enough to conclude the dx of MS.  Nevertheless, my neuro informed that they would like me to take a 5 day Cortisone therapy in the hospital. It will be in 1 - 2 weeks. If my symptoms will improve after this therapy they may conclude the MS dx. I am still in doubt that it is wise to do the therapy, while there is no MS dx.
However I think I will trust my neuro.

BTW on the contrary the symptoms I presented in the hospital improved. They are not gone, but I feel better. I have less fatigue, less paresthesia in my left leg. Ringing in ears still comes and goes 2-4 times daily.  One thing is that my left hand is definitely working slower than it was 2 months ago. I have to do a lot of typing at work and I notice that. This did not seem to improve.

My B12, Thyroid, Sugar, Cholesterol and pretty much everything except Vit D is in norm.

I have a few questions.
Doe anyone know whether the steroids (Cortisone) therapy can make my symptoms worse? What are possible side effects. Long term, short term?
Can steroids therapy make MS worse in case I have it?
Any suggestion will be highly appreciated.

[SunnyBob]

Hi Kyle! Thanks for the words of support and wisdom.
I am waiting for LP results with impatience. I will post about any changes.

[kwarendorf]

Hi Bob -
First things first...

Deep cleansing breath...In through the nose, out through the mouth...

Try and relax :-) nothing you describe in terms of symptoms screams MS to me, but I'm not a doctor. This would seem to be borne out by your test results. One thing that did stand out was your mention that the tingling in your legs comes on much more quickly when you cross your legs. This sounds like it may be circulation related. The same might be true of your hands if you sit at a key board all day, as I do.

Let us know about your LP results.

Kyle