MS Symptoms?

[Sambina_88]

Hi all, I haven't been diagnosed with MS, but I have practically every symptom I've read about. I was diagnosed with ehlers danlos syndrome (classical type). My doctor and a team of neurologists in NY are doing studies based on the connections between EDS and the central nervous system. She doesn't think it's MS, But part of me feels like it it. These are some of my symptoms:

*Bladder issues (frequent urination, sometimes burns/stings)
*Bowel issues (attacks of diarrhea, constipation, mucus (sometimes bloody), hard stools)
*Heat makes things worse (showers, baths, moving around a lot/exercising makes me feel kind of sick, hot, and   exhausted)
*Electric shock sensations
*Tingling/numbness in fingers, toes, right side of head and neck
*Leg cramps
*Muscle aches
*Joint pain (not bad)
*Eye floaters (sometimes see flashes of light especially when I move my head)
*Eyes were a little inflamed last june
*Gurgling in throat/rectum
*Acid reflux (chronic)
*Weakness (getting worse). Legs feel like jello
*Muscle twitches (hands, head, neck, legs, etc...)
*Waves of nausea
*Hot flashes, chills. Body temp flucuates a lot/am getting more sensitive to weather.
*Speech issues (fumbling/stuttering)
*Memory issues (have trouble recalling words, remembering things)
*Brain fog
*One time couldn't talk at all. It was as if someone put me on mute. Lasted for about 3-4 secs. Voice just wouldn't work.
*Had trouble opening my eyes in the morning (like my eye muscles wouldn't work/were paralyzed)
*Ataxia (off and on)
*Have gained a few pounds, but my clothes are looser
*Dizzy spells(had them since 4th grade) (once had vertigo).
*Rotten egg burps ,vomiting episodes (had since I was little)
*Tremor like sensations (shakiness)
*Fatigue/ tire easily
*Depression/anxiety (was diagnosed with these in middle school)

I just turned 20 in march. My symptoms started around late may of 2007. It started with headaches and tingling in my fingers and hands and stuff. I had a CT scan done on 5/31/07, and they found a little fatty tissue. They weren't too concerned, but they still thought I should have an MRI done. So I had one done on 6/18/07, and whatever it was had disappeared. In december my WBC count was a little elevated (10.9), My celiac (AGA) levels were slightly elevated (but people don't even really go by that anymore because it's inaccurate most of the time). It just seems like my symptoms are getting worse. So my doc wants me to get another MRI of my brain and spine and an x-ray of my cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. I really don't like getting all these x-rays done because I'm afraid it'll increase my risk of getting cancer.

What do you all think? Does this sound like I could possibly have MS? How much am I at risk of getting cancer from a CT scan of my head as a baby, a CT scan last year, and now x-rays of my back? MRI's don't use radiation, do they? I had gotten cut at a nail salon last year (5/7/07), so me being ocd about germs got an HIV test done after 7 months. It came back on 1/17/08 as NEGATIVE. Do you think that result was accurate? Can autoimmune diseases prolong the window period? Do you think that's what my symptoms are from? I don't have sex (of any kind) or do drugs/shoot up or anything like that. I know that last question was totally not related to MS, But I thought I would ask anyway. Thanks for any help you can give me!

Peace,
~*Sami*~

[Sambina_88]

Thanks guys for all your help. I'll be sure to keep you posted =)

[doublevision1]

There is no radiation used in MRI.  It uses magnetic fields, not radiation, to produce images.  It is a very safe procedure and a very important one for figuring out the pieces to the MS puzzle.

Hope that helps.

db

[Deb61]

You poor dear . . . I'm sorry your having so many health issues.  Giving you (((huggsss)))).  

I hate to hear someone your age going through all of this.  A lot of your questions, I can't answer.  My hunch is, that the MRI machine, is safe.  If MS is considered, you must have an MRI.  I don't know how it works, but someone can help answer this question.  I don't believe autoimmune diseases can prolong the wind for HIV and germs showing up on a test.  

Many of your symptoms overlap with a whole range of other diseases (many autoimmune).  I'm wondering if ehlers danlos syndrome may cause some of those symptoms, too.  There is no way anyone can rule out or in MS based only on your symptoms.  I wish I could help you more, because you appear to be anxious (I would be too).  

I hope you keep us posted.  Take care,
Deb