MS and Lupus together

[scaredguy309]

Well, i have been doing alot of research and it looks like i have both lupus and MS unofficially.Yes i am still waiting for my ANA but look at these symptoms. I have attacks that came a couple months ago, left and recently came back, only to leave again. My first attack came with mostly faigue, headache and joint pain. Recently they came back worse. Am constantly in the sun cause i live in the tropics so  don't know if it was because of that, but i got a red butterfly rash on my face together with some white patches of dried skin on my face. Then that disappeared and then came the joint pains, little fatigue, few headaches, all over body aches, many fasiculations all over (small spasms), muscle pains. When those started subsiding, i became weak all over with depression, difficulty swallowing and anxiety. However I have a histor of panic attack so the depression and swallowing with choking sensation is most likely due to that. The biggest worry is my muscles. Don't know when it started but i just know it was there after the first attack and remains. My muscles have tremors when i do eccentric contractions. Example when I contract my bicept, there is a little vibration but its not as bad as when i extend it. Like if i have some weight such as a dumb bell, and i slowly lower my bicept (extension) with it in hand, that movement is jerky. This happens in all, and i mean all my muscles.Even in contraction they seem to be contracting slower than normal. Example when squatting and i observe my thigh muscles, you can actually see them contracting and relaxing in a slower than usual fasion. Normally they're supposed to contract and relax so quickly that it just seems like a vibration. Hope someone understands as am trying to put this as simple as possible. Now all my symptoms are gone except my eyes heart at times, still have spasms/fasiculations and ofcorse my muscles. Strangest thing is my muscle strength doesn't seem to be affected. I know cuz i do gym. My blood works so far: some lupus latex test (not ana) was neg, Rheum factor:neg Liver, kidney and pancreas function:normal, CK levels:norm and sed rate remains at 3. Only abnormal results are: lymphocytes: slightly high, neutrophiles: slightly low, LDL(cholesterol): slightly high Any ideas?

[Udkas]

Best wishes with your rheumy.  I hope you don't have to wait too long for the results.
Take care,
Udkas

[Heather3418]

My first symptoms of MS came after a bout of a bad chest infection.  My right torso went totally numb and I had tingling going up and down that area.  The doctor's first thought it was a case of shingles.  Treatment for that didn't work, so I was sent to a Neurologist.  It was found that I had right sided weakness and the total numbness in my torso. I also showed what they call nystagmus in my eyes, where they shake back and forth. My reflexes in my legs were hyper and I was sent for an MRI of the spine.

A lesion showed up in my right side, thoracic spine.  I was then sent for an MRI of the brain.  By then, I had had two distinct "attacks."  I was found to have 5, possibly 7 lesions in my brain.  That was all put together with my attacks, my abnormal neuro exam and my symptoms and I was diagnosed with MS.

I didn't have a spinal tap for several years after diagnosis, but it showed the typical "O" banding in the spinal fluid, further clinching my diagnosis.  

Hope that answers your questions.  Keep hanging in there, you hear?

Best Wishes,
Heather

[scaredguy309]

Many of your questions are answered in my first or subsequent posts. I know there are more criteria. You need 4 out of 11 to be exact. I stated above just some of the other blood work done, so am not just relying on the ana, it will be in conduction with my symptoms and other blood work that my rheumy will dx me.

[Udkas]

Hi there,
for a Dr to diagnose lupus you need to have more than one of the criteria, I think from memory it's 6 things out of a list of 10. There is certain diagnostic guidelines for diagnosing lupus.

ANA test alone is not enough, some perfectly healthy people have a positive ANA test, and ANA test that is abnormal can occur in other connective tissue disorders. Heather is right it is done in conjunction with other tests and symptoms and physical exam etc.

I think in the Lupus criteria for diagnosis there is a scale of 11 criteria and you need to meet something like 6, so ANA alone won't give that, as like stated some normal individuals can have a positive ANA.

You need to have photosensitivity, lupus rash etc., etc.

Please be guided by your Dr, has your Dr ever indicated that they are concerned for these diseases?  Have you told the Dr your fears as I think you should as then they might be able to help you.

Again as in my last post to have MS and Lupus together would be like trying to win lottery, it would be very rare.  

Many problems can be made worse by stress/anxiety.

I do think you are worrying yourself, can you make an appointment and discuss your fears/concerns with your Dr.

Keep us posted,
I hope your tests go well.

[scaredguy309]

Hey thanks heather. The ANA am doing is the doc checking for lupus. At the time, ms wasn't yet in question. I to do hope that a cure is right around the corner cuz it seems like a serious nuisance. I think its one of those things humans will look back on and feel sorry for those who had to suffer unnecessarily. Just like pre-antibiotic times. Anyway i will let you guys know....thanks...what were your symptoms though heather?

[Heather3418]

My son in law DOES have Lupus.  An ANA test by itself means nothing.  It is usually done in conjunction with SED rate and RA.  In my son in law, all three of these tests were positive.

I have been diagnosed with MS for over a decade.  I have had a coupleof SED, RA and ANA's done.  One time was ANA was slightly elevated, but my SED and Rheumatoid Factor were negative.

I was also concerned when I noticed a butterfly-like rash on my face.  I was sure I had Lupus along with MS.  What I found out from the docs, was that I had simple Rosacea.
Add that with me being fair skinned and a red-head, I found out that Rosacea was much more common than I thought.

I know that you are very confused with all these symptoms going on.  I feel for you. 14 years ago, I hit the medical computer library hard, when I started having symptoms like MS.  I about drove myself nuts.  I literally sat there ALL DAY looking up, every symptom I had.  If I didn't have anxiety when I went in, I surely had it by the end of the day.

It turned out that I did indeed have MS, but it took alot of testing to rule out other disorders.  It's a shame that MS cannot be found in a simple blood test.

I wouldn't give up your dreams of becoming an MD one day.  NO matter if you have any physical ailment....you can do anything you set your mind to do, even if it turned out you did have a disability.  With the advances being made every day in the medical field, I feel sure that many cures are just on the horizon.

Best Wishes and don't be a "scaredguy" anymore.  Think positive and let us know how things go, would you?

Heather