MS

[Mari566]

Hello,
I have bouted with vertigo for approx. 25 years on and off.  I have mentioned to the doctors over the years I was scared that I had MS.. I use to feel off balance all the time, have headaches, my head hurt in the base of my neck
on a regular basis.  Now the past 6 months, I wake up every morning with everything spinning, and I stagger because I am so dizzy.  I have to lay back down in bed to regroup myself before I can get up again and walk.
I have had probably 3-4 MRI's over the years if not more and all are perfect.  I have been diagnosed with high
blood pressure recently, I do have migraines also so there are so many things also that can cause these symtoms.
I am so afraid I have MS and no one is finding it.  Would I have more symptoms if it was MS?  I have a lot going
on and i know sometimes so many things can cause the symptoms I have. Thank you.

[Mari566]

Thank you for your kind words and responses.

Good luck to you too!

[supermum_ms]

I think you may really benefit from joining both the menapause and womens health forums, I dont know how active they are but i'm sure you'll find other's in either that understand exactly what your going through, much more than here. Even the anxiety forum can help you deal with the emotional side of things, if things tend to something pull you down, great people over there too.

Good luck.........JJ

[Mari566]

I am so afraid of MS and having an illness, my husband passed away suddenly 8 years ago and I have not been physcially well I swear since this happened..  I know worrying makes things 100% worse, but it is so hard not too when you feel so awful.  I know there are many illnesses that can mimic my symptoms, and one of them is menopause, I know that can make you feel pretty awful at times.  

[supermum_ms]

Honestly, stress is often blamed as the culprit for just about anything but its a bit more complicated when it comes to what your describing. For mental health to be a player, 'above and beyond' your physiological medical conditions of high blood pressure and menapause, hmmm it really makes me think its unlikely.

Whats more likely, is your physiological situation is playing havoc with your mental health and making everything feel much more stressful. Take some time to be kind to your self, your on a roller coaster at the moment and once all your answers are in, it should start getting better!

Cheers.........JJ    

[Mari566]

You are so nice, thank you for responding!  I think a neurologist is a good place to go for this problem, don't you?  I have been under major stress
for the past 2 years, so I am wondering if this could do this to someone.
What are your thoughts on stress causing this?  

[supermum_ms]

Hey again, you've got a lot going on with you at the moment and I do hope they work it out, and soon.

An EEG is measuring your brain activity, my youngest had this test when he was little, testing him for elilepsy lol he had a blast. Have a look at this site, it explains just about everything.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003931.htm

You might try not getting up quickly, allowing the blood to get upto your head. Once your on your feet, stand still, letting your equilibrium kick in before you try walking. it might help.

Good luck.............JJ

[Mari566]

Thank you for your response!  I have an appt. with a neurologist in a few weeks and before I go they are making me get an EEG, whatever that is. Do you know what this detects or does?  Having high blood pressure, newley diagnosed, menopausal, weight gain in the past 2 years I realize this could be one of many things.  I have been to my MD several times but they just cannot get on top of this.  It is no fun to wake up every morning get out of bed and all of a sudden everything spins, you feel off balance and have to get back in bed, although it does pass after awhile. so I have no idea what this is.  It is almost a blood flow issue I am thinking, but who knows.. I appreciate your response!

[kwarendorf]

I'm in Sarah's camp too. I had MS for over 20 years before it was diagnosed. I just started DMDs 6 months ago and I'm still working, still a very long way from disabled :-)

Kyle

[supermum_ms]

lol so true, i should of been a tad more specific, try "you would TYPICALLY be expected, to not only be physically disabled....." now this opinion is coming from someone who has walked like a human string puppet since 09 but can trace MS type sx's back 20 years and possibly more, so I may be a tad bias or self orientated. ;o) lol

Cheers..........JJ

[SarahL2491]

not always true JJ but predominately true.
I have had it for 30 yea before diagnosis  and worked up until 8 years ago, despite my symptoms.

JJ has given you some good advice though.  I also feel you need to really stress this with your doctor.  There are symptoms here that don't lean towards MS......There are many other problems that cause what you are experiencing and regardless of what is causing it, you will need testing to start ruling out what it is and isn't

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome, you may find our health pages quite informative though from my perspective I highly doubt your sx are related to MS. Seriously, if you had MS, after 25 years without any treatments, you would be expected, to not only be physically disabled but also have a bucket load of other MS sx.

If you experience dizziness when you get up from a verticle or seated position then that could be indicating POTS, which is related to blood pressure. True vertigo seen in MS, is not situation specific, it hits anytime it wants and lasts for as long as the person with MS is in relapse, and sometimes unfortunately stays for ever more.

I would suggest you discuss this situation with your general dr and see if there is anything you can be doing to improve your reality.

Cheers.......JJ