Ms or Topamax symtOms

[Vb_2000]

Hi there, I am currently Taking 200mg topamax a day for migraines have been for about 2 months now, stared on 25mg and built up to 200, but have Been on the 200 for 2 months. What I was wondering was my mother was diagnosed with MS at when she was 20, I am now 25 years old and I am suffering alot of the tingling and numbness, all food tastes off to me and makes me constipated, what I would call crazy eyes my migraines are less frequent but are coming on rather sudden I've done my research and these sound like symptoms of both ms and topamax I don't want to lower my dosage because my migraines have gone from 5 server ones a week lasting 5-24 hours to 1-2 a week lasting up to 10 hours so if it is just the topamax side effects I'd put up with that for the fact that I can function on a much better scale with a 4 year old at home if that makes sense, but back to my mum with the ms that has me worried as she passed away 8 years ago from illness so I cannot ask her questions and my gp shruggs it of any time I mention my concern. Should I be worried as I am within the age most people diagnosed seem to have Ms and have already past the age my mum was diagnosed. Also the migraines I have suffered since I was 10 I have tried every thing and had every test around except to see about Ms. Thank you. I hope this makes sense to you and you can shed some light and make some suggestions.

[Ojibajo]

I have MS and I am on Topamax. As soon as I started Topamax, (before my diagnosis) I constantly had tingling hands and feet. It is an annoying side effect of the medication, but my migraines are so bad that I figure I'll take tingling hands and feet over debilitating head pain.

The medication also effects the taste of things for me, especially carbonated drinks. I am addicted to Coca-Cola and it made it taste sort of  like metal. It's pretty awful. I also get EXTREMELY thirsty on it. On the plus side, I started drinking less soda-pop and started drinking more water!

My migraines are what led to my diagnosis. They found my lesions during a routine MRI, and confirmed it with my Lumbar Puncture.

Try not to panic, although your fear is completely understandable. Thankfully, while it still stinks, research has come a long way. There is a lot more hope for someone who is diagnosed today than for someone who was diagnosed 20 or even 10 years ago.

I wish you the best.

Amy

[sllowe]

Hi there,

Welcome to the forum. We do have members who are more versed with the migraine meds and hopefully they can shed some light on that.  That said, I sure do feel if you are indeed being shrugged off by your doctor when you bring up problem symptoms you should (if you can) move on to a new doctor.

In regards to worrying about MS, please know I am so sorry your Mom suffered with hers. And, I'm very sorry for your loss.

Be rest assured there are good meds out there today to fight disease progression, and minimize attacks. Also, your increased risk of developing MS as a child of an MSer is small. This discussion will shed some light on that for you.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/Genetically-Predisposed/show/1302989

If you can get to another doctor, it's best to describe your symptoms and your history. Let the doctor ask about mom and dad, siblings etc. Your fears are understandable since you lived alongside this disease - but no one is exactly alike, the disease is so varied from person to person, and if you do end up with it - you are young and you can fair very well.  

Thank you for joining us, and I hope we can help put your mind at ease and be a sense of support to you.

-Shell