Probable MS- are we on right track?

[hc1]

Hi everyone. I am 40 and am awaiting a LP for the final test for MS. My story: about 10 years ago I started to get a numbness/tingling in my face- mostly across my cheeks. It would only last a few hours or so and then go away. I had went to the ER the first time it happened and they said it was Bell's Palsy. I continued to get these random episodes of face tingling which seemed to progress into concurrent light sensitivity and a dizziness type of disoreintation. I went to a neurologist and had an MRI which I was told was clear except 1 "white spot" and it was probably a complicated migraine.
Over the next 10 years these episodes occurred off and on with no real pattern and still only lasted an hour or two. I would take advil and sit in the dark for a bit and things seemed to improve. I was buying the migraine idea, though I never had much in the way of headaches. I continued to follow up with my neuro once a year with MRI's which showed no change in the one white spot. I had all the evoked potential tests which are normal.

Recently I started to have one of my episodes, which always start with the tingling in my face then progress to dizziness. This time it has lasted over 3 weeks. Extreme dizziness (almost like when you get off a roller coaster feeling), fatigue, ear fullness, legs weak and sometimes feel twitchy, my whole head feels tingly and pressure, my tongue numb, and left arm weakness. No symptom is constant but seems to come and go. I went to the neuro, had a new MRI which showed no change in the white spot. He said he wants to get a final word on MS so he ordered a ton of blood work to basically rule everything else out and a spinal tap. All my blood work is normal. I am having the spinal tap next month.

Does this sound like a normal progression towards a MS diagnosis? Am I having a flare?

As info: I also have PCOS and extremely bad TMJ. Thank you in advance!

[hc1]

I think they just called it Bell's Palsy because they didn't know what the problem was.  I didn't have any pain or drooping, just the tingle across my cheeks.  I don't think that's really what I had.  I don't trust ER docs much.

I did have a head and neck MRI in 2011 which only showed the one white spot in my brain.  My last MRI was only the brain since it was ordered by my PCP.  I am sure I will have a new cervical one done upon my next neuro visit in 3 months.  

Thanks for your thoughts!

[Panos1978]

Hi,
You mentioned that 10 years ago doctors thought you had Bell's Palsy - Was that officially dx because of the nerve damage of your face or was just hypothetical? DId you have any cervical cord MRI all those years? I wish all the best

[hc1]

Thank you so much for your response and concern.  Yes limboland is no fun.  I just have such weird come and go symptoms, not sure what to make of them most of the time.

[HVAC]

I am sure you are anxious to have an answer. Being in Limbo is a hard place to be. I am not sure if you will be diagnosed with MS or not. I do care and hope you get an answer soon.

Alex