Could it be MS?

[momof3teens]

These are the symptoms I have.  Some come and go periodically and some are present most of the time. My Chiropractor suggested possible MS.  He suggested seeing a specialist... I don't know.  Wondering what any of you might think. I am a 40 year old woman.  Mother of three teenagers.  Born in England.  Suffer from autoimmune thyroid disease and sarcoidosis and have been diagnoses with fibromyalgia ( I think that diagnosis was given to shut me up).

Here goes:

electrical like sensations that start in my head and run down my body very quickly ( comes and goes at any time)
right eye vision blur and a feeling of loss a muscle control of the eye ( progressively getting worse)
pressure between the eyes just above my nose
terrible memory
difficulty finding "the right" words
difficulty concentrating and staying focused
numbness in my left index finger and right shoulder blade (comes and goes)
bump into things on my left side (occassionally)
dizziness and vertigo (doesn't seem to be positional but can occur with movement of my head) often causes waves of nausea (comes and goes)
fatigue ( almost constant)
urine leakage (daily)
stiffness and pain in feet and ankles and up calf ( daily)
acid reflux and heart burn( often)
taste and smell disturbances (occassionally)
Itchy skin

Any ideas?  I feel like a hypochondriac and am a little affraid to present all of these symptoms to a doctor at one time.  I feel a little nuts.  

Sarah

[OperaMBA]

I haven't been diagnosed yet, but I have almost all of the ones you list, or very similar at least.   You are not a hypochondriac.   Do you keep a journal of each day and what occurs?  I have always kept it is summary form, but at the suggestion from folks on this board, I have started to keep a daily log, which has been helpful because there are so many that I couldn't remember them otherwise!

All of your symptoms seem to fit to me - from what I have read.

You should definitely see a neurologist and show them this list.

If you get an MRI, make sure that it is with constrast solution!   Also, make sure that the Tesla strength is as strong as is available in your area.

Richard
OperaMBA

[momof3teens]

Unfortunately I am highly allergic to the contrast dye.  I found out the hard way when I was tested for polycystic kidney disease. So I can't have a contrast MRI. :( I will start keeping a journal that is a great idea because my memory is so bad most of the time I forget half the symptoms I have when a doctor asks me .

[OperaMBA]

I am glad that you already know then!

With having 3 teens, I am sure that you are leading a relaxing and stress-free life!  :-)

Well then, hopefully they have a 3.0 Tesla MRI near you then....   That may help to compensate somewhat for the lack of contrast.   Some of the more experienced posters can shed some more light on that perhaps!

I will be praying for you, for sure!

Richard
OperaMBA

[momof3teens]

Thank you so much.  At least a diagnosis will give me peace of mind that I am not nuts.  However that hasn't been ruled out either. :)  These symptoms have been going on for several years and tend to come and go.  Sometime mild, sometimes severe and sometimes non existant.  Not the fatigue and pain though that seems constant.  I gets old quick.  LOL  Thanks again for caring.  I haven't told anyone of my suspecions, not even my husband or parents. So talking here really helps.

[Deb61]

I agree wtih Richard--many of your symptoms sound neurological to me.  You need to find an MS specialist.  I have had all sorts of diagnosis including a couple that you mentioned--thyroid disease and fibromyalgia.  I also have a diagnosis of MS.  

I also have many of the symptoms that you have described, as well.  You may want to visit an opthamologist as well about your eye problems, if you haven't already.

A friend of mine with MS, is also allergic to the MRI contrast dye.  She has her MRIs without contrast.  Newer lesions will not enhance, but older ones will.  Having had problems for quite a while, if you have lesions, they will probably show up on the MRI without contrast.  The important thing is to have your MRI on a machine that is at least 1.5T with MS protocol (thinner slices to catch lesions).  A 3T is much more preferred, however--the stronger the magnet the better for picking up MS lesions.  

Absolutely keep a journal and list ALL your symptoms.  Some may sound like something else, but there are some really odd things that MS does to a person.  I would have never have thought that the Morse code that I heard in my ears was an MS symptom, for example.  

Also, familiarize yourself with everything you can read about MS--click on the Health Pages in the upper right hand corner of this page.  There's lots of information about MS, what steps you need to take to finding out what's wrong with you, etc. that I think you'll find very helpful.

Are you living in England, now?  

Deb  

[Lulu54]

3? Ouch that can be painful!  I teen at a time is enough.  :-)

Your symptoms sound similar to mine, and I was just diagnosed this past week with MS.  you mention being born in Britain - are you still there in the UK or somewhere else?  I ask because the type of services available through the NHS is very different than what we have here in the states.  I too found that I had to write everything down, so I would not forget all that I was experiencing.  Even if you just keep a record for a few weeks until you get in to see someone it will be helpful.  

You say the symptoms come and go - that is what relapsing and remitting patients experience.  I can't encourage you enough to be honest and thorough with your doctor and tell everything!  It will help in drawing the final big picture.

Good luck and stay in touch,
Lulu  

[Lulu54]

Before I hit send again, I would also like to remind you that sarcodoisis mimics MS - having a thorough neurological exam with your complete history is essential.

[OperaMBA]

I also have the morse code in ear thingy.   No kidding!

I decoded the message and it is a message from the Obama campaign telling me to vote for him...   What'll they think of next!

Yes, these neuro symptoms are way wacky sometimes.

Mom3,

Hang in there.   You have found a good site here, full of supportive and knowledgeable people!

Richard

[momof3teens]

Thanks for the info.  No actually I live in upstate NY.  I moved here with my family when I was a child.  I stated that I was born in England because I know there seems to be "cluster" illnesses from different parts of the world.  I have sarcoid leasions in my lungs and lymph nodes.   I have an appointment Oct 16 to have my eyes checked for sarcoid also.  I did not know that sarcoid mimics MS though.  That is very interesting.  How about mood swings and irritability.  Wow am I a ***** lately. LOL  I keep telling my GYN that I think I am going through menopause because of the hot flashes I have been having since my early 30's.  He just laughs at me.  I guess the heat sensitivity could be MS related too.  If that is what I have of course.  Who knows.  

[OperaMBA]

My wife had premature ovarian failure at 36 after my first son was born.  This is basically early menopause.   You should have your follicle stimulating hormone (fsh) checked, it is quite definitive, I believe.  

She didn't find this out until later though...    She only ovulated once in 3 years after my first son was born and that is my second son, David, as in against all the odds David.  

She never ovulated again.

Her gyno, who was woman btw, laughed at her too.    My wife was checked and when the reproductive endocrinologist has us back in to give her the report she told him that she was pregnant.   He argued with her and got quite pissed off about it, but since she persisted, he took her down the hall for a vaginal ultrasound and there was little 5-week-old David.  :-)

So, I'd have it checked out for sure.

Richard