autoimmunebdisease

[patriciahoov]

I had an MRI 2years ago with no lesions. I have many of the
Ms symptoms. Worse again. I was just diagnosed with interstitial cystitis a..which is autoimmune disease of bladder. Wonder if there is any correlation since Ms is an autoimmune disease

[HVAC]

Cognitive issues are hard.I understand. I have had MS since I was 2. I was put in the slow class in first grade and held back in third. I have trouble with words too.

Alex

[patriciahoov]

Thank you.. I appreciate all the info I can get. I have had a definite change in cognition. Trouble recalling names of some items, forgetting things soon after someone tells me something. And I have a light or floater in my right eye..sometimes more. Sometimes less. So maybe MRI would show something.  Diff symptoms I've had on and off keep coming to my mind so I'm kinda disjointed with my posts!!

[HVAC]

Hello. Every case of MS is different and has different symptoms due to where the lesions are. The rule of thumb is the lesions go as high as the symptoms. For example having symptoms in your eyes or head means MS is the brain. If you only had symptoms in the legs it may be due to a lesion in your spine. Seeing an MS Specialist is important. Neurologists specialize. I saw one who did headaches so that is all she saw in me.

The 1 or 2 Tesla MRI has to do with the strength. 1 is the least powerful. Some places use a 3 Tesla. I have always have had my MRIs on a 1 tesla. The computer program for MS is the most important part. They do more slices or pictures of the brain.

To be diagnosed with MS may take awhile. A MS Specialist likes to follow a patient over time. Sometimes every six months. They eliminate all other possibilities to diagnose MS. There are many mimics. No test rules MS in or out. It is your history, current symptoms, neurological exam, blood work to rule out other diseases, MRIs and other tests. The trick with Neurologists is it is not MS until they look at all the evidence and decide it is MS. When they got serious about MS they followed me for two years before diagnosing it.

With me I started with double vision and swallowing difficulty. Then cognitive ( I was put to the slow class), vertigo, left side weakness, and gait issues.

It is also possible to have other illnesses with MS that are not related. I have asthma, migraine, allergies, thyroid, bad disks, and bad knees. It turns out my bad knees affect my walking more than the MS.

Alex

[patriciahoov]

I wanted to add that I have hyperactive reflexes at the patella a..my  legs jumps so high..and with force....I hit the Dr.  in the face!. Wondered if you know if that is consistent with ms

[patriciahoov]

I was never satisfied with his findings. I will look in my area and see if there is a neuro that specializes in Ms. May I ask what kind of symptoms you had when diagnosed

[kwarendorf]

If you are having neurological symptoms beyond your bladder, like double vision or gait issues, then I would certainly want to find out why. I would start with a new neurologist. Any doc who attributes "spots" on an MRI to age goes on my "Run away from very quickly!" list.

I was 51 when I was diagnosed. I saw a general neurologist and 2 MS specialists and no one said anything about my age. The only way to find answers is to start to look for them. We can help guide your search, but definitive answers need to come from docs :-)

Kyle

[patriciahoov]

It was 2yrs ago I saw neuro not 22

[patriciahoov]

My ob gyn diagnosed when My family dr didn't figure it out. They gave me the potassium chloride test... ouch! I saw a neurologist 22yrs ago.. he seemed unconcerned. He didn't specialize in ms. They had an MRI machine that was  level 1or 2.not sure what that means. Would an Ms specialist be more helpful. The neurologist said I had spots in my brain but just thought it was due to my age. Thanks for taking the time with me I appreciate it so much

[kwarendorf]

"All squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares."

It seems you may be a rectangle :-) All IC patients have your symptoms, but not everyone that has your symptoms has IC.I am one of the lucky ones with MS related neurogenic bladder.

If all of your symptoms were confined to your bladder, then IC might make sense. But you are now saying that you have non-bladder related symptoms as well. What kind of doc made the IC diagnosis? Have you seen a neurologist, preferably one that specializes in MS?

Kyle

[patriciahoov]

Thanks..I am 51 and have a marked memory change..I seem to trip alot my legs feel heavy and so much fatigue. I think I need to have another MRI..something isn't right

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

Technically due to part of the IC diagnosis is based on the patient not having any other disease that causes IC/PBS symptoms, and in MS neurogenic bladder dysfunction would cause the same or similar symptoms the connection from my perspective would have to be negligible.    

I would be more inclined to assume neurogenic bladder dysfunction, wouldn't be misdiagnosed as IC/PBS and visa versa with the necessary positive diagnostic test results, along with there being a lot of autoimmune conditions with completely different diagnostic evidence etc. Now having been dx with IC/PBS it may help point more towards an autoimmune condition but i doubt IC/PBS is suggestive of a condition like MS though.

It's probably a good idea to discuss if there are IC/PBS associated conditions with your doctor....

Cheers........JJ