Waiting on MRI results

[Chelee33]

I'm a 33 year old female and I have been going through some odd illnesses since 2006.  I am an Army officer, so I haven't had any continuity with a primary care manager.  I was sent to the neuro and went on Saturday to get a MRI.  My problem is that my family and friends keep telling me that it's probably just something silly and not to worry about it.  Now I would take their advice, but after I wrote down my list of medical issues since 2006, I am really concerned that it is MS.  Is it worth it to have a serious talk with my family to get them to understand that this is a possibility before I get my results back?  If it is MS it will change my life drastically, because I most likely will not be able to stay in the Army and I currently live far away from my family.

My symptoms started in 2006 with a horrible headache that lasted a month.  About 6 months later my eye started twitching for about a week.  I went to the eye doctor and she said I had optical neuritis.  A few months after that I had "costrochondritis.". I don't lift weights or do very much strength training, so I found that to be odd.  It last for a month.  That was in 2007 I think.  In 2008, I had extreme vertigo for a month.  Everything seemed to be spinning.  My doctor at the time said it was probably just an ear virus.  I went to Iraq in 2009 and that's when things really started to be more frequent.  I always felt fatigued and would get light headed, but not pass out.  The doctors over there said I had anxiety, put me on meds, and sent me to counseling.  Right after I got back from Iraq, I had very bad stomach issues and tremors.  I lost 10 pounds in a week (i was only 112 lbs to begin with).  They did all kinds of tests to see if I caught a bacteria while in Iraq, but everything came out fine.  They diagnosed me with IBS and put me on bentyl.  I also have acid reflux.  The funny thing about the IBS and acid reflux is that it only lasted for about a month each (I didn't have it at the same time).  The military doctors kept saying all of this couldve been due to anxiety.  Since then, I have changed to a less stressful position.  I started getting very faint tremors in my legs about six months ago.  My doctor at the time said it could  be from the anxiety medicine im on, so we changed it to a different one.  The tremors have manifested to my core and arms and get more noticeable if I'm tired.  About two months ago my right arm felt like it wasn't attached to my body, so I went to the doctor.  Finally, this one sent me to the neurologist.  My arm feels normal now.  It last for about 2 months.  The neuro put me on propanerol for the tremors and Tylenol 3 for the headaches I get.  I also have muscle tightness and random muscle spasms that get worse when I'm tired.  All of these things seperatly wouldn't concern me, but now that I've written everything down it seems like there is something wrong.  I've been reading posts on here that others have put up and any advice on how to deal with the unknown or articles that may be useful would be greatly appreciated!  

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[Emily_MHManager]

Hi everyone -

Let's keep this on track for Chelee to get the answers she needs and deserves.  Arguing only hijacks the thread and distracts from her questions.

Thanks,

Emily

[SarahL2491]

knowing how "vague" military facilities can be in performing neuro exams, I think she should proceed with trying every avenue to find out what has happened to her.

I truly hope she stays in the forum as we welcome her.  I too have had many of the same symptoms she has had and I DO HAVE MS.  It took me 30 years to get a DX.  

Everyone settle down and play nice

[Gio77Italy]

I'm not watching this forum I found the question in the suggestions.

I'm not disregarding her symptoms, I know how to read I'm only saying they are not specific of MS. That practically means that it could be from another 1000 different reasons. Many of which can heal spontaneously over time. Some of them could be the side-effect of the drugs she was taking. The Neurology Experts forum seems to be up and running maybe we could ask one of the Doctors.

as for the Best Answer thing I don't think you can pick one before 24h and any ways I guess she too knows how to read...

Really after all I have extra reason now to hope that her MRI will be clear ...

[michelleric]

Hi,

So i am hoping this thread doesnt become something that will make Chelle run from here.  This is a very supportive, nonjudgemental forum and it needs to stay that way.  

She has some real concerns, and i dont blame here.  Most of us all start out in that scary unknow place, where we know something is going on and neednsome answers.

When you said, "none of your symtpms are specific of MS", seemed odd.  I dont know if you have MS, as i have not seen you on the forum bodre, so i dont know your history,

When i read her post, i see Optic Neuritis, Vertigo, Fatigue, Tremors, costrochondritis, which could be an "ms hug" .  Yes, there are are sx mentioned as we all have unrelated ms "stuff" as well.

Just please dont disregard her symtoms, as some doctors do, as you have mentioned.

Michelle

One more thing, this was her 1st post on Medhelp, and she "chose your answer as the best" before any other comment was even made.  Wanted you to be aware of this.

[jensequitur]

Now, wait a second.  Many of those symptoms are specific to MS.  I've had every single symptom you describe except for the weight loss.

I also don't see where you're taking psychotropic drugs.  Propanolol is typically prescribed for hypertension and shakiness.  However, I have found nothing that helped my tremors, except lots of sleep.

And I also believe that something will show up on the MRI!  So I completely disagree with this Gio77Italy person.

Let's start at the top with extreme headaches and optic neuritis.  Both of those symptoms are common with MS.  For some reason MS attacks the head first, so symptoms show up there, especially facial numbness and eye problems.

I thought I had costochondritis, and later thought it was esophageal spasm.  Turned out to be esophageal spasm triggered by a slight case of heartburn every day.  The cause of the esophageal spasm is a lesion in my spine, right around bra level.  I also get muscle spasms around the ribs, caused by the same lesion.  I probably have a loose stomach flap, because the heartburn comes and goes.

I had vertigo for three years, either from the lesion in my brainstem or the lesion in my cerebellum.

I had tremors in my limbs because of the cerebellum tremor.  It got worse when I was tired, and when I tried to use my muscles for something.

My right leg 'went away' soon after my first symptoms started, and now I have constant problems with it.

I have muscle tightness and muscle spasms on a regular basis.  I had been taking Baclofen for it, and recently titrated down and switched to Flexaril so I could stay awake at night.  I still have to stretch every day.

At this point I would talk to the neuro about getting an MRI.  With the helium shortage, it may be difficult to get an appointment, and I don't know what your deal is with the VA - if you have copays.  Other ways of diagnosing MS involve optical coherence tomography, which measures the thickness of your nerve tissue in the eye.  They can also do a spinal tap to check for antibodies in your spinal tissue that has crossed the blood-brain barrier.  

Good luck!  An MS diagnosis is no fun, but it'll help you to know what's going on.

[SarahL2491]

am sure she had good reason to take these drugs, after all, none of us have been in a war situation, so I don't think we are the ones to critique her on that area of her life.  Just saying and going back under my rock

[SarahL2491]

We thank you for your military service for our country, to start with and am sure many do not understand what you have gone thru, physically and mentally while over there.

I'd wait for the MRI results and then speak with your doctors.  

[michelleric]

I just re read my post.  I was wondering when will you get your results back, not if you are having an mri. Sorry.

I would wait to talk to your family until after you meet with your doc to discuss the mri.  That is just what i would do.

Wishing u well...

[michelleric]

Hi, welcome to the forum.  I am glad you are Seeing a neurologist now.  Did the doc recommend an MRI?

I hope you get some  answers soon.  I have had some of your symptoms as well.  I have MS. There are a multitiude of ms mimics,mso hopefully you have a good neurologist who can help figure out whats going on.

We have some excellent health pages, located on the upper right hand side.  Check them out, full of great information.

I dont understand the post before me by the way. Dont worry about it.  I would do just what you have done so far.

Take card,
Michelle