MS a possibility?

[kaceyia]

I am a 35 and female.  I have had strange symptoms since '95 that have been of varying duration. Main symtpoms are a sunburned feeling that is intense, random tingling areas, blind spot in one eye for a day surrounded by a bright halo, few days of right arm being "heavy" feeling and like a BP cuff was pumped up on it.   Upper arm and thigh muscles felt so fatigued. Legs felt so heavy trying to climb stairs.  

I have had two rounds of neuro appts ruling out many things.  

MRI in 98 showed a few small scattered foci in white matter.  No DX.  Tegretol tried for burning pain but no luck.

MRI in 2000 showed scattered T2 signal abnormalities mainly in the periphery of the supratentorial white matter, but there was one small area of T2 signal change noted in the corpus callosum.  No DX.

Had hysterectomy in January 2004.  In March, tingling started up again, leading to intense burning in face, neck, chest, back and arms.  BP cuff feeling returned on right arm, and arm felt heavy for several days.  Burning is strong and doesn't go away.  I can't stand it anymore.  Pattern is so much like before, and I had been free of symptoms for three years.  

Two rounds of symptoms started 2-3 months after childbirth in 1997 and 2000.  Two other rounds started during sinus infections.

Neuro appt scheduled for next month. Just curious if this sounds at all typical or possible for MS.  What else causes lesions in the CC?  Does my 2nd MRI give any clues of something else it could be? I know you can't DX anything but I want to see if I'm somewhat on the right track here.

[MegK]

Has anyone ever had a nerve conduction test or EMG? My doctor wants me to get one and I've heard they can be painful?

[MegK]

Has anyone ever had a nerve conduction test or EMG? My doctor wants me to get one and I've heard they can be painful?

[kaceyia]

I also had sensory nerve conduction studies in 2000 and those were negative.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

Without seeing the films it is difficult to comment on the pattern and possible disorders. The history you provide could be consistent with MS, although not typical. Based on your history you have never had a discrete focal neurologic lesion. However, the MRI may be suggestive of a central nervous system inflammatory disorder, such as MS (but again without looking at the films, I can not make this diagnosis). Other disorders which can cause white spots (T2 signal) on a MRI include lupus, anti-cario-lipin antibody syndrome, and migraine headaches to name a few. You should discuss your concerns about MS with the neurologist and ask about other tests which may or may not confirm the diagnosis. Good luck.

[kaceyia]

Forgot to say that my clinical exams have been completely normal except diminished pinprick sensation in great toe web space and diminished hypogastric reflex.

Tested for lupus, Lyme, heavy metals, RPR, Vitamin-b12 and folate, and probably others.  All normal.

Only thing that ever shows up on my yearly chem panel and has for several years is an elevated GGT and ALT.  This year my AST is elevated, too.  GGT is always the worst.  Right now it's 151 with a reference range of 2-60.  No doctor has an explanation for this.

I don't know if this has any significance but thought I'd mention it.

Thanks.

[SherryDenice]

You have a sunburned sensation too huh?  Very interesting.  I hope this neuro can shed some light for us.

Sherry