I think I have MS, doc thinks I am having seizures. Help

[Unregistered]

I am 34, mother of four. I have had episodes since I was 21, but then it would be years till the next one. I have had 7 major episodes since age 21 to Feb of 06. But since Feb 06, it has been prety much non-stop, a few good days in there.

My symptoms are muscle pain(mostly on left side of body, mosty thigh) numbness, stumbling, droping my left foot when walking, trembling hands, extream fatigue, twitching muscles(sometimes severe), blured and warped vision, urin retention. When I am realy bad I can hardly walk to the bathroom, and my speach gets slurred and slow.

I went to a doc in June, did MRI w/o contrast. Showed nothing, no lesions. Her conclusion..." I think its just stress" Wow.. are you kidding, stress.. wow it can cripple the healthy person.

So now doc #2 thinks I am having partial complex seizures, a kind of epilepsy.
I don't agree at all. I have done tons of research and it just doesn't add up.
Not to mention, if this is siezures, I am haveing them nonstop, for over a year. I am never incoherint or unconcious, or confused.

I need help. I need an answer. My husband and kids are all anxious to get answers, but I feel like I am on a wild goose chase. I can't wait years for a DX. Should I push for another MRI with contrast and a spinal tap? Help...

[acuann]

Don't you just love docs who say "must be stress"?! Such garbage!

Find a doc who has worked with MS, or better yet find an alternative pracititioner who has worked with MS. I understand it is hard to diagnose.

Do you currently take any medications? Are you on birth control pills or take any other type of hormonal birth control?

More testing should be done. But consider trying acupuncture or chiropractor in the meantime as they can be very helpful.

Best wishes.
DOM

[Unregistered]

I think this could be stress.
It is reasonable to test further for MS with spinal tap, evoked potentials, contrast MRI fo the brain and cervical spine, but a previously normal brain MRI tends to argue against MS.

[Unregistered]

Hi, Its me, the original person of this post.

to answer some questions, I am not on any hormones or any kind of medication.

And yes I know that typically a negative MRI means that you most likely don't have MS. But I also have met and talked to over a dozen people who had clear MRI's for years and progressive symptoms and several relapses, before they had anything show up . One person was diagnosed though Spinal tap five years ago, and just this year her fist lesion showed up.

The thing is, you cant get treatment with out a diagnosis. And ms is not something to wait around for five years with symptoms getting worse, when all you need is a doctor to listen to you and do the **** test.

[Unregistered]

But you've had symptoms for 14 years; almost without question, a brain MRI at this point would be abnormal if you had MS.

A spinal tap is a test that carries at least slight risk to you, so I understand why a doctor wouldn't want to pursue that if he/she really doesn't think you have the disease. Evoked potentials - somatosensory, visual, brainstem - are non-invasive ways of looking for MS, and, if normal (along with a normal brain MRI), I think would effectively rule out that concern.

It could be all of your symptoms are not due to a single cause; left leg and foot problems could be due to a pinched nerve in the back, for instance. And I wouldn't discount totally the idea of "stress." It can do funny things.

[Unregistered]

My 24 yr old daughter started having seizures when she became pregnant. She is on Dilantin and still having seizures. The benefits of Dilantin out weigh the risk of a seizure during pregnancy.
I have wondered if she has a pinched nerve? She has a cyst on her right ovary that will be removed surgically on March 1st. She is only 17 weeks along in her pregnancy and has had 4 seizures.

Any advice?

[Unregistered]

I don't know if you will get this as the last post was a few days ago. I have also had MS symptoms for a few years and the doctors I've been to have been less than helpful. Please keep getting tests. We have to be aggressive with our own health care as most doctors do not spend enough time with us to know what is really going on. Keep a record of all of your symptoms and when they happen and how long they last. Keep trying to find the right doctor. I was told that I was too old to develop MS despite the fact that my mother and sister have MS and developed it in their 50's. Doctors do not often have the time or interest in people with symptoms of MS that do not present clinically according to the accepted criteria. I have been in limbo with this for a few years and understand the frustration of not being listened to. Do research on the internet. I do go to alternative practioners and it helps. Please don't give up. I won't if you don't.

[Tabaitha]

I understand what you are going through.I have been sick for 5 years.It started with feet pain and pain in my chest that dr's said was pleurisy .Well 5 years later I still have "pleurisy" .Then I had terrible swollen joints and severe muscle pain.Now I can't feel my legs. Some times I can drag myself to walk and other times I can't feel them at all.I also have slurred speech.I just had my first MRI with contrast on my head and entire back and they said it was normal. I have not had a spinal tap yet.It is hard to be suffering and not know what is wrong.It is hard for other people to understand.Please know that you are not alone.I pray you find out soon.

[Unregistered]

this sounds bad but i'm so glad i'm not alone i have also had syms but mri was nor. problems have gotten much worse i have given drs one last chance and am having testing done today 3days really will register when on sec site

[Unregistered]

Just wanted you to know I am going through the same thing. I lost my job in Oct. 06 have not been allowed to drive or work was told I have epilepsy but in Tx that does not qualify you for any help financially. I recently changed doctors, and now I have epileptic spells cause buy other stuff and a nerve disorder that we will "worry about later". In the mean time my 6 year old doesn't understand why we can't go to chuck e cheese once a month like we used to and why we don't have any money to buy groceries. I just now (april 07) got her to understand mommy can not drive a vehicle for any reason - that I was told if I did and I was caught I would got to jail. how fun.
So everyone out there you are not alone - I am sooooooo glad I AM NOT ALONE!!!