Do you think this is MS
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Hello, I am on several forums for various health problems but today I write about my daughter aged 39 teacher married with 2 young children. She is awaiting an MRI scan to see if she might have MS. She has a very stressfull job so is of course often tired. She had been experiencing blurred vision over the last year on and off usually at night. She has had reading glasses prescribed and the optician says her eyes are healthly.
She is presently off work symptoms of tingling/numbness in cheeks and balance problems which she sometimes notices when walking down the stairs. It is interesting that a few years ago she had an episode of tingling in one leg and hand. She was tested for low B12 and I think she might have taken tablets. She also had a problem with vertigo which was treated and did eventually go, it might have been a virus as I myself also had something similar at the time. Now I am wondering if these are connected to her current symtpoms. I have hypothyroidism as did my mum. My aunt had RA and pernicious anaemia and my son has type 1 Diabetes since aged 2. I know that MS is considered an autoimmune disease. My questions are.
1. Does this sound like MS or what else could it be
2. Will they be able to tell straight away at the MRI scan if the diagnosis is
MS.
3. I have heard it takes ages to get a diagnosis so what other tests might
be needed.
Obviously we are hoping it is not MS although my daughter is accepting is probably is. We as her parents live 200 miles away so it is hard to know what to say or how to help. Any comments would be welcome.
Thank you.
0 likes, 14 replies
MrSammy libralady13
Posted
Sorry to hear about your daughters symptoms. I was diagnosed with MS 2 years ago ( 40 yrs old), I believe symptoms can be different in all sufferers, I was diagnosed in about 2 weeks ( the beauty of private health care, I'm an expat , don't live in the UK any more),
To answer your question , I had an MRI and due to visible lesions on my spine and brain. I then had a Lumber puncture, it was both the MRI and lumber puncture that confirmed my diagnosis.
Hope that helps. I wish your daughter the best of luck and a positive outcome.
libralady13 MrSammy
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wendy80842 libralady13
Posted
i have MS, diagnosed (dx) in 2004, while it is possible that it's ms that your daughter is dealing with, unfortunately, it is usual to have, not just MRI, but lumbar puncture too. depending on where you are/who the medics are, it's sometimes the case that a MS dx wouldn't be given until progression had been seen, ie via a later MRI. this requirement seems to be less often a requirement these days, apparently. sadly MS is a notoriously difficult dx to pin down, as there's such a variation in presentation AND, while in relapsing/remitting progression RRMS the body can heal lesions making comparison of MRI's difficult. your daughter almost certainly won't be dx on the day of MRI, in the UK/NHS the results go to a neuro team for discussion first.
i realise that my reply is less than helpful, as i've probably posed more questions than i've answered and i'm sorry for that, but thats the 'nature of the beast' sadly.
i'd recommend going to the MS society web page. the boards there would give you access to advice from many of us with MS. there is a board list for those in 'limboland' (pre dx) but i'd recommend 'everyday living' to get the largest no. of responses from 'MSers'.
again, i'm sorry not to be more helpful, but i wish you and your family good luck whatever the outcome.
wendy x
libralady13 wendy80842
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jugu libralady13
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libralady13 jugu
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jugu libralady13
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libralady13 jugu
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jess_s libralady13
Posted
Sorry your daughter is having a difficult time. I was diagnosed in 2007 6 weeks after my 32nd birthday on my oldest sons 12th bday. My kids thought I was going to die. I had to convince them nobody really dies from MS.
Regarding the blurry vision, that can be caused by chronic dry eye. It usually happens later in the day when the eyes are tired from focusing on screens, books, phones etc... for too long. I don't know if Systane eyedrops are sold near there, but it's what I use. I have had optic neuritis it is more than blurry vision.
It could be MS, but it could be Bells Pallsy, Diabetes, Lymes, Pernicious Anemia etc... There are a host of other things that cause numbness/tingling. Vertigo can be caused by many things as well (dehydration, inner ear problems).
She's a working mom, exhaustion is part of the gig. MS fatigue is so different than being tired. It's impossible to escape, it sucks your body down into the ground. Like walking in quicksand with weights latched on. Then there are times I literally cannot wake up for days on end. I finally stopped working because even at part time I could only make it 3 weeks before I was stuck in bed for a week.
I live in the US, so I don't know how long it will take with the HC system there. When she gets her MRI she needs to get a copy for her records (they should provide a CD). The diagnostic criteria has recently changed, if an MRI shows active (new) and inactive (old) lesions a diagnosis can be made on the spot. However only the neurologist will tell you.
If there are any MRI abnormalities that look like MS they will do a lumbar puncture. This should be done "under fleuroscopy" (xray guided) to avoid complications.
As far as what you can do, just love her. If this is what God has in the plans, it's for a reason. It took me a little while to find my silver linings.
I wish your family the best, and hope you will let us know what happens.
Sincerely,
Jessica
libralady13 jess_s
Posted
Best wishes to you and your family
Carol
libralady13 jess_s
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My daughter has an appointment with the neurologist at the end of the month. Her gp had tried to get a an MRI scan but she has to see the consultant first. Actually she has not had to wait long for this appointment as I only posted here a few days ago. Obviously the neurologist will decide what investigations are needed probably MRI scan first. Will keep posting here on her progess. Thanks once again for your help everyone.
MrSammy libralady13
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libralady13 MrSammy
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The Good news so far is that she saw the neurologist yesterday who does not think that her combination of symptoms are MS and could be something or nothing. I still think that it all might be job related stress.
Anyway she is going for a MRI scan next Monday. The neurologist said that even if something shows up it does not mean she has MS but might get it in the future. So whilst not completely out of the woods we are hopeful that everything will turn out ok. Will let you know the MRI results.
libralady13 MrSammy
Posted