I had a MRI in 2002 for migrane headaches, all clear but the doc told me that I have a few white spots in the brain area that is normally seen with MS.He did the office tests which I passed and told me if any more symptons arise to go back,well for the last 4 months I have been getting double vision,I would say it has happened about 6 times, the last time when I was mowing the lawn, I had to stop as I really couldnt focus.I know I should go back but am scared to,could this be more symptons of MS? :wave:

Hello and welcome!

It sounds like you already know that you need to check things out with your doctor, but your fear is getting in the way. Personally, I think the unknown is more frightening.

To answer your question, yes, double vision can be a symptom of MS. In fact, optic neuritis is the most common presenting symptom. I say this not to frighten you, but to encourage you to get checked out.

Actually, I think it is encouraging that for three years after your MRI showed some possible signs of MS you didn't have symptoms. A lot of people have terrible symptoms and nothing shows on their MRIs. Hold on to the hope that if you do have MS, it will be a mild course.

Please make an appt. so you can know for sure what you're dealing with. And be encouraged that a lot of people lead fairly normal lives with an MS diagnosis.

Best wishes,
Julie

Thanks Julie,I know I should and I will if the vision thing keeps happening.Do you have MS?

No, my daughter has aggressive MS and my mother has mild MS. I see both ends of the spectrum between the two.

By the way, if you are dealing with ON, it responds well to steroid treatment. Most MS symptoms will eventually remit on their own, but it can be A LOT faster with intervention.

Take care,
Julie

Wow I thought I was going crazy , I had an L.P. and they found protien in the fluid. I have left foot foot drop. I have numbness in my left leg and foot and in both arms and hands. I have lots of problems walking because I weave and stagger. Four Doctors think I have M.S. but nobody will confirm it. They all just say lets do more MRI's and tests.I can Totaly relate to you.

Thanks for replying Julie, I dont know alot about MS.What is ON?

Hi Pritt,
Sorry - ON is optic neuritis, the most common reason in MS for double vision, dim vision and/or eye pain. It can be caused either by the optic nerve being attacked, or a lesion in the brain stem that correlates to your vision. An opthalmologist can usually see if the optic nerve is the problem (it will look pale). If it's not, then an MRI of the brain stem is usually done.

The treatment is the same for either cause (if you so choose) - steroids. This is one symptom of MS that usually responds very well to steroid treatments. My daughter has gone from completely blind in both eyes to being able to see after one infusion.

Pussnkatz,
Welcome! I'm assuming that they are holding out on a diagnosis because you haven't fully met the McDonald criteria for a diagnosis. I know it's frustrating, but a misdiagnosis is worse than being in Limbo for awhile. Hang in there!

Take care,
Julie

Hi Julie, hows things with your daughter and mum?I havent had double vision for a while, which is great,I get worried in case I am driving with my mum and get it, my mum cannot drive.She has Addisions disease and I have four sisters which one of us thought we would get Addisions but we havent, I seem to be the only one with something.
Sandra

Hi Sandra,
I'm glad you and your sisters do not seem to have Addisons. Isn't it a rare autoimmune disorder? Unfortunately, autoimmune disorders seem to run through families. I have 3 different ones myself in addition to my mom's and daughter's MS. I also have 3 grandchildren with possible AI problems (eczema and autism, although the jury is still out on whether autism is an AI disorder).

As far as driving, when my daughter is between attacks, she does a little bit of driving around town, running errands. Sometimes she will start out fine, but then have problems with balance or vision, so she calls me to pick her up. Perhaps you could set it up with a friend or family member in advance that there may be times that they need to be your knight in shining armor and rescue you. Or you could call a taxi if worse comes to worse.

Thanks for asking about my daughter. She's doing okay right now - she just went through a course of IV steroids 2 weeks ago and they helped her get back on her feet. She's still taking it easy while finishing out this exacerbation. Her most concerning symptom right now is that she is having problems swallowing and chokes 3 to 4 times per week. She lives on her own right now, but you can bet I call her or stop by several times per day! She also wears a LifeLine button around her neck and all she has to do is press the panic button and they'll respond. That makes me rest easier.

I'm glad your vision is better. Hopefully it will remain that way for a long time.

Regards,
Julie

Hi Julie, yes it is an autoimmune disorder.My mum has a number of things wrong with her ,when she was 36,she is now 73, she had a burst blood vessel in her head, high blood pressure for years,then cushings syndrome, nelsons syndrome, left hip replacement, removel of her adrenal glands, radiotherapy of her piturary gland,two stents in her arteries for coronary heart disease,minor heart attacks,she has just had a bout of celluitis which is extremely painful, her skin is like tissue paper because of the long use of steriods and she bruises easily,an orange rolled off the kitcen bench and her foot ended up black with bruising.She is always in and out of hospital,they tell us everyday is a bonus.The list of things continues to grow with her so we have to watch her all the time.The doctors tell us she is a rare person who continues to amaze them. She has a living alone button too,my Dad passed away 11yrs ago with pneumonia,only sick for 1 day and passed away the next. I have rambled enough ,oh thats right can an optician tell if I have OP?
Regards,
Sandra

Hi Sandra,
An optician is one who makes glasses, so I don't think he would know. An optometrist might be able to see if he dilates your pupils and has the right equipment to look into your eyes. But normally optometrists just do the basics of refracting and prescribing glasses. An opthalmologist is the most qualified to diagnose eye problems.

Gosh, your mom's been through a lot! She sounds like an amazing woman who is blessed to have you as a daughter. Sorry about your dad. That must have been such a shock and a very sad time for you.

My parents are both alive. I dread the day they pass from this world. My mom has MS, but she does pretty well. My dad retired last year and takes good care of her. I've promised to care for her if anything happens to him. He's already had 2 heart attacks and a quadruple bypass surgery, but he's actually doing quite well, walking a couple of miles every day. I take every opportunity to let them know how much I love and admire them. I know the day will come when I won't be able to say that to them anymore, and I don't want any regrets later.

Now look who's rambling! LOL! It's nice talking to you.

Take care,
Julie

Julie nice to hear from you,what country are you in, I found this site quite by chance one day,I'm in Auckland New Zealand,the way you spelt mum ,I thought where are you.Not that it matters, just curiuos,its 4 in the afternoon here with the sun shining for a change.
regards
Sandra

Hi,
I live in the state of Colorado, USA. It is about 10 PM here. We enjoyed a beautifully sunny spring day here, about 75 degrees, but it has cooled down quite a bit as we live in the mountains. I was just checking the forum before retiring for the night when I saw your post.

I assumed you lived in either Australia, New Zealand or Great Britain from the way you spelled mom and some of your other words. I have several online acquaintances in Australia. I always enjoy chatting with them.

I've been on this forum for 1 1/2 years. I found it when I was first diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy and desperately needed support and advice. Then I made my way over to the MS board. I have enjoyed meeting people here.

I hope the rest of your day is pleasant!

Julie

Is protien in the fluid indicative of MS? I've had numbness, tingling in my legs, blurry vision, fatigue, bladder problems etc. etc. for quite a long time. Further complicated by the fact I was diagnosed as being B12 deficient (and folic acid) last year. I've seen a neuroligist and a specialist at the hospital and they seem convinced it's something called Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia - despite there being no-one else in my family who has suffered from it. I've had an MRI which was clear (although I think at that point the doctor was convinced I had some sort of compressed nerve).

I had the LP in January. After much chasing of the results i've been told by my GP that it was 'borderline high protien'. I have no idea what this is supposed to mean! They said the fluid was being sent elsewhere to determine what protiens were in it. I still have no further results.

I had a some really bad episodes with my legs about 5 years ago where I could barely walk, but at the time I put it down to major stress. I'm still working full time, I can get around okish but am always very stiff and my joints hurt especially my legs. I'd love a diagnosis. But I fear one is not forthcoming for a while yet! Is like being in limbo!

Does anyone know if a low white blood count and migranes are part of ms?I have a weird sort of feeling in my head ,sometimes goes into eyes , think it might be double vision?