Trouble with diagnosis - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

tooobuzi · 02-14-2005, 04:24 PM

Looking for some guidance out there.
I have had MS symptoms for the past 9 months - constant dizziness, tingling in hands and feet, dark spots in my vision, shaking hands only when active, sever fatigue, short term memory problems, sensitivity to the heat, the list seems to go on and on. My neurologist sent me for a neurosychological test. That doctor told me that she strongly felt I had MS but that I will probably have a very difficult time getting the diagnosis. She was right. I went back to the neurologist and because my MRIs were clear he said there was no way I had MS. He is saying it is depression. I don't feel this is possible. I am not a depressed person. My family doesn't feel this is right either. Has anyone else been told it was depression to later find out it was actually MS?

Arraicha · 02-15-2005, 08:21 AM

I really wonder what made him think of depression. Unless you feel depressed or have lost interest in most, if not all, things, it can't be depression.

A small percentage of people with MS do have clear MRIs, however, I don't think you have MS. With the amount, diversity and severity of the symptoms you have, your MRIs should show quite a few lesions in different areas. Also, having so many symptoms at once is quite unlikely for a first exacerbation. MS is progressive: in general cases, you get one symptom for a few weeks/months, it goes away, you get another, it goes away. You can get several symptoms at once, yes, but the amount that you described sounds very odd, especially for the first time.

There is progressive MS in which the symptoms don't go away, but I don't know much about it. I'm pretty sure, however, that they don't all appear at the same time.

Anyway, my suggestion is to see different neurologists until you can receive a proper diagnosis. Neurology is a complexe discipline and I find that different neurologists specialise in different disorders are tend to be rather incompetant outside their speciality. Also, a spinal tap and evoked potential test are crucial in order to make many diagnosises.

Good luck and I hope you can receive answers soon!

sunshine149 · 02-15-2005, 10:05 AM

I had clear MRIs for two years with severe symptoms before ANY lesions showed up, it's way too soon to rule out ANYTHING, including MS.

tooobuzi · 02-15-2005, 03:42 PM

I was wondering the same thing about the depression. I am not a depressed person - a bit stressed yes, but that is because I am a business owner - it comes with the territory.

Now recognising them, I have had mild symptoms for a few years. It was just last year that they seemed to have hit hard. First the confusion/memory problems, then the tingling, then the dizziness. Now it feels like they are here to stay.

tooobuzi · 02-15-2005, 03:46 PM

Sunshine - did they just keep ordering test after test until they ruled everything else out? Did they only give you a DX after lesions showed up?
One doctor I saw told me it could take 5 years to get a dx.