are these MS symptoms? - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

starlet32079 · 04-11-2005, 11:48 PM

(I know that this is a long post but if someone could please take the time and respond it would be great). I am in need of some suggestions please. I am a 26 yr old female and the mother of two beautiful daughters. When I was about 5 months pregnant with my first child I noticed I was having extreme fatigue. My doctors told me it was just from being pregnant and after I had my baby it would start to diminish. Well it started getting to the point where I had to stop working full time and drop to part-time. Then eventually I had to quit working because it was so bad. There were some days where I would sleep all day.
Well after I had my daughter it never got better. My doctor told me it was the "baby blues". I knew that, that was not what was wrong with me. Sure having a baby makes you tired but this was ridiculous. Then my memory started to go. People actually thought that I wasn't paying any attention to them when they would talk to me because I forget dates, names, and whole conversations. My eyes are also a problem. I went in to update my Rx and sometimes they work and alot of the time they don't. sometimes my eyes hurt too. Like when I look side to side or up and down. I think that this is what set off my migranes.
Now more recently I have noticed other things like a couple of times my tounge went numb. I have had these sharp pains in the back of my head and somethimes the back of my head has gone numb. My thighs sometimes feel like they are on fire, and I just got over a 2 week period of time where my neck was having a tremor that made my head shake back and forth.
I know that this is a long post but I don't know what to do. Am I just paranoid or should I look into this more. I have talked to my doc before and dismissed it as depression. Also my mother was dx with MS 6 yrs or so ago.
Thank you

Jewel2 · 04-12-2005, 09:50 AM

Hi Starlet,
If you can, you might switch doctors to one who will really listen to your symptoms and be willing to run some tests. That's the only possibility of finding out what's going on.

Have you seen a good opthalmologist about your eyes? When dilated the doctor can look at the optic nerve to see how it looks. A pale optic nerve can mean optic neuritis. But ON can also be caused by a brainstem lesion, which can only be seen by MRI.

If you have PPO insurance, you might be able to make an appt. directly with a neuro yourself (although many neuros still want a referral from your primary care doc).

Best wishes,
Julie

starlet32079 · 04-12-2005, 10:08 AM

I guess I have just been to the basic eye doctor, for the basic eye exam. My primary care doc has been my doc since I was about 5 yrs old. I think if I give him a push that he may be willing to get more tests ordered. It is the nero docs that keep turning me away. Do these symptoms sound typical of MS? Should I even persue this?
Thanks

Jewel2 · 04-12-2005, 10:19 AM

Your symptoms are not unlike those of MS. The problem is that these symptoms could be from other things as well. In any case, it sounds like something is going on with your body and there's nothing wrong with you wanting to know the answers.

With your mom having MS, there is a 1 in 40-50 chance of you developing MS. So I don't think it is unreasonable for you to ask for tests to check for it. Just don't be surprised if the tests all come out looking normal. In the early stages it can be hard to pick up.

Definitely keep a journal of your symptoms. This might help your doctor figure it out.

Take care,
Julie

LaDeeDa · 04-12-2005, 12:01 PM

Hi Starlet,
Sorry to hear you're having such problems when you really want to be enjoying those beautiful babies so much more than you can right now feeling so crummy.

Unfortunately, doctors seem to go the "you're depressed" route too often and too quickly. Since you're a new mom its even easier to blame your fatigue, etc. on the 'baby blues'. But you know your body and its up to you to pursue this. If your doctor can be nudged, get him to prescribe all the tests: MRI with and without contrast, lumbar puncture, bloodwork including lyme & lupus, urinalysis, etc. Better yet, if he could speak directly with a neurologist he may know, that might be the 'in' that could get you in the door and listened to. Your regular eye doctor should be able to see if you've got an issue with the optic nerve, but would probably send you to a neuro-opthomologist for treatment, who then might suggest a neurologist.

I assume your doctor is aware of your Mom's MS? I would think that that fact alone would put him on high alert when you describe your symptoms. Hopefully you can work with this doctor you've known for so long, but if not you might have to consider going elsewhere for help. I'm sure that would be difficult, but it might be what's needed to find answers.

As Jewel suggests, keep a log or journal of your symptoms so that when you speak with your doctor(s) you don't forget anything that might help them in their investigation.

Take care, kiss the kids,
Dee