New Here - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

Sheri1981560 · 04-14-2005, 01:17 PM

Hi. My name is Sheri and I am 24 years old. I am currently going through the process of seeing a neuroligist, and have been diagnosied with "probable" MS. My father has had remitting-relapsing MS for almost 25 years.

I had a MRI iwth contrast in Januart and it showed a "blip" that possible could be a plaque. This whole thing began at the end of December with a corse of Optic Neuritis. I didn't get to my current Neuroligist until the middle of January and my Primary Care Doc treated me with oral Predinisone only. So there wasn't an early intervention and I have some permanent vision loss. and it looks as if Im looking through a mesh screen.
I saw my Neuroligist last week and he doens't want to start any treatment just yet. Even though I have been fatigues for going on 3 weeks now. He said that the fatigue is what leads him to believe it is MS along with the Optic Neuritis.

This is where I have a question...I also have been experincing random pains in my hip and right hand...its very shap followed by a pins a needle type feeling. The Doc said its probably nothing, but my father who has had MS for half of his life now experiences the same thing...I just don't understand how they can say its nothing.

I don;t see him now for another four weeks and he doesn't want to give anything to me for the fatigue because he doesn't want to mask how long this goes on for diagnosis purposes...

Im just frustrated...does anyone have any advice?

Thank you!
Sheri

Jewel2 · 04-14-2005, 01:35 PM

Hi Sheri,
Sorry to hear you might have MS, especially at such a young age. My daughter was 19 when diagnosed and is now 25.

I just want to encourage you that optic neuritis when not treated by IV steroids can take months to fully resolve. So don't get discouraged about not having all of your vision back yet. You might still get more back. And also be assured that many studies have shown that the final outcome of ON (or other MS symptoms) is the same whether or not IV steroids are used. In other words, the disability will be the same whether or not steroids are used - the difference is in how quickly it resolves.

My daughter gets sharp pains followed by pins and needles. I'm sure others here will tell you they experience something similar. Nerve pain hurts, and it is not 'nothing' as your doctor said. When it gets bad for my daughter, she takes low doses of neurontin which helps mute the pain.

I can kind of understand your doctor's reasoning about the fatigue and getting a diagnosis, but at that four week followup appt., if you're still battling it, I would press him for something to help. My daughter's drug of choice for fatigue is good old caffeine - lots of it. She actually likes it better than Provigil. Everybody is different. Caffeine just makes me jittery and cranky.

Best wishes to you,
Julie

Sheri1981560 · 04-14-2005, 01:58 PM

Thank you so much for your response. I think I'm edging the same way with your daughter...good old cofee is helping me semi make it thorugh my day...And like you said, alot of it.

My father took Provigil at one point and didn't like it either. Made him shakey and his heart race. Each time he took it he swore he was going to have a heart attack so he stopped it!

Im hoping that once I do back to the Doc if this is still keeping up he might have an idea of what he can do, like I said it just bothers me that he called the nerve pain a nothing. I have watching me dad for years, and it surley isn't a nothing.

I hope your daughter is doing well.

Thanks Again
Sheri