Think I could have MS...thoughts? - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

snowbunny10 · 04-17-2005, 05:33 PM

Hi everyone...I'm 22 years old and have been having some major difficulties for about for almost 5 months now. It started one day about 5 months ago...I had just moved, and everything was fine, until one day I just started feeling weird...changes in my thought patterns, the way I view the world, troubles with memory and cognition...I just ignored what was going on as best I could because I was enrolled in school full time and working two jobs. Things just seemed really different...I couldn't understand what the teacher was saying and it was awful...then I had a gran mal seizure about a month after everything happened (I have juvenile myoclonic epilepsy...so I'm suseptible to seizures) and then I went to a doctor and was diagnosed with severe depression, put on a bunch of different medications. Nothing has really seemed to help..I can't sleep still, which has been one of my biggest problems. Anyways, I'm just started to worry that this might be more than severe depression...I feel like I'm looking back at myself, for example, when I watch tv, it feels like my eyes are turned the other way or something..I don't really know how to explain. When I move, like walking and running, I feel like I'm very disconnected, like I'm not moving with myself. My cognition hasn't improved, I still can't focus on anything, like reading is very difficult, and I can't even really understand a conversation. Well, I just would really appreciate anyone's advice...should I get an MRI or do you think it's just depression? Thanks so much.

bindsanator · 04-18-2005, 05:52 AM

Hi there,

You sound like you are in a tricky situation. new job(s), new town, new school, sounds very heavy. I moved to london, england, just before i came down with MS so i sort of know the situation that you are in.

I would say that MS is a possibility, but a distant one. it doesn't sound like any MS I’ve heard of, but the confusion/eye problems help to point you in that direction. I do not know of ms connections to seizures, although i don’t think it causes them. if your eyesight problems are centred in one eye, this is more likely to be connected with ms, but i am no expert so don’t let anything i say freak you out (as this board did a few times)

What I would be concerned about is the amount of antidepressants they have given you. They told me I was depressed, even though I kept saying that I was not. I think depression is a quick fix for so many doctors that we must be careful when they say this and prescribe that. Antidepressants are not bad things, but they are often given out like candy.

I understand how confused you must feel - I just went through a terrible medical experience diagnosis (or at least semi diagnosis) ms in myself, and it ain't over yet. keep hope alive, this is VERY key, and always get a second opinion, especially when it comes to the kind of stuff you are talking about. i know it sucks that you are so young, but i'm only 26 and dealing with this so we do not get much of a choice!

I would advise losing one of your jobs so that you can have more time to relax. this is the one thing i find is always in short supply and i could use way more of...

all the best of luck, I’m pulling for you.

snowbunny10 · 04-18-2005, 10:26 AM

Thank you so much for the nice and informative reply...I'm sorry about the tough time you've gone through. This has been one of the most difficult things I've ever had to go through. It's been really difficult...the docs have tried so many things on me, from antipsychotics to regular antidepressants, etc. I have a really good neurologist and I told him how many things I'm on, and he was like, geez that's a lot...let's try and simplify soon! I think this week I'm gonna call him up and ask him to order an MRI, just to be sure. I've actually had to move back home with my mom because of how bad I was getting...and I'm not working, even though I really want to, but things are just so difficult, I don't know if I'm ready to work yet, ya know? Anyways, I'm gonna give the Zoloft some time though (even though this is the second time around) and see what happens. I'll keep you posted!