New to the boards. - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

RPO34654 · 12-16-2005, 10:41 AM

Hi all!

I've been lurking for a few months but haven't posted due to the fact that I have still not beed dx'd yet. Thankfully, I am getting closer to finding the answers that have eluded me for the past year and a half.

My symptoms started suddenly in May of '04. I had just given birth to my 3rd child 2 months before. It started with a horrible pain in my left foot. Then, one night a few days later, I went to get out of bed to go the bathroom and fell into the wall. My left leg felt like it wasn't there and it wouldn't work. It wouldn't support me at all. The next morning it was okay again.
But, for a few weeks after that I experienced times when it would give out on me again as I tried to stand up after sitting.
During the next 2 months I started experiencing numbness and tingling in my legs and feet, in my back, my tongue went numb for 2 weeks. I've had electrical shocks in my left arm, memory loss, trouble finding words, severe pain in various joints, debilitating fatigue, muscle twitching, painful muscle cramps and periods of vertigo. (Researching these symptoms led me here.)
I was told by my previous GP that I was "depressed and it was all in my head" and my now former neuro said I was "crazy".
Obviously, they are no longer my doctors.

This week has been a very special one for me. On Wednesday I saw my new neuro who ordered lots of blood work and, finally, an MRI of my brain. He mentioned wanting to either rule out or verify Lupus or MS.

Yesterday I had a NCVS and EMG done. (The doctor did tell me that there was a delay in the response in my left arm.) This doctor is the partner of my pain management Dr. (I also have 3 herniated discs in my lumbar spine)
He was wonderful! He assured me that the doctors I have now are good and together they will find out what's going on with me.

Reading many of your stories here, I felt so much in common with a lot of you.
I am hoping to learn more, share my experiences and maybe make a few friends.

Blessings,
Robyn

lilc · 12-16-2005, 01:51 PM

Robyn, I am sure you will find here what you are hoping to find, this board has helped me so much! Welcome.
I'm glad you got rid of the other docs, hope you get answers soon! And it certainly makes sense, based on your symptoms, that you ended up here.

curiousforever · 12-16-2005, 05:27 PM

Hi!

My symptoms started with a vengence I think in august or september. except for foot drop and falling over-those started before then-but I had chalked it up to me being a klutz.

Glad you got rid of those docs - good ones can be hard to find!

Sharon Grace · 12-17-2005, 11:34 PM

Hi Robyn! Welcome to the boards! Sorry you've been going through the long search for a diagnosis. Most of us with MS went through months (in my case years) before getting answers. I will say this - do not give up. You will get to the right doctors who will help you (sounds like you are on the right track now). I went to several who gave me lots of bad answers but I finally found a Neurologist who really listened to me. I can't tell you how many docs said all my problems were from stress or anxiety and just wanted to put me on Prozac. One got creative and said I had allergies but couldn't say allergies to what! One doc said I'd feel much better if I just lost weight. That extra twenty pounds was causing all my problems. When my neuro had me do a brain MRI - big surprise - MS lesions! I had heard so many bad diagnoses that when I found out it was indeed MS, I was actually relieved that my search was over and I was not crazy as some docs tried to tell me. So hang in there until you get answers you are satisfied with. Stay in touch. This MS board is a great place to get questions answered or just to vent if need be. Good luck to you. You will get the bottom of it! Happy Holidays to you! Sharon Grace

nitam · 12-18-2005, 07:32 AM

Hi, I too for now 2 years have been having strange symptoms that the doctors have been stumped on what is going on. And after many, many tests am now getting a second opinion from a different neurologist. This Dr. says my symptoms are all simular to MS which I don't want to hear but am to the point I just want to find out something and get some help. My last test I have just had was the evoked potentials. My appointment to talk face to face with the Dr. isn't till January, but over the phone they said they were "mildly abnormal findings". Sadly enough I am actually relieved to have them find something since I began to think I was crazy that I don't feel good, but every test always came back normal!