This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hello all,

I really did not want to be posting here and as I write you hopefully understand why.

About 2 months ago I noticed my right eye was getting faded vision, like reading a letter where the printer was running out of ink. I would say dull, faded, grey? but 100% NOT blurred...

Each day I get up its fine, I get ready for work, shower etc... and then I notice it. It is mostly like it all day but possibly comes and goes.

There is no pain, but almost a feeling of pressure, but very light.

Here is the weird part...

If I goto the gym, or take my dog for walks it gets worse, just as if I run or rush around.

But...

If I go out and have a beer or two, not as in drunk but just relaxed it goes perfectly back to normal!

Also if I lay down and rest, or relax a bit it goes away, and seems to go back to normal at night no matter what I am doing.

After a few doctor visits, a lots of tests as hospital eye clinic, there is nothing wrong. So further questions to doctor and waiting ages I am lucky enough to have taken out health care, so went to private hospital, saw an eye/nuro specialist who did more tests, all fine, so he asked me to go for a 20 minute jog/run and sure enough came back and results on tests were different.

Had an MRI scan and it showed inflammation of a nerve, on further conversation with doctor he used the phrase I did not want to hear...Demyelination of a nerve in the Centra Nervous System.

He has referred me to a Nurologist to speak more but in the mean time I can only but worry.

I have to state that my Dad has MS, and sure enough when younger lost vision in one eye totallty, it came back though, and then 30 years later he has muscle wastage in one leg, started in the last few years.

Appreicatation and thanks to anyone who has read this far...

I am just after some advice, help, or anything on what I should do?

As I understand they do not name it until there are a few different episodes linked together?

I have no idea if connected but my right hand can occasionally feel a little weak when pouring a kettle, and my right leg can occasionally feel, hmmm cold or a little achey, but only if I have been busy like this morning kneeling down painting and bending about which I dont usually do, this could be just as I havent used these muscles etc.... but you cant help but worry.

My doctor did say try not to connect the symptoms and at one point said the eye thing could be a vascular but now not so sure.

Does any of this sound familar to anyone?

He did mention there are steroids which can reduce or even reverse the imflammation.

Is there anything I can do as tests or eat to help or anything?

Sorry a bit all over the place but any information would be helply.

Many thanks in advance.

Dave

Sorry for you having to post here! Not where many people want to be here but it sure is nice if you need it.

Take a look at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uhthoff%27s_phenomenon and see if describes your situation. Don't worry too much if it does - mine went away and hasn't returned since the early/mid 1990's. Might have helped diagnose my MS, and then maybe not. It happened years before the words multiple sclerosis entered my life. If you search some more about Uhtoff's you might learn that it is not always associated with only MS.

Maybe the alcohol cooled you enough to ease the symptom? If it happens again, cool off without the beer and see what happens.

Hope you don't have MS! If you do it's not the end of the world.

Welcome, Dave. Since you asked for any advice, I offer my standard action plan recommendation:

First, take a deep breath. You may not have MS at all. IF you do, you have found many supportive friends at this site. We come from diverse experiences and hold diverse ideas. We do not agree necessarily in our thoughts on MS; you will probably not agree with some of us either; we only ask for tolerance when we express unconventional ideas.

Second, work with the GP with whom you are most comfortable, who is compassionate and who enjoys being a "disease detective." Begin with a thorough baseline examination including blood tests for your cortisol level, glucose AND insulin levels (these are two DIFFERENT tests), thyroid hormone levels (TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reserve T3, and antithyroid antibodies), even a liver profile, etc. Ask for a copy of all your test results for your own file.

Third, if you do have MS, start your reading with two books: "Multiple Sclerosis: The History of a Disease" by T. Jock Murray, OC, MD and I think "The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Book" by Roy Swank, MD, PhD and Barbara Dugan is a good second book to read or even have. You may be able to get these through your local library.

Fourth, from this day forward, I encourage you to eat a healthy diet (a good idea whether or not you have MS). Many people find that diet can influence the symptoms of MS. In my opinion, this means a low-carb diet -- removing all sugar (including beer, wine, etc. which have sugar), all artificial sweeteners, including sugar alcohols like sorbitol, xylitol, etc. (These promote insulin production, too.), all trans fats (These also increase insulin.), and white flour, white bread, white potatoes, white rice (in fact, all carbs so far as possible) from your diet. Personally, I think that excess insulin plays a great part in MS. I think that Fatty Liver Disease is also involved. Diet is important. You may find the account of Dr. Terry Wahls and her dramatic improvement interesting (http://www.TerryWahls.com). By the way, the insulin level drops overnight as you are fasting – this might account for improvement in the morning.

All the best to you.

_________________
My hypothesis: excess insulin (hyperinsulinemia) plays a major role in MS, as developed in my initial post: http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-discussion-f1/topic1878.html "Insulin – Could This Be the Key?"

Hi Dave,
Welcome to ThisIsMS. Your symtoms with your eye sound very similar to my experience with optic neuritis except that the doctor could see the inflammation in my optic disc. Hot showers or high outside temperatures would make the cloudiness worse. A glass of cold water would cool me down and the cloudiness would go away.

NHE

Hello guys,

Thanks for the advise and information.

Very good stuff there.

I have suddenly thought about the cold water! at work today it wasnt so bad, i was drinking water, i went home for lunch and was a bit of a rush, some hot tea and noticed it was worse, bizzare!

Am seeing a nurogolist this week so hopefully know more then.

Thanks again

Davcos

It could be vascular and MS at the same time, if there's anything to CCSVI in MS.
Alchohol would create vasodilation, which might be enough to relieve it temporarily if it's vascular. Exercise would create overheating and overheating might show up neurological symptoms that are just borderline enough to go away when we're not overheated.

Hi all,

I saw the Neurologist this week and I have Optic neuritis.

She said it lasts between 2 - 5 months and hopefully goes away on its own, but if I still have it in a year its possibly it will always be like that

Apparently I have a nice brain, lol, and the scan was good with just 2 tiny spots relating to the above.

There are steriods you can take for 5 days which speed up recovery but have the same outcome I was told, although reading last night there were claims that taking the steriods can half the chance of it becoming MS, so a bit confused now :/ also mentioned some serious side effects.

Any thoughts?

Many Thanks

Dave