This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I am sure I am one of hundreds of folks that have come to this site seeking reassurance. I just wanted to give my background, and see if anyone thinks this *could* or *likely* may be MS.

I am a 29 year old white male, who at the age of 26 had a virus and strange rash that lasted three days. After that resolved, I had as strange tingling originating in my left hand, migrating to my left foot, and then to my right hand (never right foot). I may have had a very rare tingling on the left side of my face. I had some very good Doctors work me up, including 1 Brain MRI w/ NO contrast, and a C/T-spine MRI w/ and w/out contrast 3 months later. They looked flawless. I went gluten free, and started taking alpha lipoic acid, got my B12 and D up to decent #'s and it cleared up rapidly.

I have had minor instances of tingling pop-up over the past three years, but nothing incredibly long term that I can recall.

I got married in early November, and on the lat day of my honeymoon I ended up with what appeared to be a minor food poisoning. Since then I have been afflicted with various things, including some dizziness, brain fog, trouble establishing a full erection and maintaining what I can get, a resumption of tingling (maybe at an increased intensity) with a minor introduction in burning that I can't recall happening before. This has gone on for about 5 weeks, and I am in the process of getting re-worked up. Vitamins look great, back off gluten, having MRI w/ and w/out contrast in a T3 of my brain, t-spine, and c-spine next week.

It seems like both of the young, but smart, neuros I have seen (before the new one read the old ones notes) seem inclined to think it is some post-viral inflammation. No Optic Neuritis (oppose to some my anxiety may create), no numbness, lhermittes sign, no weakness, or balance problems, but I have had brisk reflexes bilaterally in my knees at a 3+ since first neuro appointment 3 years ago.

Additionally, my globulin count is actually a bit low. I got mono about 6 months after first instance occured (was EBV antibody negative at that time), after mono my globulins have dropped from 2.5ish to 1.8ish, with all of the subtypes in low normal areas. My immune function is intact.


One last tidbit, over the last 36 hours I have noticed a VERY minor impact in my speech -- taking a few extra miliseconds to come up with words, or swaping word order or words with similar words.

I feel like this would be an atypical presentation of MS, anyone else have a similar story? Could it be a post viral syndrome? Could it be something minor exacerbated by what is now almost certainly anxiety.

Welcome to ThisIsMS, justcred. Everyone at this website would probably respond to your second sentence by saying, "Yes, the symptoms you describe could be MS." But there are MANY other conditions they could also be attributed to.

You are wise to find "very good doctors" in whom you have confidence – this calls for "disease detectives." I would only caution you to consider many sources for your symptoms, not only a neurological cause. Just because you "feel" strange tingling, "feel" dizziness, "feel" speech problems – this does not mean the problem is only neurological. Please consider hormone imbalances, muscle problems – even insulin resistance in muscles, or even chronic lingering inflammation in the liver or pancreas (since you recall a virus and rash at the time of symptom onset).

Although you do not have an MS diagnosis, we are willing to help in any way we can. All the best to you.

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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?"

Thanks for the kind remarks . Interestingly enough, I am having an Abdominal Ultrasound on Thursday. My mother is the highest level of Reiki, and has always had a creepy good sixth sense. She did a scan on me and indicated she couldnt see anything off with my head, but did feel something around the pancreas or liver area -- will be interesting to see what they find.

I am just looking forward to knowing the results of the tests! I love poker, and know that if I have only sensory symptoms, AND have a clear Brain, T/C-spine MRI on a 3 Tesla after about 3 years since the last scans, the odds if being MS are VERY, VERY low. If it is MS, I will deal with it, and I am sure you all will help!