This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hi all,

I've been experiencing tingling and spasms in my arms, legs, hands, feet, torso and face for about three years. During that time I was in college and stressed and wrote it off as anxiety. My symptoms worsened this past year, so I brought up my concerns to my GP (should have this a long time ago). MY GP ordered blood work and my panel came back low for vitamin D (16) and positive ANA (1.3, elisa screening). My SED rate and CRF were normal. My doctor put me on 50,000 IU of vitamin D 2x per week.

I am going back for additional blood work in June after I finish my vitamin D prescription. Does anyone have any recommendations for blood tests that could indicate MS? I know my doctor will be looking at specific anti-nuclear antibodies this time around...

Any recommendations would be appreciated and good luck on your journeys..

Hi Synder--
Blood tests don't really "indicate" MS, the diagnostics for MS are lumbar puncture and MRI-- but it might be good to look at some differential diagnoses for MS--which can cause tingling and neurological issues and can be diagnosed by serum tests. These include:
B 12 levels (low vitamin B can look like MS)
Anti phospholipid antibodies--which can indicate Hughes Syndrome or APS

The odds are in your favor you do not have MS.
Take care of yourself, try and find ways to de-stress, keep exercising, eat well, don't smoke----yes, I am your mother
be well,
cheer

_________________
Husband dx RRMS 3/07
dx dual jugular vein stenosis (CCSVI) 4/09
dual stents placed 5/09
CCSVI in MS

hi and welcome

re test to indicate ms.. it's sort of the other way around.. ms is a dx of exclusion.. tests are normally done to try to rule out ms.
all the same, you can find out if your bloodwork matches that of a healthy control or an ms patient.

here's some detailed info on nutritional bloodwork for ms:
regimens-f22/topic2489.html#p15460
you can choose to be proactive by ensuring all these levels are in tip top optimal shape (as distinct from 'normal')

most of the info at the above link is not yet standard treatment. there's a significant gap btw the existing science on nutritional status in health and disease, and policy/practice.

question: how long will your vit d prescription last? and is it d2 (ergocalciferol) or d3 (cholecalciferol)? i ask b/c the intake is not balanced with other nutrients that are known to be subpar in ms patients.

another question: what else was tested as part of the panel? if you can get a copy of the results we can unpack things that came back 'normal' but might still be suboptimal in a way that correlates with ms (many low nutrient values seen in ms patients are in fact within 'normal' ranges.. just much lower than the levels in healthy controls)

comment: the spasms, anxiety and stress might be linked to a magnesium deficit - magnesium is also low in ms. high dose d3 can interfere with magnesium status over time. particularly if you are already dealing with symptoms of low mag. the link above has info on serum magnesium target levels

i confess to being academically interested in the idea of nutrient testing concurrent with ANA testing.

anyway fire away if you have questions

_________________
my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com