This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I posted on the introduction thread but was wondering if anyone could give me advice....Back in Aug '03 I was driving home from work and my left side of my face went novacaine numb. By the time I got home, it was going down my left arm my left side of the mouth was drooping and my right eye spazing! Went to ER and they said "oh you're having a panic attack, here's some zanax have a nice day!" (Gotta love the ER) the numbness went away but the spasms didn't. 4 days later, I had left leg weakness and the next muscle spasms involving my left mouth and neck.

After millions of tests and physical therapy I was able to walk normal again(was walking with a cane). 9 weeks later I was back to work. Then came the day after Christmas when i was at work and I could feel the weakness taking over my left side again! Walking with a cane again and another clean MRI. This time I was only out for 3 weeks. During these "episodes" I endure EXTREME fatigue. My neuro believes that it is probably MS but no proof yet.

I know you are not doctors but with all the knowledge from experience out there, I figured your answers or lack of are just as good as the docs:)
One thing I found odd in Montels new book is that most people seem to experience left sided weakness as opposed to the right! Any feedback would be great! Thanks!

Hi aeroangel,

It's great to talk with you. The great thing I have found about this forum compared to some others I have visited, is that people don't on the whole try to act like doctors. Anyone with any experience of MS or any other neuro disease, will readily admit that no two cases are the same, and while certain symptoms may seem similar, others may be totally different.

If you were to take two people, both with PPMS for example, their stories would be similar in places, but totally different in others - it's best left to the experts surely, even if many of us don't have much faith in some of their decisions. The tests they run are the best available at the current time.

On the left sided weakness thing, I'm a contradiction to that one straight away. Perhaps I'm in the minority but most of my weakness started on the right side, but after eleven years has now evened itself out

I'm sorry not to have been more help, but that's the way I see it. I hope the medics manage to sort you out in the not too distant future.

All the very best,
Chris P

I also go against the grain as it is my right side that has has all the problems. My left sde is relatively unaffected.

Ann

Hi Aeroangel,

Your symptoms certainly will sound familiar to many here, but as Chris says, best left to the doctors to determine diagnosis. A question, did you have an MRI of your spinal cord as well as the brain? Sometimes there are plaques only on the cord, and the brain MRI is clear.

Just a thought...

Oh, and my weakness used to be mostly my left side, but now is both sides on and off, mostly my right leg, but dizziness occurs always when I turn to the left or lie on my left side. Go figure... !

Brenda

_________________
Brenda H.
Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention. -Greg Anderson

Thanks for the replies....

Yes, I had a total of 6 MRI's...the brain, the cervical and thorasic spines and of the arteries in my neck! 2 1/2 hours later, I was released from the machine....Thank God!!!

Yikes! I wouldn't have been able to stay in there that long without a wee-wee break!

_________________
Brenda H.
Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention. -Greg Anderson

Hi Aeroangel,

I've had on-off relationships with medics over the twenty years or so since dx. Most neuros are pretty knowledable about MS (I should bloody hope so) and know how to administer and interpret tests (all good), but, BUT, they also know that they can't cure you which makes their position a bit difficult. Here in GB they have few options about presciptions and if you're SP, even less. So what do we (I) want from them? I think I go to my neuro for reassurance and just to put him in the picture of how things are progressing, but sometimes I get a bit short and tell him he gets money for old rope( hmm, I'm a bit like that anyway). Then I apologise and tell him I couldn't do his job - either intellectually or emotionally.
By the way it took ten years before I was willing to accept the dx.

Good luck to you.

_________________
The growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts.

Hi there angel!

As the others say, this is best left to a good neuro...And I guess I'm against the grain, lol, cuz I have RIGHT sided weakness,and I'm LEFT handed....go figure

I've had this for a good number of years-1st episode was in my late 20's, and I'm now 53, and still going strong...(well, change that to just going, ok? lol)

May you have all the best, and remember...No one knows your body as well as YOU do!
Take care,
Diane

I'm also left side weak/tingly and right handed --- Guess that's a good thing

Yes - I wish you the best too...Aero and hope you don't have this.

For myself -- I had these same symptoms last year (but not quite as bad)... Doc didn't see anything on the MRI to indicate this problem.... This year however -- feels kinda the same, now - was worse - Golf Ball sized lesion in my thalamus.... So just because they can't see anything on the MRI may not mean too much....


I'm not too sure I could have taken that long in an MRI either... (you will hear a slight tapping noise )

Also 6 MRIs - were they close together in time? I had a friend of mine - who fell and bopped his head get one recently - not MS - he's just a general klutz ...

His part of the payment for the MRI was $600(US)....

I'm glad I only get one per year (approx) --- and fortunate I have better insurance than he does...


=Me