This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I don't know where to post this but here goes. I have a couple of symptoms for years now and went to see a neurologist 2 days ago. He asked me some questions and had me touch my nose while looking straight ahead and some more fun stuff. He then took my reflexes and said my reflexes were over active. The reason I went to see him was because i was referred to him by my psychiatrist because i was complaining of memory loss.
Back at the doctors (neurologist)office he asked me if I had some symptoms like; tingling, fatigue, and other stuff. i told him I did and he ordered me to return and take some kind of tests to test my concentration I have an appointment on the twelfth for that and they are scheduling an MRI. Ilooked my symptoms up like any paranoid person would and found many of my symptoms including the tremors I experience when yawning are related to MS. the doctor did mention Vitamin B deficiency but tremors are not part of the symptoms for that. What do you guys think?

Thanks

I forgot to add the fact that I forget words I used to know and when i was teaching i forgot the nemae sof my students, misplaced important work as well. I have anemia also was on chromagen but took myself out of it because of the stomache pain and take an over the counter iron pill that is milder. I also was given a blood test at the doctors office to check for vitamin b and d(?) defficiency.

hi m, welcome to TIMS
sounds like they're early on in the investigations, but doing the right stuff to start figuring out what's wrong.
FYI, if you have one deficiency you can have related ones with other symptoms - tremor can in fact be a b12 deficiency symptom, though.
i'd advise you to be skeptical if they tell you your results are 'normal'.
when you have symptoms, 'normal' isn't good enough.
there are a lot of sick ppl out there with levels in the 'normal' range, but those levels are still significantly different from healthy controls.
for example, b12 'deficiency' is defined as values so low that your blood cells start to change shape.
you can experience cognitive issues with suboptimal b12 long before you get down to 'deficiency' though - if you have cognitive symptoms, such as memory loss, b12 could still be too low, even though not officially deficient.
if you'd like them to check a few other things that are off in MS, just in case some similar issues are involved with your symptoms, you could ask for a uric acid test and zinc test.
there's more, but that's good for starters
hth,
jimmylegs

Thanks for your reply. I have an appointment on the twelfth for my MRI and I am currently waiting for the results of my blood testI have to be honest here and tell you that everywhere i look I see my symptoms and are relieved that it isnt in my head. i knew something was wrong the fatigue is too much and the tingling is more frequent.
I will keep you updated in this way your experience can help me sort through all of this

again Thanks

I thought today was the mRI but it was actually an anppointment to be seen by another doctor who got my info. ten pages worth. very efficient and then gave me a small test on memory and identifying pics. I am scheduled for a three hour test on the 21 st I guess this is to rule out.....?
I got the authorization for the MRI from nmy health insurance company and will call an make an appt. tomorrow. Tried tday but it is columbus day and the place was closed..
I have a spasm?catch?twitch? in my throat that is embarassing because it happens every time i have aconversation at least one or two times. . the numbness in my hands and feet are constant sometimes dull and sometimes strong . very fatigued slept for two hours this afternoon could have slept for more but had to cook dinner. I forgot to mention when i told the doc who tested me today that the neuro said I had overactive reflexes, he looked up from the paper he was reading and repeated it "Overactive reflexes?" he was surprised

Hi Maestra,

Welcome to ThisIsMS. Is the 3 hour test an EEG?

I also wanted to give you a bit of advice for your MRI. Wear comfy clothes with no metal and you won't have to put on their paper undies and gown. I wore some lounging pants but didn't notice that there was metal at the end of the drawstrings. I got stuck in a gown. And bring socks, if your not already wearing them. It's chilly.

Good luck!

_________________
October 29, 2009 - Dx with RRMS
June 22, 2010 - Dx's changed to Devic's (NMO)
January 4, 2011 - Dx w/Syringomyelia T4-T9, Migraines, and Possible MS (again - long story)

thanks Loveactually- good advice. i didn't think to do that:) I'll wear my lounge pant sans metal rings around the drawstring and I guess some sweatsocks 9thats what we call them hear in NY)tubesocks. and maybe I should wear a camisole instead of a bra because of the clasp.
Kind of nervous , not so much for the MRI but for the results. Half of me fdoesnt want it to be MS and the other half (for relief sake)wants it to be so it will explain everything that is happening.
I use to write. Wrote two unpublished novels, did improv (comedy)in the city for awhile , now I hardly ever leave my house or speak becuase half th etime I dont make sense and at other times I get this thing in my throat where it seems to cut off my vocal chords for a split second and my words skip and thats embarassing too.
This is still all too crazy for me

I was going to mention that but I wasn't sure if you were male or female. Didn't want to insult you if you were a male by telling you to wear a sports bra or cami.

If you want, you can ask for a copy of the radiologist report after your MRI. When I had my brain MRI, I asked for one and didn't understand a damn thing that was written on it. I did a lot of googling and searched a medical dictionary for some of the words. I figured out I had spots before I even went to see the neuro for results.

Some people may not want to do that but I don't have any patience. The great people here at TIMS gave me that advice a few months back. I'll be requesting another one after my spine MRI this Friday.

I am still new in the process as well and haven't had a definite diagnosis. That may come on the 29th, we'll see. I know what you mean about being torn between just wanting a diagnosis of MS and getting it over with, and being cleared of having MS. It's hard to wait, and wonder.

I think that's great that you wrote two novels and did Improv. I'm a fan of anything that can make me laugh. Hopefully you can get some answers soon and get back to living your life again. My family and I are just a little numb from everything, as I'm sure you are too. It's not real yet.

You came to the right place though. There's a lot of great info here and many many great people who are very knowledgable when it comes to MS and everything related to it.

_________________
October 29, 2009 - Dx with RRMS
June 22, 2010 - Dx's changed to Devic's (NMO)
January 4, 2011 - Dx w/Syringomyelia T4-T9, Migraines, and Possible MS (again - long story)

ooo more advice i will ask for a report. I didnt think that was allowed. i would do the same and google all the words i dont understand. I havent told anyone in my family and wont until i get the definite diagnosis so this forum is especially helpful. Tonight at seven is my MRI Ill keep you posted

Thanks for the advice and place to vent

I got a CD of my brain and saw the "fingers" they speak of when describing MS but not until I hear it from the doc will I know for sure if I am reading it the right way.. I closed my eyes since before i went into the MRI as suggested and that helped and the clothing suggestion help as well. Thank you!
I can't believ they gave me the images. i had to pay ten bucks for it but I didnt care. I asked for a report but was told I couldnt have one

I will know pretty soon...right? And in this way get started on my treatment and getting better or finding out what the heck is wrong with me
Very anxious but not excited at all

Glad everything went ok with your MRI. I have a cd of my brain as well and will get the ones of my spine too. It's very good to start a "What the hell do I have?" folder, and keep all your scans, notes and results in there.

Some imaging centers are different but I think as the patient (and person paying) you should always have a right to your radiologist report. However, some may not want to give them out because they know we'll analyze the hell out of them and may freak out over nothing.

I got my first CD for free but had to pay for additional copies, $10 too. I ended up getting 2 other copies and sending them off to other docs and keeping one for myself. Make sure you get that CD back after your neuro views it.

Do you have a follow-up appointment so your neuro can view the scans? Or are they just going to call you?

Don't get your heart set on finding out the answers just from this. That's what I thought back in June but here I am, I have 2 more MRI's to do, another EEG, and a VEP. Thankfully, most neuros seem to do all they can to rule out MS and if/when you get a diagnosis like that, you can pretty much assume that it's correct. At least that's my opinion.

_________________
October 29, 2009 - Dx with RRMS
June 22, 2010 - Dx's changed to Devic's (NMO)
January 4, 2011 - Dx w/Syringomyelia T4-T9, Migraines, and Possible MS (again - long story)

Everyhting I read pretty much tells me that my results will not be in until forever and i am hoping and praying that it is so obvious(whatever I have) that my neuro will not have to do anymore test...wishful thinking huh? I dont have a follow up my neuro will cll me . I do have an appointment with the neuropsychologist tomorrow in the same office so I might just ask about the follow up. Wow this forum is so helpful thanks LA and all the others who are helping me research in this way i can be proactive in getting better.

Reasons why I think I have MS

loss of balance
tingling/numbness in extremeties and left and right side of my skull
fatigue
oversensitivity to heat (nausea vertigo)
blurry vision
constipation
processing difficulty
word finding
stutter
memory loss
cognition problems (quite embarassing)
Tremors when agitated or nervous or just because
slurring speech
frequent urination

reason I dont think I have it

No blindness
I can distinguish between the colors red and green
no incontinence
no loss of feeling (touching)

as you can see my "think I have it" list is longer than my "Don't think i have it " list

.

I hope the diagnosis is quick then i can get on with my life.
Not to sure how I feel about , not needing to have more on my list.

Oh and by the way,l WILL refuse a Spinal Tap
Will keep everyone posted but honestly...no, i was going to ask what you guys think but the answer would most likely be that I should wait for my dx from the doc