30 year old female with MS symptoms.. advice please

[kris85]

Hi everyone - new to this site & just after some advice and wanting to know if what I am experiencing could be MS related?

I'll try be short but for approx 5 years now I've had the following symptoms that come and go:

- lightheadedness / unbalanced feeling
- fatigue when other symptoms are bad
- pressure feeling in head (not a headache)
- difficulty concentrating
- 'brain fog'

there are more but thats the main stuff - I tend to have all the symptoms at the same time and can get quite bad at times, then it may all go away for a while.

I've got 2 children, the youngest I had 4 months ago.. since her birth I've had additional symptoms:

- Occasionally vision will go all blurry for a few seconds
- Double vision when trying to look at things up close
- Body/head sometimes feels like vibrating or heart racing when almost asleep at night, or wake in middle of night with the vibrating feeling (my heart rate is actually normal when checking)
- The last few days I've noticed numb/tingling patches on my right leg that come and go, and its always in different spots
- My legs sometimes feel like theres something on them or drops of water on them when there isnt

Thats all. Years ago when it all started my old doctor suggested MS so I had an brain MRI but it was apparently clear (that was 5 years ago now). And now I'm unfortunately living in a smallish town where the doctors are terrible and to get into a specialist takes a long time.

I basically want to know if this is consistent with MS and if I should have testing done? For what its worth I have seen a doctor where I basically got a shrug and a referral to get my iron checked.. like I said, they're useless.

Also want to know, even if my MRI way back was all clear, does that mean I wouldn't have it or is it still possible? I obviously don't want MS but if it is I'd rather know and deal with it than be constantly worried about what the hell is going on with me!!

Thank you to anyone who has read this and can help!!

[kris85]

I might just add that back at the beginning of it all I've had a fair few different tests done.. have had my heart & ears checked, also thyroid etc.. once they did all the main things I was kind of just pushed aside so to speak and was told it may be anxiety or neck/back problems - both of which I do not at all agree with!

[lyndacarol]

Welcome to ThisIsMS, kris85.

You "want to know if this is consistent with MS." Your symptoms are consistent with MS and with many other conditions. The diagnosis of MS can only be made when the other more likely conditions have been ruled out.

Numbness/tingling in the legs and arms is the textbook definition of "peripheral neuropathy." This is a common symptom in MANY conditions. In the investigation into the cause of peripheral neuropathy, the University of Chicago suggests the following (your GP can order the blood tests – some, like thyroid, may have already been tested – and start your investigation):

http://peripheralneuropathycenter.uchic ... #bloodtest\

Blood tests

Blood tests are commonly employed to check for vitamin deficiencies, toxic elements and evidence of an abnormal immune response.

Depending on your individual situation, your doctor may request certain laboratory tests to identify potentially treatable causes for neuropathy. These include tests for:

Vitamin B12 and folate levels
Thyroid, liver and kidney functions
Vasculitis evaluation
Oral glucose tolerance test
Antibodies to nerve components (e.g., anti-MAG antibody)
Antibodies related to celiac disease
Lyme disease
HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis C and B

Please note that the first blood test the U of Chicago suggests is for vitamin B12. Since all your symptoms are consistent with a vitamin B12 deficiency and testing is fairly easy, I also think this is the place to start. Ask your GP to order the initial testing which should include:

#1 a serum B12 test (This single test alone is not enough to determine a deficiency.)
#2 a serum folate test
#3 a serum homocysteine test
#4 a serum or urinary (which many consider to be more accurate) methylmalonic acid test

Request your own copy of any test results. Do not take a vitamin B supplement before testing, as this will skew the results. Any person at any age can develop a B12 deficiency. Pregnancy (and breast-feeding) puts a great demand on the mother's B12 stores. (Prenatal/maternity vitamins will not prevent a B12 deficiency; in fact, the high level of folic acid in them – which is not balanced with B12 – can actually worsen the neurological symptoms of a B12 deficiency.)

To your question of an initial clear MRI and possible MS diagnosis… I was told my first three MRIs were normal; I was diagnosed after my fourth MRI showed lesions (By the way, neurological lesions can be a sign of a B12 deficiency.).

[jimmylegs]

hi and welcome kris

here is a topic involving a mom who shared some of your symptoms and concerns, tests she had done (including serum b12 level, which was fine), and which measures she found helpful. her experience might provide some useful insight:
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-d ... 19575.html

let me know what you think and if you have any questions, feel free