do these symptoms sound like MS?
do these symptoms sound like MS?
about a year ago i felt a constant dizziness and a tremor in my hands, but couldn't visualize. i got pregnant and felt fine, now i am 10 weeks post partum and started to feel a tingling feeling in my right index finger and intermittently in my thumb, my left hand feels heavy with slight tingling. i also noticed some slight tingling in my upper lip. my father was diagnosed with MS at 56 and his symptoms are mainly in the legs and with balance. any advise would be greatly appreciated.
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lyndacarol
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Re: do these symptoms sound like MS?
Welcome to ThisIsMS, krenren.krenren wrote:about a year ago i felt a constant dizziness and a tremor in my hands, but couldn't visualize. i got pregnant and felt fine, now i am 10 weeks post partum and started to feel a tingling feeling in my right index finger and intermittently in my thumb, my left hand feels heavy with slight tingling. i also noticed some slight tingling in my upper lip. my father was diagnosed with MS at 56 and his symptoms are mainly in the legs and with balance. any advise would be greatly appreciated.
As you probably realize, your symptoms are nonspecific – they are common to many conditions. There is no definitive test for MS, the MS diagnosis is made after the other more likely possibilities have been ruled out.
One very common possibility is vitamin B12 deficiency. It is estimated that 40% of the American population have suboptimal levels of B12. In my opinion, this is the first possibility your doctor should rule out. This can be done with 4 simple, inexpensive blood tests: #1 a serum B12 test (or the newer, more reliable HoloTc test, if this is available in your area) – the serum B12 alone is not adequate to find a deficiency; #2 a serum (or the more accurate RBC) folate test; #3 a serum homocysteine test; and #4 a methylmalonic acid test. (By the way, do not take vitamin B supplements before testing, as this will skew test results.)
Anyone at any age can develop a B12 deficiency. Pregnancy and breast-feeding are especially draining on B12 levels. Prenatal and maternity vitamins are high in folic acid, which will not correct a B12 deficiency and which can, in fact, disguise a B12 deficiency. MS and B12 deficiency look exactly alike with their neurological symptoms – testing is needed to tell them apart. This is definitely a topic to discuss with one of your doctors – any one of them (GP, gynecologist, obstetrician) can order the necessary testing