Undiagnosed - MS suspected

[belmar313]

Hello!

I'm Maria, and I come from Uruguay.
I'm 30 and I've been getting weird symptoms for two years.
I went to several doctors but have been dismissed almost all the times.

Last month I went to a neuro because I have been feeling really bad for the last two weeks: I have very strong pain in my eyes (first one of them, then the other) with blurred vision and a blind spot in the center of the eye. Also I feel like If someone was pressing my eyes. I also have some very strong vertigo/dizziness episodes and headaches. I need to urinate every 20 minutes too. I have a strong back pain, and muscle weakness, and I don't feel my feet and hands, or feel the classic needles and pins sensation, specially on my hands. I have a hard time walking straight too, and for the last month, something very strange started happening to me....everytime I used to leave home to go somewhere (to visit my parents, to doc´s appointment, etc.) I "got lost", didn't remember where I was going or how to get there...I felt so stupid.

My neuro wanted to rule out MS, and to tell you the truth, I never read anything about the disease.

This is when I start to have some questions:

- My neuro ordered an MRI, and I already got it. When I got to the MRI room, the assistant told me he would be guiding me through the exam (not the tech, who was inside...the assistant used to go inside with the tech and come out from time to time to check on me or receive other patients). The assistant told me that their policy was not to administer contrast unless it was REALLY necessary, and the tech (or radiologist) are the ones who get to decide that.
After 50 minutes having my MRI, the assistant came back and said I was done and that I would be called the next day to pick up my report.
Since I'm very new, I'm not sure what that meant.

It seems that the MRI tech decided that contrast was not needed (or the radiologist may have decided it). I was very glad about that and then told a friend of my mom about it. She works with neuros and doctors in general, all the time. I told her that I had assumed that if contrast was not needed, then everything was fine. She told me "not necessarily", contrast is needed to detect active lesions and it is recommended to diagnose MS. Contrast is also helpful when techs are in doubt. But to rule out MS, it´s not needed, and the fact that they did not use it might mean that everything is clear, or that they have enough evidence not to rule it out". I then told her that when I was leaving, I asked the assistant if everything was ok, and he said "yes yes, everything is very good", and my mom´s friend also told me not to trust that comment, since the assistant might have no idea or he could be only trying to be nice. She said she was not being negative, and that it's probable that I'm fine, but that my interpretations are not exactly correct.

What do you think?

Do you agree about this, that the fact the MRI tech decided contrast wasn't required doesn't necessarily imply that everything is clear. And that the assistant telling me everything was very good doesn't always mean it.

I was just looking for reassurance.

Thanks!!

[lyndacarol]

Welcome to ThisIsMS, Maria (belmar313).

I have no medical background, but it seems possible to me that if NO lesions were seen, contrast would not be necessary. The MRI contrast is gadolinium, a heavy metal, which is good to avoid, when possible.

It is not unusual to have clear MRI results in the beginning and, some time later, to have lesions appear. In my own case, my first 3 MRIs had "normal" results; lesions appeared on my fourth MRI.

All the symptoms you described for us are common to many conditions. (Even lesions seen on MRI can be due to a condition other than MS.) There is no definitive test for MS; MS can only be considered as a possible diagnosis after the other more likely possibilities have been ruled out.

Although I live in North America, I am ignorant about South America, specifically about Uruguay. Recently, I have become concerned about the use of the herbicide, Roundup, on our food crops. I understand that Roundup has been widely used in Argentina. Is it often used in Uruguay, too? Or, are many foods sold in Uruguay actually grown in countries that allow Roundup?

Roundup contains a chemical that ties up many nutrients, making those nutrients unavailable to the human body. One of the nutrients affected is vitamin B12. Interestingly, B12 deficiency is one of the possible causes for symptoms such as yours. Has your GP or neuro screened you for a possible B12 deficiency?

The journey from symptoms to diagnosis is usually complicated; we wish you all the best.

[belmar313]

Thanks for your reply! Roundup is widely used here. I try to consume only organic products, but it's quite expensive so sometimes I just take the risk. I've had several other exams, including thorough blood work in which I've been tested for several enzymes and antibodies. However, I wasn't tested for vitamin B12 levels. I will request to be checked for that one too. Meanwhile I'll just wait for my MRI results...

Have a great day!

[lyndacarol]

Thanks for your reply! Roundup is widely used here. I try to consume only organic products, but it's quite expensive so sometimes I just take the risk. I've had several other exams, including thorough blood work in which I've been tested for several enzymes and antibodies. However, I wasn't tested for vitamin B12 levels. I will request to be checked for that one too. Meanwhile I'll just wait for my MRI results...

Have a great day!

It is estimated that 40% of the US population has suboptimal B12 levels. I don't know about the situation in Uruguay, but with your symptoms and the fact that Roundup may be in the food supply, I think it is a good idea to be screened for B12 deficiency.

Many doctors in the US rely only on the "serum B12" test; of course, I do not know what the practice is in Uruguay. But please be aware that the "serum B12" test alone is not adequate to find a B12 deficiency. Initial B12 testing should include these 4 tests: #1 a serum B12 test (or the newer, more reliable HoloTc test); #2 RBC folate test; #3 a serum homocysteine test; and #4 methylmalonic acid test.

[belmar313]

Thanks for letting me know....otherwise I would just have assumed that the testing would be done appropriately, there are several things we really need to be aware of when being sent for tests, such as the one you described here. I'll ask the doctor about the technique used for vit B12 testing.Thanks!

[belmar313]

Thanks for your reply! Roundup is widely used here. I try to consume only organic products, but it's quite expensive so sometimes I just take the risk. I've had several other exams, including thorough blood work in which I've been tested for several enzymes and antibodies. However, I wasn't tested for vitamin B12 levels. I will request to be checked for that one too. Meanwhile I'll just wait for my MRI results...

Have a great day!

It is estimated that 40% of the US population has suboptimal B12 levels. I don't know about the situation in Uruguay, but with your symptoms and the fact that Roundup may be in the food supply, I think it is a good idea to be screened for B12 deficiency.

Many doctors in the US rely only on the "serum B12" test; of course, I do not know what the practice is in Uruguay. But please be aware that the "serum B12" test alone is not adequate to find a B12 deficiency. Initial B12 testing should include these 4 tests: #1 a serum B12 test (or the newer, more reliable HoloTc test); #2 RBC folate test; #3 a serum homocysteine test; and #4 methylmalonic acid test.

Lyndacarol, I would also like to point out something I never even considered. I read some posts in this forum, and saw many of your comments, which include a signature. I need to say that I have hyperinsulinemia due to insulin resistance. Never caused any problems in my life and I´m not diabetic, however I read you mentioned that It might give you MS like symptoms.....

[lyndacarol]

Lyndacarol, I would also like to point out something I never even considered. I read some posts in this forum, and saw many of your comments, which include a signature. I need to say that I have hyperinsulinemia due to insulin resistance. Never caused any problems in my life and I´m not diabetic, however I read you mentioned that It might give you MS like symptoms.....

After examining the animal studies which Monsanto submitted to EPA in the late 1970s and 80s for the registration of glyphosate, Dr. Anthony Samsel, retired research scientist, has revealed Monsanto's findings:
Glyphosate goes almost immediately to the bone marrow;
cells made in the bone marrow go to the thymus gland (becoming our T-cells);
the greatest effects of abnormal tissue growth were found in the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, and the thymus gland – the major organs affected were female mammary glands, testicles, followed by the kidneys, pancreas, liver, and lungs.

Specifically in a 26-month glyphosate feeding study in rats conducted by Bio/dynamics of New Jersey, a significant incidence of pancreatic islet cell tumors were found in male rats. A similar study in 1990 by Stout and Rueker found the same results.

With this information, my hypothesis of hyperinsulinemia has changed somewhat.

I now know that glyphosate ties up (chelates) minerals, including cobalt which is the basis for vitamin B12. Signs of a B12 deficiency include hepatomegaly (enlargement of the liver) and splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen), according to Sally Pacholok, RN, BSN & her husband Jeffrey Stuart, D.O. (page 298 in their book, Could It Be B12? An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses) . From Dr. Samsel's research I know that the pancreas is affected by glyphosate.

It is possible that all three organs are affected by the same mechanism – by glyphosate directly or through glyphosate's chelation of minerals.

In either case, it appears to me now that my hyperinsulinemia is the result of direct or indirect action of glyphosate (Roundup). In my opinion (remember, I have no medical background), hyperinsulinemia should be considered one more possible symptom of MS, not a cause of it. (And very possibly my MS nerve damage and symptoms begin with glyphosate.)

[belmar313]

I can't believe Roundup is still allowed. I know there are monetary and political interests involved, but I also didn't know how destructive it was. Here, in Uruguay, it is used in everything. No wonder why after reading disease statistics, I found out that Uruguay is the country in the whole region with the greatest number of diabetics and MS sufferers, and one of the most affected worldwide. Hard to believe....

[lyndacarol]

I can't believe Roundup is still allowed. I know there are monetary and political interests involved, but I also didn't know how destructive it was. Here, in Uruguay, it is used in everything. No wonder why after reading disease statistics, I found out that Uruguay is the country in the whole region with the greatest number of diabetics and MS sufferers, and one of the most affected worldwide. Hard to believe....

I agree with you, Maria – "I can't believe Roundup is still allowed" ANYWHERE!

But I think the world is waking up – countries around the world have begun studies and bans against glyphosate/Roundup and even GMO's.

With an interest in glyphosate (Roundup), you may be interested in reading the "In support of organic diet" thread (http://www.thisisms.com/forum/diet-f9/topic26649.html) found in the Diet forum. There are many links to videos and articles pertaining to glyphosate.