This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hi everyone. I am posting on the site in hopes that someone can assist me with a possible diagnosis. Beginning in May 2013 I started to feel pressure in my right groin area. I thought maybe it was an ovarian cyst so I went to the doctor and had an ultrasound and nothing was found. This pain gradually subsided after a couple months. Then beginning in October 2013 I started to experience a fullness under my left ribcage, almost like something was inflamed like my spleen. Again I went to the doctor, had a CT scan, and still nothing was found. This also subsided after a couple months. In July 2014 I started having headaches just on the left side of my head. It was very odd because I had never had headaches before that. These headaches lasted about two months and then subsided. Starting again in the past week or two I've had headaches again, with fullness and pressure in my ears job and cheek. At this point I'm getting a little bit frustrated with continuing to see doctors are not getting answers. One of my friends recently suggested that it may be a MS because their mother has it and had somewhat similar symptoms. I'm not sure if anybody has had the symptoms before but if you could provide any guidance or insight it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Jordanb812 wrote:Hi everyone. I am posting on the site in hopes that someone can assist me with a possible diagnosis. Beginning in May 2013 I started to feel pressure in my right groin area. I thought maybe it was an ovarian cyst so I went to the doctor and had an ultrasound and nothing was found. This pain gradually subsided after a couple months. Then beginning in October 2013 I started to experience a fullness under my left ribcage, almost like something was inflamed like my spleen. Again I went to the doctor, had a CT scan, and still nothing was found. This also subsided after a couple months. In July 2014 I started having headaches just on the left side of my head. It was very odd because I had never had headaches before that. These headaches lasted about two months and then subsided. Starting again in the past week or two I've had headaches again, with fullness and pressure in my ears job and cheek. At this point I'm getting a little bit frustrated with continuing to see doctors are not getting answers. One of my friends recently suggested that it may be a MS because their mother has it and had somewhat similar symptoms. I'm not sure if anybody has had the symptoms before but if you could provide any guidance or insight it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Welcome to ThisIsMS, Jordanb812.

The symptoms you have described are nonspecific and common to many conditions, including MS; but the other more likely conditions must be ruled out first before a diagnosis of MS can be made.

Since your symptoms (pressure in groin, pressure in spleen area, headaches, pressure in ears) trouble you, they should certainly be investigated. Although your symptoms do not include peripheral neuropathy (which is tingling/numbness in the extremities), the following suggestions from the University of Chicago may offer you some ideas of areas to investigate and rule out:

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

I suggest you start by composing a written list/timeline of the symptoms you have had. Take it to your GP, discuss it, and settle on a game plan.

By the way, ruling out a vitamin B12 deficiency (the first entry on the U of Chicago list) requires more than just the outdated, unreliable "serum B12" test – the newer, more accurate HoloTc is preferred, but it is not yet available everywhere. Initial testing should also include a homocysteine test and a methylmalonic acid test (either the blood test or the urinary test form, which is less expensive and considered to be more accurate).

Also, request your own copy of any test results. It is important to have the actual number results.

Thank you! I recently had a full blood panel. My b12 was normal and my red blood count was on the high normal side which my doctor said would confirm appropriate b12 levels. I also had an HIV test, STD tests which were all negative. All blood work was all within normal range. I'm just confused as to where to go from here.

Jordanb812 wrote:Thank you! I recently had a full blood panel. My b12 was normal and my red blood count was on the high normal side which my doctor said would confirm appropriate b12 levels. I also had an HIV test, STD tests which were all negative. All blood work was all within normal range. I'm just confused as to where to go from here.

Perhaps your doctor would be willing to measure the levels of other nutrients – magnesium, zinc, etc. Headaches can be the result of low magnesium.

Have you been tested for gluten sensitivity/celiac disease? This can cause neurologic symptoms and headaches.

Has the thyroid been tested? Liver? You have made a good start with testing, but I think several areas remain to be checked.

When you say, "My b12 was normal…," be aware that the standard range for a lab test is calculated locally by finding the mean (the average) of all the patients (sick and healthy) who had that test; two standard deviations are found and added to the mean to create the standard range. The "standard" range is not necessarily optimal. The actual test result numbers are more useful than "normal."

As for your B12 level… many experts say that the standard range at labs in the US is set too low. For instance, in Japan a B12 level below 500 pg/mL is considered deficient.