This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hi Everyone,
I'm not sure if I should be on this forum or not. I have had many odd symptoms over the past 7 years or so. I haven't ever put them together until recently to think that they may be related. I have been to doctors off and on, no resolution, usually state it is my age (49), or pre menepause...
Here is what I have experienced: my first and persistent symptom is a difficult time getting a satisfying breath, I usually have to yawn to get relief and that feeling of a deep breath. I know my oxygen levels are fine, I am not asthmatic. This usually happens while exercising, and at night in bed. I had one experience of vertigo, which my doctor thinks may have been a TIA. I have had two episodes of optic migraines (vision looks like a kaleidoscope). I get sharp pain in my eyes occasionally when moving them. This is a strange one and has happened with both feet, I will get a burning/ stinging on the bottom of my foot. It swells in one spot into a lump, then bruises from the bottom to the top of my foot. The foot doctor thought I was crazy until I showed him pictures. I definitely have lost cognitive abilities, or have to work a lot harder at it! I do have dizziness often, but it doesn't stop me from doing anything, I just learn to deal with it. I also get severe foot and calf muscle spasms, especially at night. I read about the vitamin D deficiency and remembered I had mine checked about 6 years ago. The number was 41. This was taken in August, and just to let you know, this Florida girl spends a lot of time working outside in the summer. I would think I get plenty of vitamin D. My doctor said it was low, but the lab had it in normal range.
Any ideas? Do you think these symptoms are related at all? I do not want to self diagnose, or bring this up to my doctor, and he think I'm crazy.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Karenk,

my first and persistent symptom is a difficult time getting a satisfying breath, I usually have to yawn to get relief and that feeling of a deep breath. I know my oxygen levels are fine, I am not asthmatic. This usually happens while exercising, and at night in bed.

You said you are not asthmatic, have you had that confirmed by a Pulmonologist? Exercise induced asthma can present as you have experienced. Exercise induced asthma means everything you do can cause difficult breathing even simply getting into bed.

Ophthalmic migraines can cause eye pain as well as symptoms. Anyone can have Ocular migraines and would not point to anything specific. Many times they can be genetic and there can be "triggers." The link below will give more information about Ocular migraines. My son dealt with Ocular migraines for several years so I can sympathize with you.
http://www.allaboutvision.com/condition ... graine.htm

Have you been evaluated by an Ophthalmologist regarding your eye pain? An Ophthalmologist would be able to detect vision problems related to MS or if uncertain would refer you to a neuro Ophthalmologist.

Your Vitamin D may be within "normal" ranges but it is being recommended D levels should be higher so supplementing would be a good idea. Low vitamin D levels do not indicate MS as the cause. Many conditions are now linking Vitamin D levels.

As far as linking everything you are experiencing to MS, I don't think that is currently possible but only testing and a Neurologist can give you that answer.

There are many conditions, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, some medications and mental health (stress, anxiety, ect.) problems can cause the same type of symptoms as seen in Multiple Sclerosis. The diagnostic criteria (Revised McDonald Criteria) requires all other possible causes for a person's symptoms be ruled out. MS cannot be diagnosed based on symptoms alone. Multiple Sclerosis is a disease of the Central Nervous System(CNS) which includes the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord.

Thank you for all of the info! Yes, the pulmonologist ruled out exercised induced asthma and the eye doctor just said it is probably muscle spasms.
I will continue to monitor things. I do not take any medications and feel good most of the time, which I am very thankful for.

sounds like almost everything you list has very strong magnesium links. every additional symptom listed underlines it again. i'll post links to related forum topics in a sec. one exception would be the foot aspect.
you need 7-10 mg of elemental mag per kg body weight per day. best to maximize from food and high quality water. (as i type i am watching the new countertop water filter do its thing. the filter adds essential minerals as it removes contaminants).
not all supplements are created equal. i just found a new one i'm going to try. it is a mag complex withe first of four components being mag glycinate, which is my favourite supplemental form. didn't come cheap compared to other products; $40 (CAD) for 90 powder capsules. 200mg elemental mag each. i'll probably only be able to handle one a day max, to top up from food and fluids. so $0.44 per day, i can deal for this one bottle. if it isn't magical i'll go back to plain old mag glycinate 60 x 180mg for 20 bucks (or 33 cents per day)!!
you can check with your doc but odds are there won't be an issue with simply ensuring that your daily magnesium intake needs are being met. will most likely be wise to do so, see what clears up, and then you'll probably have a shorter symptom list to go on with.

breathing issues. i know EXACTLY what you are dealing with. not fun, but i did get rid of it
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/search.ph ... =jimmylegs

optic migraine
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/search.ph ... =jimmylegs

muscle spasms (could be a potassium link in there too)
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/search.ph ... =jimmylegs

vit d3 biosynthesis
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/search.ph ... =jimmylegs

normal serum mag range at labs is crap, deficiency occurs in normal range. you can still get a serum mag test if interested, it is used in research constantly to demonstrate differences in levels between sick and healthy people, but they are in clusters *inside* the normal range. so you just have to know you want the result at the top end of the normal range.

re vertigo / cognitive those go more to zinc in my xp. last time i had a bit of vertigo going on i just got more diligent with the nutrition and it went away again. zinc deficiency was the worst for my brain. so glad that is over