Hello all!
So I am a 22 year old Graduate Student who was diagnosed with MS back in September 2011, at the age of 19. I had a rather large lesion on my pons as well as a smaller lesion on my pre-frontal cortex, with a moderate to severe B-12 deficiency and a negative LP. I have, thus far, no lesions on my spinal cord, which makes me question my MS diagnoses.
I was put of Rebif (interferon-beta) immediately following a five day hospital admission that included five days of IV steroids. I responded superbly to the IV steroids, and my lesions were not at all visible on my follow up MRI (not even scarring!)
Fast forward a year and some-odd months. In May 2013, my neurologist and I made the decision to stop my Rebif therapy to see if I had another flare-up (I was beginning to doubt my diagnosis as I had not had any problems whatsoever since being diagnosed).
Fast forward again to late August 2014. I began to feel extremely fatigued with tingling in my hands and feet, so I made a neurology appointment. They could not see me for two weeks. Once I was finally seen, my regular neurologist doubted I had a new lesion and believed that my B-12 was just low, but I insisted on an brain MRI as well as blood work, and the MRI yielded a new, rather large lesion on my medulla (in the brainstem, near where my first major lesion was).
My B-12 was indeed very low, and I am currently receiving IV steroids as well as weekly B-12 injections for a month, then one B-12 injection for a month for the next six months.
The reason for my post today was to inquire about my low B-12. I am beginning to question whether my lesions are a result from low B-12 and not MS, given the lack of issues since my diagnoses and the placement of my lesions. I have mentioned this to my neurologist, and she tells me that while they are indeed correlated, it is highly unlikely my lesions are being caused strictly from B-12 deficiency. Any thoughts? I hate to begin taking the Rebif again if it is unnecessary. I'd much rather take a B-12 supplement if that's what's causing my lesions.
Thank you in advance for all of your responses, and have a nice day!
** Moderator's note - Post broken into paragraphs for easier reading. Many people with MS have visual difficulties that prevent them from reading large blocks of print. **
So I am a 22 year old Graduate Student who was diagnosed with MS back in September 2011, at the age of 19. I had a rather large lesion on my pons as well as a smaller lesion on my pre-frontal cortex, with a moderate to severe B-12 deficiency and a negative LP. I have, thus far, no lesions on my spinal cord, which makes me question my MS diagnoses.
I was put of Rebif (interferon-beta) immediately following a five day hospital admission that included five days of IV steroids. I responded superbly to the IV steroids, and my lesions were not at all visible on my follow up MRI (not even scarring!)
Fast forward a year and some-odd months. In May 2013, my neurologist and I made the decision to stop my Rebif therapy to see if I had another flare-up (I was beginning to doubt my diagnosis as I had not had any problems whatsoever since being diagnosed).
Fast forward again to late August 2014. I began to feel extremely fatigued with tingling in my hands and feet, so I made a neurology appointment. They could not see me for two weeks. Once I was finally seen, my regular neurologist doubted I had a new lesion and believed that my B-12 was just low, but I insisted on an brain MRI as well as blood work, and the MRI yielded a new, rather large lesion on my medulla (in the brainstem, near where my first major lesion was).
My B-12 was indeed very low, and I am currently receiving IV steroids as well as weekly B-12 injections for a month, then one B-12 injection for a month for the next six months.
The reason for my post today was to inquire about my low B-12. I am beginning to question whether my lesions are a result from low B-12 and not MS, given the lack of issues since my diagnoses and the placement of my lesions. I have mentioned this to my neurologist, and she tells me that while they are indeed correlated, it is highly unlikely my lesions are being caused strictly from B-12 deficiency. Any thoughts? I hate to begin taking the Rebif again if it is unnecessary. I'd much rather take a B-12 supplement if that's what's causing my lesions.
Thank you in advance for all of your responses, and have a nice day!
** Moderator's note - Post broken into paragraphs for easier reading. Many people with MS have visual difficulties that prevent them from reading large blocks of print. **
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