After years of vertigo, and not getting my balance back, I finally complained to my PCP. In the past he told me that I just needed to "practice standing on one foot"...I can't stand on one foot to save my life! Last August (2011) I told him my balance was not getting better and I was dizzy all of the time. He ran some balance tests in his office and also diagnosed me with nystagmus. He referred me immediately to a neurologist because his gut feeling was that I could have MS.
My symptoms include: loss of balance, dizziness, episodes of vertigo that last 20-30 minutes, trouble understanding and keeping track of conversations, trouble finding words, memory problems (My cat jumped into the refrigerator yesterday and I forgot him...for 5 hours...he is fine..I felt terrible), weird itching in my hands and feet, numbness in my face that comes and goes, and I am always exhausted.
I had one regular brain MRI and MS was dismissed because he said my MRI was fine. He continued to prescribe seizure meds, anxiety meds, motion sickness meds, and a diuretic "just in case it is Meniere's Disease". He also referred me to an ENT specialist. I finally got fed up with being prescribed medications...which only made things worse...I stopped seeing him.
My ENT specialist has been wonderful. He did a full allergy workup and I am allergic to EVERYTHING. I really thought it was possible that I had Meniere's...I totally forgot about MS.
Last Friday I had my last ABR test. I was told that I do not have Meniere's and my problems do not stem from an inner ear problem. He said that his gut feeling is that it is MS because I have a clear deficit on my right side probably from a small lesion. He said that it is very important for me to see an MS specialist.
So, here I am, back in Limbo Land. I see my PCP tomorrow so he can refer me to an MS specialist. I guess my worry is that I will get someone else who has no clue and won't take things seriously. Why didn't the neurologist do an MRI with and without contrast?
My symptoms include: loss of balance, dizziness, episodes of vertigo that last 20-30 minutes, trouble understanding and keeping track of conversations, trouble finding words, memory problems (My cat jumped into the refrigerator yesterday and I forgot him...for 5 hours...he is fine..I felt terrible), weird itching in my hands and feet, numbness in my face that comes and goes, and I am always exhausted.
I had one regular brain MRI and MS was dismissed because he said my MRI was fine. He continued to prescribe seizure meds, anxiety meds, motion sickness meds, and a diuretic "just in case it is Meniere's Disease". He also referred me to an ENT specialist. I finally got fed up with being prescribed medications...which only made things worse...I stopped seeing him.
My ENT specialist has been wonderful. He did a full allergy workup and I am allergic to EVERYTHING. I really thought it was possible that I had Meniere's...I totally forgot about MS.
Last Friday I had my last ABR test. I was told that I do not have Meniere's and my problems do not stem from an inner ear problem. He said that his gut feeling is that it is MS because I have a clear deficit on my right side probably from a small lesion. He said that it is very important for me to see an MS specialist.
So, here I am, back in Limbo Land. I see my PCP tomorrow so he can refer me to an MS specialist. I guess my worry is that I will get someone else who has no clue and won't take things seriously. Why didn't the neurologist do an MRI with and without contrast?
Sir Falls-a-lot
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