Could I have MS after a negative brain MRI?
This will be a bit long so I apologize in advance..
Three months ago, I started having severe episodes of fatigue. At the time, I thought it was because of my birth control pills so I stopped taking them. Fatigue stayed the same.
Shortly after, I came down with a sudden decrease in vision (blurring) and an awful headache that lasted 7 full days. My doctor (who was idiot) ordered a CT without contrast. Said he didn't see anything and referred me to an opthamologist.
The opthamologist checked my eyes and immediately told me that I had obvious nerve damage in my eye (paling of disc; swollen optic nerve) and told me he was fairly sure I had optic neuritis. I was then referred to a neurologist.
Neurologist confirmed DX of Optic Neuritis. My right eye/side of head hurt all the time. He ordered an MRI w/ contrast. This also came back normal. But he noted I had several other symptoms of MS including fatigue, numbness in hands, face, limbs, frequent urinary issues as well as a constant tremor in my hands. He then suggested a lumbar puncture. I decided not to do it because I was very scared of it (thanks to an awful experience with a previous epidural). Since my MRI was "free" of plaques and my eye seeming to be on the mend, I just let it go.
But recently, I've started to have odd symptoms again. When I get hot, my vision goes very blurry. I have trouble focusing. Then today, I decided to take a hot bath. After I got out, I had terrible muscle weakness, my limbs felt stiff and heavy and I could barely move. It scared me. I talked to my sister (who is just starting med school @ Emory) and she said I could in fact have plaques on my spinal cord since that area wasn't included in the MRI. And that you can still have MS without a positive brain MRI.
Is she right? Should I go back to the neuro or is this all just a coincidence ? I know this post is long but any perspective from other MS patients would be helpful.I always thought you had to have plaques on the brain to be DX with MS.
Background Info--25 year old female. Mother of two. Healthy (other than these issues)..have 1 Aunt with MS and another with Lupus. Have family history of thyroid disease but I have been cleared of that.
Three months ago, I started having severe episodes of fatigue. At the time, I thought it was because of my birth control pills so I stopped taking them. Fatigue stayed the same.
Shortly after, I came down with a sudden decrease in vision (blurring) and an awful headache that lasted 7 full days. My doctor (who was idiot) ordered a CT without contrast. Said he didn't see anything and referred me to an opthamologist.
The opthamologist checked my eyes and immediately told me that I had obvious nerve damage in my eye (paling of disc; swollen optic nerve) and told me he was fairly sure I had optic neuritis. I was then referred to a neurologist.
Neurologist confirmed DX of Optic Neuritis. My right eye/side of head hurt all the time. He ordered an MRI w/ contrast. This also came back normal. But he noted I had several other symptoms of MS including fatigue, numbness in hands, face, limbs, frequent urinary issues as well as a constant tremor in my hands. He then suggested a lumbar puncture. I decided not to do it because I was very scared of it (thanks to an awful experience with a previous epidural). Since my MRI was "free" of plaques and my eye seeming to be on the mend, I just let it go.
But recently, I've started to have odd symptoms again. When I get hot, my vision goes very blurry. I have trouble focusing. Then today, I decided to take a hot bath. After I got out, I had terrible muscle weakness, my limbs felt stiff and heavy and I could barely move. It scared me. I talked to my sister (who is just starting med school @ Emory) and she said I could in fact have plaques on my spinal cord since that area wasn't included in the MRI. And that you can still have MS without a positive brain MRI.
Is she right? Should I go back to the neuro or is this all just a coincidence ? I know this post is long but any perspective from other MS patients would be helpful.I always thought you had to have plaques on the brain to be DX with MS.
Background Info--25 year old female. Mother of two. Healthy (other than these issues)..have 1 Aunt with MS and another with Lupus. Have family history of thyroid disease but I have been cleared of that.
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