The Waiting and wondering Game
Hello all. 
My name is Cathy. I am 46 years old, married 29 yrs, mom to 4 wonderful grown 'babies' lol 3 boys-29,26 and 23 & 1 girl who is 18) and I am Grammy to 3 sweeties ages 10, 4 and almost 2. They are all my
I am currently undergoing testing with my Neuro and recently had repeat MRI's of my brain and c-spine, as well as the auditory canal, all w and w/o.
Those results were:
The c-spine showed:
C5 and C6-The intervertebral disk space is narrowed and degenerative endplate changes are present. A shallow disc osteophyte complex causes mild cord impingement. Mild to moderate narrowing or the right neural foramen. the left foramen appears patent.
C6 and C7-C5 and C6-The intervertebral disk space is narrowed and degenerative endplate changes are present. There is a shallow disc osteophyte complex which may cause minimal cord impingement. The neural foramen appear patent.
Results:
This examination is limited by patent motion despite multiple attempts at scanning. (Due to my tremors I guess)
No definite cord signal is appreciated. Following administration on IV contrast, no definite mass or enhancing lesion is seen. The cervical vertebrae are normally aligned. The lower cervical lordosis is reversed. There is no spinal stenosis. The intervertebral disks are desiccated.
No change when compared to 10/26/10.
Brain MRI:
Several small foci of hyperintense T2 signal are scattered in the supratentorial white matter.
No edema or mass effect.
No mass is seen in the internal auditory canals, cerebellopontine angles, or brain parenchyma. The cisternal, intracanalicular, and labyrinthine segments of the 7th/8th cranial nerve complexes appear normal in caliber and do not enhance with contrast. The inner ear structures appear unremarkable.
There is no restricted diffusion to suggest recent infarct.
Impression:
1.Several small nonspecific white matter lesions, which could be related to early chronic small vessel ischemic disease, migraine headaches, or demyelinating disease/multiple sclerosis.
2. No enhancing lesion is seen.
3.No evidence of acoustic or vestibular neuroma.
~~~~
When my neuro went over all this with me he said we can rule out the migraines, because I don't have them-and we can rule out the ischemic disease because I show no signs of ever having any strokes and even recently went though testing with a hematologist to make sure I had no clotting disorders.
I have Lupus and Fibro as well as Osteoarthritis and was also told I have CFS/ME-which I am now wondering if maybe its not that but more like MS-which is what my neuro is testing for. I go back to him in a cpl weeks for EMGs of my hands/arms and neck to rule out any probs there causing many of my symptoms.
The symptoms and issues I have are:
Weakness
Numbness and tingling all over
Buzzing sensation in left groin.
Dizziness and light-headedness-also very off balance which is why he checked the inner ear and all.
Been loosing my balance a lot lately-walked into a wall the other night and yesterday knocked a set of folding trays over because I lost my balance and grabbed for it.
Intention Tremor
Hot and cold sensations that happen anywhere at any time. Some feel like cold water running inside me.
Left side of face keeps going numb and my taste is very off-now have metallic taste in mouth and nothing tastes right at all.
Facial pain-stabbing sharp pains out of the blue that can be quick or last longer.
Electrical shock-like sensation down my arms and sometimes legs, when I yawn, take a deep breath and with neck movement.
Vision/eye probs-double/blurry vision, corneal erosion syndrome, eye pain. Balls of flashing lights when I move my head or sometimes when I just close them or do nothing.
Problems swallowing-sometimes its like I can't even swallow my meds. Sometimes I start to choke on food-can't swallow it.
Mixing words together-making up words, it seems. Tripping over my tongue-trouble forming thought into what I want to say.
Can't stand the heat anymore-past cpl years like this now-never before.
Insomnia really REALLY bad.
Hands cramp up and stiffen like say i try to open something or am holding a book to read-my hand then hurts so bad and fingers look and feel all cramped up.
Total exhaustion-no energy.
forgetfulness
can't find the words I am looking for.
I have GERD as well.
I am also have VERY low vit d levels. It was 6.6 a few mnths back.
Vit B-12 was also SO low that for almost all last year I had to give myself shots of B-12!
Very stiff esp legs/feet/ankles.
Pain everywhere.
Sometimes walking too much makes my legs feel heavy and I have to force myself to take each step.
Bladder and bowel probs :/
anxiety
depression-well who wouldn't be. lol
and there is just so much I can't even think of it all to type it here. I know some of these things are related to my other health issues-but some are now worse and some are new and some I was told are NOT related to my Lupus/Fibro/etc.
I have also had SVT and continue to have palpitations despite having had an ablation 6 yrs ago. I have high blood pressure but no other heart issues other than these.
My Lupus has been in remission for a long time now-blood results have been great for many years..so docs don't think its the Lupus at all and neuro said many of these things I am dealing with wouln't be the fibro or CFS either.
Oh and also have hypothyroidism now too.
Its all just a mess and I have come to the place where I am like 'look, if I have this (MS) than I have it and will just have to deal with what I can and let God handle the big stuff for me.'
I just would like to know for certain so I can get proper treatment and hope to stop the progression as much as we can.
Any input or insight is most welcome. I pray you all have good days and nights!
Thanks for reading
My name is Cathy. I am 46 years old, married 29 yrs, mom to 4 wonderful grown 'babies' lol 3 boys-29,26 and 23 & 1 girl who is 18) and I am Grammy to 3 sweeties ages 10, 4 and almost 2. They are all my
I am currently undergoing testing with my Neuro and recently had repeat MRI's of my brain and c-spine, as well as the auditory canal, all w and w/o.
Those results were:
The c-spine showed:
C5 and C6-The intervertebral disk space is narrowed and degenerative endplate changes are present. A shallow disc osteophyte complex causes mild cord impingement. Mild to moderate narrowing or the right neural foramen. the left foramen appears patent.
C6 and C7-C5 and C6-The intervertebral disk space is narrowed and degenerative endplate changes are present. There is a shallow disc osteophyte complex which may cause minimal cord impingement. The neural foramen appear patent.
Results:
This examination is limited by patent motion despite multiple attempts at scanning. (Due to my tremors I guess)
No definite cord signal is appreciated. Following administration on IV contrast, no definite mass or enhancing lesion is seen. The cervical vertebrae are normally aligned. The lower cervical lordosis is reversed. There is no spinal stenosis. The intervertebral disks are desiccated.
No change when compared to 10/26/10.
Brain MRI:
Several small foci of hyperintense T2 signal are scattered in the supratentorial white matter.
No edema or mass effect.
No mass is seen in the internal auditory canals, cerebellopontine angles, or brain parenchyma. The cisternal, intracanalicular, and labyrinthine segments of the 7th/8th cranial nerve complexes appear normal in caliber and do not enhance with contrast. The inner ear structures appear unremarkable.
There is no restricted diffusion to suggest recent infarct.
Impression:
1.Several small nonspecific white matter lesions, which could be related to early chronic small vessel ischemic disease, migraine headaches, or demyelinating disease/multiple sclerosis.
2. No enhancing lesion is seen.
3.No evidence of acoustic or vestibular neuroma.
~~~~
When my neuro went over all this with me he said we can rule out the migraines, because I don't have them-and we can rule out the ischemic disease because I show no signs of ever having any strokes and even recently went though testing with a hematologist to make sure I had no clotting disorders.
I have Lupus and Fibro as well as Osteoarthritis and was also told I have CFS/ME-which I am now wondering if maybe its not that but more like MS-which is what my neuro is testing for. I go back to him in a cpl weeks for EMGs of my hands/arms and neck to rule out any probs there causing many of my symptoms.
The symptoms and issues I have are:
Weakness
Numbness and tingling all over
Buzzing sensation in left groin.
Dizziness and light-headedness-also very off balance which is why he checked the inner ear and all.
Been loosing my balance a lot lately-walked into a wall the other night and yesterday knocked a set of folding trays over because I lost my balance and grabbed for it.
Intention Tremor
Hot and cold sensations that happen anywhere at any time. Some feel like cold water running inside me.
Left side of face keeps going numb and my taste is very off-now have metallic taste in mouth and nothing tastes right at all.
Facial pain-stabbing sharp pains out of the blue that can be quick or last longer.
Electrical shock-like sensation down my arms and sometimes legs, when I yawn, take a deep breath and with neck movement.
Vision/eye probs-double/blurry vision, corneal erosion syndrome, eye pain. Balls of flashing lights when I move my head or sometimes when I just close them or do nothing.
Problems swallowing-sometimes its like I can't even swallow my meds. Sometimes I start to choke on food-can't swallow it.
Mixing words together-making up words, it seems. Tripping over my tongue-trouble forming thought into what I want to say.
Can't stand the heat anymore-past cpl years like this now-never before.
Insomnia really REALLY bad.
Hands cramp up and stiffen like say i try to open something or am holding a book to read-my hand then hurts so bad and fingers look and feel all cramped up.
Total exhaustion-no energy.
forgetfulness
can't find the words I am looking for.
I have GERD as well.
I am also have VERY low vit d levels. It was 6.6 a few mnths back.
Vit B-12 was also SO low that for almost all last year I had to give myself shots of B-12!
Very stiff esp legs/feet/ankles.
Pain everywhere.
Sometimes walking too much makes my legs feel heavy and I have to force myself to take each step.
Bladder and bowel probs :/
anxiety
depression-well who wouldn't be. lol
and there is just so much I can't even think of it all to type it here. I know some of these things are related to my other health issues-but some are now worse and some are new and some I was told are NOT related to my Lupus/Fibro/etc.
I have also had SVT and continue to have palpitations despite having had an ablation 6 yrs ago. I have high blood pressure but no other heart issues other than these.
My Lupus has been in remission for a long time now-blood results have been great for many years..so docs don't think its the Lupus at all and neuro said many of these things I am dealing with wouln't be the fibro or CFS either.
Oh and also have hypothyroidism now too.
Its all just a mess and I have come to the place where I am like 'look, if I have this (MS) than I have it and will just have to deal with what I can and let God handle the big stuff for me.'
I just would like to know for certain so I can get proper treatment and hope to stop the progression as much as we can.
Any input or insight is most welcome. I pray you all have good days and nights!
Thanks for reading
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