Me and my boring but busy life

[Geekerbell]

I've been lurking around here for a couple of weeks now, trying to read everything and get my bearings.
I'm a 38 year old mom of three boys (13, 11, 7), the 11 yr old on the autism spectrum. I run a home daycare and my husband and I and two of our boys are very involved in our community theatre.

I currently awaiting drs to figure out what the heck is wrong with me. My eye dr was the first to mention MS when he diagnosed me with optic neuritis a couple weeks ago. At that point my GP had already scheduled me for a brain MRI. That was this past Friday. I go in for my follow up appointment this Friday, in two more days.

I've been dealing with the bulk of my symptoms since beginning of December. Some have gotten better, such as the right side facial paralysis I was told was Bell's Palsy when I went to the ER, and the ON has gotten significantly better as well. I actually had that from the day before the facial paralysis, but the ER dr said it was from the bell's, so I didn't see my ophthamologist until my GP insisted. Also, I had lost most of my taste, but that is slowly returning. I have a handful of foods that actually taste like they are supposed to.

Things that have gotten worse are my balance, stabbing pain in the side of my face which my GP thinks is trigeminal neuralgia, my memory and finding words when I speak, muscle twitches and cramps in my legs, spots in my right foot that used to be just numb (since August) now burn. I also have had trouble eating because when I swallow, it feels like the food gets stuck in my chest, I guess on the way down in the esophagus? I've had that happen off and on for a few years now, especially when eating meat or taking medication, but it is now a several times a day occurrence.

I have to admit, my biggest worry right now is my job. Whether this is all caused by MS or something else, if this dizziness and my balance do not improve soon, I just don't know how much longer I will be able to continue with running my home daycare. I haven't told any of the parents yet about my issues (they just knew about the bell's palsy) but yesterday I lost my balance and fell while holding one of the toddlers. He is ok, but it was certainly scary and definitely an eye opener.

I'll probably head over to the limbo land forum later and post more. But that's it for now, in a nutshell.

Laura

[BigA]

Laura,

it's a lot to go through, isn't it? I hope you get a diagnosis soon, if only to take a load off your mind. Typically, you will begin to get better - this should not all be permanent. Do what you need to do to rest, both physically and mentally. It might be worthwhile to call on friends and family and to use your rainy day savings. Can someone help out? Can you hire someone?

You can also see how you begin to feel better. I took 2 weeks off work when it happened to me and that carried me through the worst part, but in truth, there was a long way to go. But you may be able to make it with some help.

Keep us updated with your situation. Others have been through this and there are many paths, but you will get through it.

[JerryD]

I suggest that you pay more attention to your vitamin and mineral and hormone levels. I don't know what you have had tested but, IMO, a doctor who doesn't test vitamin D, B-12, magnesium, potassium, and a host of other blood related stuff is a criminal.
Did you have these tests? How many MRI's did you have? Did you get an MRI with Gd? Good luck with the LP.

[Geekerbell]

No, I have not had all the vitamin levels tested. I will ask about that.

I was supposed to have a follow up appointment with my regular dr this past Friday, but he canceled it. Basically the nurse called me on Wednesday, asked me if I was still experiencing symptoms, I told her yes and described the various things still going on. She called me back an hour later informing me that Dr. Berg thinks the brain MRI looks fine so he was canceling my follow up appt, but they scheduled me an appt with a neurologist. That appointment in next week, February 5.

That was it, no discussion or information about anything, just sending me to a neuro. This is fine with me, I just wish they had referred me over a month ago when I first asked for a referral, and also that they had given me the referral to the specialist that I requested. But they didn't.

So I am not sure exactly what all is going on now.

[Geekerbell]

Hmmm.... I thought I posted a reply to this a couple days ago, and then a few minutes ago but nothing is showing up. I'll try again....

JerryD - I have not had those tests done. I'm assuming it's in the form of a blood test? I will absolutely ask for that at my next appointment.

All of my appointments so far have been with my family dr (aside from the first visit to the ER in December). My dr is horrible about referring out to specialists. i have experienced this with several things with my family over the years, which is why I first asked a month ago. But he wanted to wait things out at first, then ordered the brain MRI, which I was supposed to follow up with him on this past Friday.

On Wednesday, the nurse called me, asking me how I was feeling, about my symptoms, what I still had, if anything had gotten better or worse. Then she spoke to my dr and called me back later in the afternoon. She then told me that Dr. Berg thought my brain MRI "looked fine" so he was cancelling my Friday appointment. BUT they scheduled me with a neurologist, and that appointment is next Tuesday, February 5.

I have no clue what to make of that.