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    I知 here for my wife who is 30. We live in NW KS. Nearest high end medical services would be Denver at 3.5 hours away, Wichita at 4.5 hours away and Kansas City at maybe 6 hours away.

    We had our 4th child this summer and about 5 or 6 weeks later she started experiencing numbness and tingling in her face, leg and arm quite abruptly. The only symptom prior to that had been tingling or numbness in the top of her ear for about 3 weeks. All of the other symptoms came on over the course of a few hours. They have persisted since then but have varied in intensity. The symptoms have not ever been as bad as that first day and some days have been nearly non-existent but most days are quite present and some days are almost as bad as the first day.

    The abruptness of it, combined with a brain and spine MRI (only a 1.5T machine) that seems mostly clear makes us wonder if it痴 not MS but we致e ruled out lots of other things with our family Dr. and due to the symptoms feel we can稚 rule MS out.

    We are currently scheduled to see Dr. Vollmer at Rocky Mountain MS Services so hopefully we値l learn more there. We hope that he will help us rule MS out but we wonder if maybe he値l want us to get a better MRI (3T) or a spinal tap or both.

    Basically for now I知 just saying hi although I will probably have more questions soon.

    #2
    We are currently scheduled to see Dr. Vollmer at Rocky Mountain MS Services so hopefully we値l learn more there.
    That MS center is highly thought of and know what they're doing.

    My guess (not a doctor) is that they might want to do an MRI with contrast on a better machine. But either way, they should be able to rule out some problems that mimic MS and hopefully you'll get some answers. (And as someone with MS I'm hoping it's one of those problems that mimic MS.
    59M / RRMS / Dx1987 / Ocrevus

    Comment


      #3
      Great place to go. I wish I was close to that center! Glad you are both being proactive and that you are looking out for your wife's health.

      If by chance you don't get any answers and all tests negative, ask the doctor if there is a follow up period for repeat MRIs since they know that some lesions can appear and disappear. Also, ask for any guidelines on when to call - what changes in health?

      Lots of luck. Congrats on your growing family!
      Kathy
      DX 01/06, currently on Tysabri

      Comment


        #4
        Hello dpilot and welcome

        Originally posted by dpilot83 View Post
        We are currently scheduled to see Dr. Vollmer at Rocky Mountain MS Services so hopefully we値l learn more there. We hope that he will help us rule MS out but we wonder if maybe he値l want us to get a better MRI (3T) or a spinal tap or both.
        Good luck at the appointment. It's helpful to document any questions or concerns, and take it with you.

        Let us know what you find out.

        Take Care
        PPMS for 26 years (dx 1998)
        ~ Worrying will not take away tomorrow's troubles ~ But it will take away today's peace. ~

        Comment


          #5
          Welcome to MSWorld.

          I'm from south central Kansas. 30 minutes from Wichita; 3 hours from Kansas City. For 5 years, I went to a general neurologist in Wichita. My MS was fairly unmanageable, so I switched to an MS specialist at KU Med center in Kansas City.

          The 3 hour trip it is worth a good doctor. I imagine you'll decide, too, that your regular trips to Denver are worth it.

          We always use a sick day for my husband to drive me there, schedule it around a weekend, and make a mini vacation out of it.

          I hope you get your questions answered and a diagnosis soon.
          ~ Faith
          MSWorld Volunteer -- Moderator since JUN2012
          (now a Mimibug)

          Symptoms began in JAN02
          - Dx with RRMS in OCT03, following 21 months of limbo, ruling out lots of other dx, and some "probable stroke" and "probable CNS" dx for awhile.
          - In 2008, I was back in limbo briefly, then re-dx w/ MS: JUL08
          .

          - Betaseron NOV03-AUG08; Copaxone20 SEPT08-APR15; Copaxone40 APR15-present
          - Began receiving SSDI / LTD NOV08. Not employed. I volunteer in my church and community.

          Comment


            #6
            Welcome!

            I had my daughter in July 2016 and in March of 2018 I started experiencing very similar to what you are describing for your wife. My numbness was only on the right side and started in my hand and foot. Slowly spread up my leg and arm. I thought i had a pinch nerve until the feeling went in to my jaw and back of my head. That's when i went and saw my primary.

            I heard that pregnancy can bring out symptoms. Not sure how accurate that is nor have a i researched it. However with being her fourth child, could just be a rumor i heard

            Best of luck to your wife and hopefully you find some answers quickly!
            Dx March 2018; possible first episode: August 2011
            Tysabri May 2018-June 2019, Mayzent July 2019

            Comment


              #7
              Thanks for the welcome everyone and for the suggestions on questions to ask and so on.

              We had our appointment on Thursday. Dr Vollmer said he felt there was less than a 20% chance that she has MS but he said he would like to get a follow up MRI in 6 months at their location so it would be a 3T machine.

              He did not really have suggestions for alternatives that could be causing her symptoms. He did run bloodwork for several other mimics that were not tested for at our hospital. We don稚 have all of the results for that yet. One of them was an inflammatory market which came back really low so that was encouraging.

              I guess for now we値ll just continue documenting symptoms and then see what happens 6 months from now.

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by dpilot83 View Post
                Thanks for the welcome everyone and for the suggestions on questions to ask and so on.

                We had our appointment on Thursday. Dr Vollmer said he felt there was less than a 20% chance that she has MS but he said he would like to get a follow up MRI in 6 months at their location so it would be a 3T machine.

                He did not really have suggestions for alternatives that could be causing her symptoms. He did run bloodwork for several other mimics that were not tested for at our hospital. We don稚 have all of the results for that yet. One of them was an inflammatory market which came back really low so that was encouraging.

                I guess for now we値ll just continue documenting symptoms and then see what happens 6 months from now.
                Thank you for the update on your DW appointment, dpilot.

                Good luck with the bloodwork results. It would certainly be a relief to find something 'fixable', such as low Vit B12, or some other simple disorder.

                Keep us posted, ok? Thank you.

                Take Care
                PPMS for 26 years (dx 1998)
                ~ Worrying will not take away tomorrow's troubles ~ But it will take away today's peace. ~

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by dpilot83 View Post
                  ... he said he would like to get a follow up MRI in 6 months at their location so it would be a 3T machine...

                  I guess for now we値ll just continue documenting symptoms and then see what happens 6 months from now.
                  Yes; documenting symptoms is always a good idea. And, another MRI down the road might reveal more about what's going on.

                  It took more than one MS flare, 7 MRIs and almost two years before I was diagnosed.

                  I hope your wife's journey to a diagnosis is quicker.
                  ~ Faith
                  MSWorld Volunteer -- Moderator since JUN2012
                  (now a Mimibug)

                  Symptoms began in JAN02
                  - Dx with RRMS in OCT03, following 21 months of limbo, ruling out lots of other dx, and some "probable stroke" and "probable CNS" dx for awhile.
                  - In 2008, I was back in limbo briefly, then re-dx w/ MS: JUL08
                  .

                  - Betaseron NOV03-AUG08; Copaxone20 SEPT08-APR15; Copaxone40 APR15-present
                  - Began receiving SSDI / LTD NOV08. Not employed. I volunteer in my church and community.

                  Comment

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