http://www.dailystrength.org/people/300293/journal
There try that link......

Sorry, I don't know any docs in your area, but I can tell you imo that you ought to see one, and if he/she doesn't give you any answers, you should continue on to another doctor until you find one that will listen.

Maybe the Multiple Sclerosis Society can help you locate a MS speciality doctor in your hometown?

Good Luck and God Bless - Lynne

I saw your post and it reminded me of what I've been through with various doctors over the past 11 years.

Based on your symptoms: hearing loss, vertigo, dizziness, numbness, tremors, difficulty in swallowing, memory loss, etc., it appears that you have "probable M.S." based on the revised McDonald Criteria and using what they call a "Clinical Diagnosis".

I've been through the same problems relating to MRI's that you have. One year lesions show up, and another year they don't. Consequently I've done a ton of research regarding M.S. and MRI's and I've discovered that the leading M.S. specialists today do not rely on them for diagnosing M.S. They have found that a "Clinical Diagnosis" or a family history of M.S. (which I have) can be much more useful in determining M.S.

Furthermore, the most critical component to arriving at a "Clinical Diagnosis" of M.S. is ruling out all of the other M.S. mimics such as Lupus, etc.

I was finally put on Copaxone last year during one of my worst M.S. attacks to date. That was ten years after my first major attack. My new neurologist (2009) said I should have been on an M.S. drug years earlier. Needless to say, I'm much worse now than I was five years ago. And whether or not an M.S. drug might have delayed the worsening, who knows.

At this point you need to "fine tune" your history of symptoms, become very educated with the disease if you are not already, and map your symptoms to specific M.S. terminology. This way you will be able to have a serious debate with any neurologist that questions an M.S. diagnosis.

One of the best websites with an M.S. encyclopedia is http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/

This is probably my favorite resource other than a very expensive book that I purchased last year.

I hope this info helps you in finding the answers.

I shan't address your history, and as I live on the opposite coast I can proffer no help as far as Ohio resources are concerned. What struck me was your mention of hearing problems. I too experienced them, and was essentially ignored. And just like every other symptom, it too arrived and disappeared wholly unrelated to anything else.

While it lasted it was extremely annoying, at times... let's just say worse. I never found an official name for it, so I just called it "Bionic Hearing." Compare it to listening to a lecture on tape. Normally filtered out background noises are present and thus seem amplified. It interferes with comprehending the lecturer.

At its worst, in a silent room I could hear the movement of molecules of air. I found that a white noise generator countered that somewhat effectively. Neither my neuro nor my primary care seemed at all concerned. And it did disappear. It lasted perhaps two years. I have no idea if your problems are at all similar to mine, but would hope that they too disappear in time.

If the hearing loss can be described as hearing sounds but unable to recognize the words, that is called Neural Hearing Loss. It is not common but is one of the plethora of symptoms of M.S. This particular symptom was one of my first ones experienced in my early twenties, along with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), another common M.S. indicator.

However, complete temporary loss of hearing has also been documented as an M.S. symptom.

I haven't read the file but I so much like hearing "Neuro Hearing Loss" I experienced that in the past & it was scary, attributed to Panic Attack? Never want to experience it again although now that I know that it exists, I don't think it will be as scary of an experience. Listening & writing are controlled by separate area of the brain, if that "Neuro Hearing Loss" happens, I will start writing every thing! So communication can happen.

MS can cause a problem with being able to filter background noise. Probably why I liked working nights, less background noise.

It's actually called "Neural Hearing Loss", the word "neural" referring to our nervous system.

It is easily triggered by stress which in turn can trigger an M.S. attack.

My personal experience with this symptom is that it usually only lasted for a very short duration, i.e. several minutes.

However, in 2003 during a severe M.S. attack, along with a severe Bipolar 2 episode, it lasted for a couple of days. Yuk!

In my early twenties, I taught myself to read lips since I had no idea why this was happening. I had several hearing tests that all came back as normal. Of course those tests were conducted when this symptom was not occurring.

I think the comment about difficulty in filtering out background noise is probably an example of experiencing Neural Hearing Loss. Just a guess but it sounds consistent.

Thank you for the replies. Even if you can't point me to a specific doctor, just having my concerns validated gives me a little more of the confidence I need to push this with the doctors. After awhile they get very good at making you think you are crazy.....

Darling, Dr. Kinkle is no longer at the Cleveland Clinic and I personally do not like his replacement. I see Dr. Sheppard at the Oak Clinic for MS in Green (south Akron), Ohio and I like him very much!!! I've had MS for 24 years so he trusts my opinions and my treatment suggestions--he knows I'm college educated, not stupid, and have many resources thanks to DS throughout the country.

My MS took 7 years to DX and I have found that many doctors are very hesitant to DX an incurable disease. This is not necessary a bad thing, mind you... If you really want to be sure, take a hot jacuzzi bath followed by a night under an electric blanket--that's what finally set mine off in ernest. HOWEVER, you may not HAVE MS... Is heat hard for you?? Do you fight fatique during the day?? Sooooo many factors...

Hang tight! MS is rarely an immediate DX for good reason... Maybe your drs. don't want to give you a lifetime dx of an incurable disease... xoxoxo Cj

Sorry for the side discussion--Reply #3. More info on "neural hearing loss" was much appreciated. I had it full blown for only 4 days. I didn't realize it could be more sporadic and triggered by strong emotions, although I should hasve relized strong emotions could do it..

Strong emotions make it difficult to talk.

One of the frustrating things about MS-when strong emotions happen and I want to appear very unaffected, thus not vulnerable by whatever caused the strong emotion, MS makes it very apparent I am affected and more vulnerable to whatever is happening :( That is one of the other thing I hate about MS.