Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
This community is a place where members can discuss current events and weigh in on what's going on in the world.
I've been dealing with MS-like symptoms since the beginning of the year, but can't get anyone to diagnose me. I've been having numbness, dizziness, vertigo, vision changes, balance problems, cognitive issues, etc off and one all year. I'm in the midst of my second real bad time this year. The rest of the time I feel OK, or the symptoms are pretty mild. We were in Florida last week and I think that is what caused my symptoms to get bad again.
Ironically, my fiance has MS. He says I have all the symptoms he had when he got diagnosed, except for the fact that I can walk and he couldn't. I've seen 2 different neuros. The first one implied that he thinks it's all in my head. The second hinted that he thinks it's just a matter of time before I will meet diagnostic criteria.
Unfortunately, I got fired from my job the last time my symptoms got bad, so I lost my insurance the beginning of last month. On the up side, I'm a vet, so I can be seen at the VA. The other side of that is that I can't get in to the VA until next month.
I'm just sick of feeling like this and not being able to know what's causing it and, also, not being able to do anything about it. I've, also, started second guessing myself and am beginning to question if I am crazy and this really is all in my head. I'm really frustrated and I don't know what to do.
Does anyone have any thoughts or advice?
Ironically, my fiance has MS. He says I have all the symptoms he had when he got diagnosed, except for the fact that I can walk and he couldn't. I've seen 2 different neuros. The first one implied that he thinks it's all in my head. The second hinted that he thinks it's just a matter of time before I will meet diagnostic criteria.
Unfortunately, I got fired from my job the last time my symptoms got bad, so I lost my insurance the beginning of last month. On the up side, I'm a vet, so I can be seen at the VA. The other side of that is that I can't get in to the VA until next month.
I'm just sick of feeling like this and not being able to know what's causing it and, also, not being able to do anything about it. I've, also, started second guessing myself and am beginning to question if I am crazy and this really is all in my head. I'm really frustrated and I don't know what to do.
Does anyone have any thoughts or advice?
It can be very frustrating, but we are all here to help you thru this.
You ARE not crazy!!!!
A lot of people go this route.
I wasn't diagnosed til a few months ago. I think I've been having symptoms for many years on and off.
You may just very well have MS. The only concern I have is that you said your boyfriend has it. And that "he says" you had the symptoms at the time of his diagnosis.
It would be extremely rare, therefore, if you developed the disease together with your boyfriend.
There is a couple with MS at this site. This doesn't happen too often.
Really, only time will tell. I hope for your sake they find out soon because this is causing major problems in your life, not knowing whether you have MS.
Good luck and God bless you. Peace always
If so, why wouldn't you qualify for that?
About your symptoms - YES, THEY ARE ALL IN YOUR HEAD. That's because they are Neurological symptoms. You are probably not imagining these things. Do you have a history of imagining things? Probably not.
Ask you boyfriend how to find a MS specialist Neuro.
I also have a long list of orthopedic problems and chronic pain so that muddled up the process ~ because they kept attributing any of my balance issues to my ortho problems.
Finally in January of this year I called the MS Society and they referred me to a neuro that specializes in MS. within 2 mos., I had a definitve dx. And like Julz~mine was via a neuro-opthamologist. They sent me to Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia and believe me it was worth it.
The whole thing with your boyfriend would be a one in a million coincidence. MS isn't contagious. It does run in families as a predisposition but that is about it.
Good luck, and remember to stay strong and don't give up your fight.
M66, I wasn't at all implying that MS is contagious, the very idea is laughable. LOL
When I said the chances of your boyfriend and you finding that you both have MS at the same time is extremely rare, is all I was saying.
Oy Vey!
Secondly, the fact that you went to two neurologists with your present symptoms, I was assuming that they performed the appropriate tests before concluding that you didn't have MS.
If they didn't at least give you a MRI, they should be sued for malpractice.
Of course, you should get a MRI. That can still come back negative and you can still have your symptoms.
Why don't doctors catch everything and why does it take so long for problems to be diagnosed? I don't know, but it happens sometimes.
Hopefully, you won't have to wait much longer.
Some people have waited months and years.
THAT WAS MY INTENTION. HOPE THAT CLEAR THINGS UP.
As far as the disability insurance is concerned, I was working for a small medical practice that couldn't ever get their act together enough to find a disability insurance plan, even though they talked about providing it. The evening before I got fired, I asked my boss about FMLA, but the next day they fired me (saying they needed someone who they didn't have to worry how they would be feeling day to day; I even have that on tape) without ever addressing my question of FMLA. Besides I think he practice is too small to be required to comply with FMLA, so I don't think I have any recourse.
Anyway, I hope this clears up some of the questions that people have been having.
Thanks
The gist of what I said still holds up. I hope you find an answer soon. Peace always