History of Symptoms
OK, so I am going to try to remember to my best ability what symptoms I have dealt with and when. Please keep in mind I have not been diagnosed with MS. I had one MRI in 2003 that showed one lesion. I was told that MS lesions appear in groups and it was most likely a capillary angioma. Well the problem is the angiomas are there for life, but yet my MRI in 2008 was clear. Because of negative MRI in 2008 I was told by an "MS specialist" that I could not have MS despite reporting that I presented with symptoms consistent with MS.
Because the "specialist" said I didn't have it, none of the local docs will even reconsider it. But here's a recap of my history:
Dec 1998 - Jan 1998 Pregnant with first child (this is when everythign seemed to start) - sudden episodes of vertigo, facial flushing, and just generally feeling unwell. Blamed it on pregnancy at time.
June 2001 - Sept 2002Episodes of sudden shortness of breath, weakness and unstable BP (was told I had some autonomic dysfunction of unknown cause), severe vertigo with vomiting, told it could be menieres disease. Severe diarrhea. Difficulty swallowing. General weakness. Lost 46 lbs over 3 months.
Sept 2002 - April 2003Pregnant with my third child ALL my symptoms went away during pregnancy including the fatigue. Other than dealing with preterm labor I felt GREAT!
May 2003 - July 20031 month after delivering my third child onset of SEVERE electric shock type shooting pains. They would completely jolt me up out of my seat and make me cry out. They could be anywhere, up my legs, up my back, up my side. Severe fatigue and headaches. Urinary retention. MRI of brain with contrast at this time showed one questionable lesion. Differential was MS or capillary angioma, but assumed to be angioma since it was a single lesion. However it disappeared on subsequent MRI.
Aug 2005 - Sept 2005Severe episodes of dizziness, sudden weight loss of 14 lbs in 14 days. Palpitations and BP fluctuations. Tremors in hands. Cognitive delays. Forgetfulness.
Feb 2008 - March 2008Episodes of sudden tachycardia and hypertension, severe fatigue, lots of pain in back, neck and head. Dizziness. Sudden panic attacks. Lost 20 lbs in a month. Numbness of fingers on left hand and left side of face.
June 2008 - Aug 2008SEVERE tremors, couldn't even walk without whole body shaking, loss of balance was running into walls walking down a straight hallway, nausea, severe vertigo would come on suddenly, unequal pupils, palpitations, autonomic dysfunction. Worst episode ever. Migraines persisted as many as 2 a week (prior to this they were 1 a year if that). Migraines had complete visual aura with flashing lights. Had one night in August after sitting out in heat at in laws where my right leg would not work. Just was like jelly for 4 hours until i went to bed. Was normal when I woke up next morning.MRI at this time was considered totally negative. Was told I did not have MS although no other tests were run.
Dec 2009 - Feb 2009Horrible fatigue, pain everywhere, severe orthostatic tachycardia (couldn't even stand up without heartrate hitting 140 or higher). Dizziness.
July 2009 - Aug 2009Onset of horrible, horrible back spasms. Couldn't get out of bed without screaming, couldn't get out of chair, couldn't move. Fatigue, palpitations, numbness. Complete and total numbness of an area just above left knee (about 3x3 inches). Would itch like crazy but couldn't feel it when i itched it and never made the itch go away.
Jan 2010 - Feb 2010Dizziness is back, fatigue, pain, inability to concentrate on anything, feeling overwhelmed by everything, even simple math seemed too hard.
Current Numbness/tingling in right shin. Tingling/numbness both hands up past wrists. Headaches, back pain. Fatigue. Light sensitivity. Bladder control issues, even wet the bed for the first time in my life. Choking on food and even my own spit all the time.
Ongoing issues that don't really go away just get better or worse at times:Cognitive delays and horrible memory problems, unsteadiness that comes on suddenly, general weakness and fatigue. No sex drive.
In between all the episodes I am pretty normal though and feel good. Also, after the episodes I where i lost weight, I would always gain it back. Slower than what i lost it but I always make it back to "my" normal weight (about 20 lbs overweight).
So that's my story. Anyone know a doc in Dayton or Cinci area that will take me seriously????????
Because the "specialist" said I didn't have it, none of the local docs will even reconsider it. But here's a recap of my history:
Dec 1998 - Jan 1998 Pregnant with first child (this is when everythign seemed to start) - sudden episodes of vertigo, facial flushing, and just generally feeling unwell. Blamed it on pregnancy at time.
June 2001 - Sept 2002Episodes of sudden shortness of breath, weakness and unstable BP (was told I had some autonomic dysfunction of unknown cause), severe vertigo with vomiting, told it could be menieres disease. Severe diarrhea. Difficulty swallowing. General weakness. Lost 46 lbs over 3 months.
Sept 2002 - April 2003Pregnant with my third child ALL my symptoms went away during pregnancy including the fatigue. Other than dealing with preterm labor I felt GREAT!
May 2003 - July 20031 month after delivering my third child onset of SEVERE electric shock type shooting pains. They would completely jolt me up out of my seat and make me cry out. They could be anywhere, up my legs, up my back, up my side. Severe fatigue and headaches. Urinary retention. MRI of brain with contrast at this time showed one questionable lesion. Differential was MS or capillary angioma, but assumed to be angioma since it was a single lesion. However it disappeared on subsequent MRI.
Aug 2005 - Sept 2005Severe episodes of dizziness, sudden weight loss of 14 lbs in 14 days. Palpitations and BP fluctuations. Tremors in hands. Cognitive delays. Forgetfulness.
Feb 2008 - March 2008Episodes of sudden tachycardia and hypertension, severe fatigue, lots of pain in back, neck and head. Dizziness. Sudden panic attacks. Lost 20 lbs in a month. Numbness of fingers on left hand and left side of face.
June 2008 - Aug 2008SEVERE tremors, couldn't even walk without whole body shaking, loss of balance was running into walls walking down a straight hallway, nausea, severe vertigo would come on suddenly, unequal pupils, palpitations, autonomic dysfunction. Worst episode ever. Migraines persisted as many as 2 a week (prior to this they were 1 a year if that). Migraines had complete visual aura with flashing lights. Had one night in August after sitting out in heat at in laws where my right leg would not work. Just was like jelly for 4 hours until i went to bed. Was normal when I woke up next morning.MRI at this time was considered totally negative. Was told I did not have MS although no other tests were run.
Dec 2009 - Feb 2009Horrible fatigue, pain everywhere, severe orthostatic tachycardia (couldn't even stand up without heartrate hitting 140 or higher). Dizziness.
July 2009 - Aug 2009Onset of horrible, horrible back spasms. Couldn't get out of bed without screaming, couldn't get out of chair, couldn't move. Fatigue, palpitations, numbness. Complete and total numbness of an area just above left knee (about 3x3 inches). Would itch like crazy but couldn't feel it when i itched it and never made the itch go away.
Jan 2010 - Feb 2010Dizziness is back, fatigue, pain, inability to concentrate on anything, feeling overwhelmed by everything, even simple math seemed too hard.
Current Numbness/tingling in right shin. Tingling/numbness both hands up past wrists. Headaches, back pain. Fatigue. Light sensitivity. Bladder control issues, even wet the bed for the first time in my life. Choking on food and even my own spit all the time.
Ongoing issues that don't really go away just get better or worse at times:Cognitive delays and horrible memory problems, unsteadiness that comes on suddenly, general weakness and fatigue. No sex drive.
In between all the episodes I am pretty normal though and feel good. Also, after the episodes I where i lost weight, I would always gain it back. Slower than what i lost it but I always make it back to "my" normal weight (about 20 lbs overweight).
So that's my story. Anyone know a doc in Dayton or Cinci area that will take me seriously????????
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