Multiple Sclerosis

[twro]

Hey All,

So glad this forum is here.

I have some stuff going on and it is worrisome and just looking for some input; I dont want to mention this to my husband (he is a worry wart and extremist) and I dont want to worry my family, so I am looking for outside opinions.

About 2 years ago I began with extreme fatigue, headaches, nausea, weight loss of about 20 pounds in 3 months, numbness and tingling, arm and leg pain, spasms, fogginess and inability to concentrate, lack of coordination, dizziness ringing in ears, depression and anxiety

After 3 months, I had a Epstein-Barr Virus titer which was extremely high (3000 with norm being 90). I went on acyclovir for a few months, which did nothing...

My doc dxd me with having Epstein-Barr, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia. I was in pretty rough shape for about a year, unable to work and really unable to do much but sleep. Since then my EBV titers have come down to and stabilized to 1100-1500,and I managed to get back to work in April 2007. I know that when I over exert myself I am done for for about 2 to 3 days.

I constantly have headaches and started with pain in my neck, left arm and left leg with numbness and tingling. My doc sent me for an MRI of my neck and I will be having surgery in a month due to cervical stenosis with cord compression and will be having a diskectomy with fusion. That answers my question about the headaches, numbness and tingling in my arm and leg

But...I am wondering if I should see a Neurologist as in the last few months, with my EBV being semi-controlled, I have a whole slew of other symptoms, which can all be one thing or another but no one knows what...for sure and I am starting to think maybe I could have MS

I do have 2 family members with MS I am 41 years old and have been pretty healthy overall.

These are my symptoms:

Headaches
Feverish - especially when fatigued
Extreme fatigue and weakness(like being in mud) - heat makes it worse
Pain behind my eye with slight blurriness and floaters at times
Pins and Needles (sometimes very sharp) in both arms and legs off and on
Muscle spasms and sometimes my right arm will just jerk for no reason at all - mostly when using a mouse or something - generally not at rest
Dizziness and feeling off balance out of the blue
I get this weird sensation like an electrical shock when I move my eyes sometimes - the shock seems to be in my ears and shoot to my chest - it's kinda weird and kind of hard to explain
Very foggy and cant concentrate and forgetful
My feet burn sometimes like they are on fire
Sometimes I feel like I forgot how to swallow - I take a drink or bite of food and it will just sit there - i feel like I just cant swallow it, but after a few seconds I will in a sense remember and am able to swallow.
I have a tremor in my neck/head - Noticed that my head will shake and my hands shake almost like a vibration but visible - especially when i am very fatigued
I have to go to the bathroom more than a 5-year-old
Flu-like feeling

I can have all of these, a few of these or just one of these symptoms at any given time. Sometimes I can go a month without feeling much but fatigue and generally resting as needed will help with that, though never very energetic. Then all of a sudden over the course of a day or so I will feel like I was hit by they symptom train and literally just done for -sometimes for a day or could be a week or 2 before I can get some resemblence of life back.

Sorry, this is so long, but I have just so many things going on I feel like I am going crazy at times.

I am just wondering if I should see a neurologist or if these are things that could possibly be symptoms of MS. I generally just chalk it up to the EBV, but I have also read that there is believed to be a connection with EBV and MS I have never had an MRI of my brain - just my cervical spine,which is where the cervical stenosis and need for neck surgery was found. there was also a cyst found on my thoracic spine, which was ruled as no cause for concern.

All thoughts are greatly appreciated. I am just tired of not knowing. This past 2-1/2 years has been a nightmare and I just feel that If i had something tangible it would be easier to deal with...fear of the unknown I guess.

Thank you for your time and thank you for being here.

Have a wonderful day.
T-

[donna mae]

I certainly would, sound like all the symptoms to me. I was diagnoised in May of 2006 with Primary Progressive MS. Looking back I had alot of the symptoms way before hand, maybe 10 years back, but put it off to lower back problembs. Until the spasticity was effecting both of my legs.

When I was tested, I had a cervical and head MRI, then a spinal punture to test the spinal fluid.
(The spinal punture isn't the most pleasant test to recover from, the procedure wasn't so bad, but I was flat in bed for about 4 day's while the spinal fluid regenerated in my body. If I were to get up for any period of time an extream headache and nausa were iminent) lying down was the only releafe.

There's one thing for sure, is to be your own advocate, or have someone else help you. You need all the support you can get, so if you can't talk to family, I'm glad you found this forum.
I just found it myself and it helps to know there's people out there that need and want to help.

Donna in Minnesota