Hi Everyone
I first asked a GP about my symptoms back in the late 80s and he told me he suspected a central nervous system disorder after doing the usual neurological tests GPs can do. He referred me to a neurologist.
The neurology appointment and consultation arrived early 1991 and he repeated the same tests the GP had done then said he was all for sending me for further investigations. He then asked me to wait in his side room while he took a look at my medical notes in case he missed something.
After 10 minutes or so he told me that after reading my notes he had decided that since all my symptoms were most likely due to mental health issues (anxiety because I was mum to 2 children with special needs),he felt further investigations weren't needed. I would no doubt get the same response now as I am currently caring for my husband who is terminally ill.
In the 30+years since, all of those symptoms have got a lot more noticeable and others have been added.My current GP knows about the new symptoms but I'm still know nearer getting a diagnosis than I was 30 years ago.
I have had friends accuse me of malingering as I have no diagnosis (dumped friends now) and when I was in a coma following a cardiac arrest four years ago, hospital staff told my husband and my son on different occasions that they thought I was a hypochondriac. I can only assume that this is on my medical records as I hadn't talked to any staff at that point.
I am currently working from home as a writer and also run a bunch of on-line stores so it's not like I am just a lazy so and so.
I'm really posting to say that acceptance without fighting for a diagnosis has simplified my life so much and I am a much calmer and happier person for doing this.
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Hello :)
Can anyone give me any advice?
I started having neurological symptoms when I was 18 this is 17 years ago. It started with vertigo, blurred vision and painful tingling in my legs and arms - later face too. I also had numbness in different areas on my left side. Cheek, arm, back, leg. I also have hyperacusis which began back then. It would all flare up for a couple of weeks or so. I'd feel so so tired, and wobbly. Or it would be one thing or another. I had an Mri scan at 18 which was normal. I saw a neurologist back then too who's only comment was that my reflexes were 'brisk'. They didn't find anything to be very concerning and sent me home. I've continued to have these symptoms and flare ups ever since. But they did go away almost completely for the best part of 10 years. They have been an annoyance but otherwise I've been able to ignore them.
Now for the last few months they have returned with an annoying vengeance. There is nothing that awful about them, I can still walk, I slur my words a bit and I forget words a lot. Even names of people I know really well - which is weird. If it's really bad I have to take time of work, but I still function ok, it just is horrible. Anyway,I had a flare up of it all, but this time I had such a strange feeling in my head that I can't even explain it, it was horrendous tingling but also, an intense sort of of pressure and a cold/pricklyness. This has led to me to the docs as I couldn't sleep.
I've since seen an ENT specialist, because the ear and vestibular symptoms point to Ménière's disease. However, I've got no permanent hearing loss. And the other body symptoms are still not explained.
A had a recent MRI to check for acoustic neuroma, and I asked for a copy of the report. No acoustic neuroma, and nothing noted to account for my symptoms. But it says 'prominent perivascular spaces noted in basal ganglia and white matter' I've done some research on this and I'm hoping some of you might hence know why I am concerned about this. ...The ENT specialist thinks I probably have a 'Ménière's type of thing', but he would have expected hearing loss by now, so agrees with me that MS could be a concern. He thought that my mri scan doesn't completely rule out MS but neither does it confirm anything.
I've had this for so long now, that surely the mri would have shown a lesion if it was MS? But I'm also unconvinced that it is menieres. And, after googling about what my Mri report said - feeling all the more bewildered and In the dark. None of my symptoms are disabling, but they certainly aren't pleasant, and they scare me to death. I don't want to waste NHS resources, but I think I would like to see a neurologist again.
Do you think I should raise my concerns about MS with the doctor and get a referral ?
Thank you
Hello everyone, (hope it is alright to get things of your chest?)
This is all very new to me and still waiting to see my neurologist in October .... My doctor has told me they are testing me for MS and with results from Brain Mri scan, together with Lumber puncture of my spine.
I have been ill for such a long time and have been given many possible wrong diagnosis that ... well my confidence has all but gone and don't know what the future holds. (Seems like a very long journey to get results).
Also seems that no-one wants to take responsibility for things these days?
Things are becoming more difficult with family at home, what with all the extra help needed.
There is so much to come to terms with and guilt for not being able to do simple things like ... walk the dog, shopping, working, and most hurtful loosing friends too.
Mind you I have the support of my family and one very loyal friend, so I should not moan and think of the positives.
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