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I'm Tired Of Being Sick...What Should I Do?

10/21/2014

2 Comments

 
Q:
I have been struggling with various symptoms for about three and a half years (although some things longer) that to me seem to point to MS. Listing a few off the top of my head: vertigo, trigeminal neuralgia, word confusion, (aphasia), slurring, stuttering, memory loss, confusion, blindness in one eye, and eyes that always hurt, "jello" legs, shaking hands (especially when I reach for something), burning, tingling, and sometimes very painful toes and feet (in particular in my right foot), numb scalp/head, and sometimes face, exhaustion...well that's enough for now.

The thing is, I also have migraines, which have become chronic during this time, and my migraine specialist, (who is a Neuro) attributes most of these things to migraines. I did have a normal MRI in 2010, although it was not with contrast, and was in one of those smaller MRI machines that is not enclosed. At the time I thought this cleared MS off the table, but now from what I've read, maybe not? And now my health is so much worse. Anyhow, I guess I don't really know my specific questions, I am just at a loss, and really tired of being SICK. How would you approach this with your Doctor? What should be my next step? Are there things I could be doing without an official diagnosis to lessen symptoms if it is MS? Thanks for your help.

A:
You said you have seen a neurologist, but is this neurologist an MS specialist?  If not, we recommend that you have a consultation with an MS specialist. We aren't sure where you are located in Maine, but you can use this website as a starting point to find an MS clinic in your area (or perhaps in Boston if you are close enough).
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Treating-MS/Find-an-MS-Care-Provider/Partners-in-MS-Care If you let us know where you are located in ME we might be able to recommend an MS specialist for you to obtain a consult.

If your neurologist is an MS specialist, you might want to seek out an independent second review/opinion.

Here are some blogs to read that might help you prepare for this second opinion:
http://www.healthcarejourney.com/q--a-for-virtual-ms-center/the-diagnosis-of-ms

http://www.healthcarejourney.com/physician-blog/how-to-prepare-for-a-visit-to-your-ms-specialist-the-present-and-the-future

In regard to your symptoms, you can read about them and ways to help manage them. If you look for the 'symptoms' page on this site you will see a drop down menu with many of the symptoms you have listed. As an example, here is our symptom page for hand dexterity
http://www.healthcarejourney.com/loss-of-hand-dexterity-and-coordination.html and one for migraines
http://www.healthcarejourney.com/migraines.html

We hope you feel better soon and that you get a second opinion so that you can determine whether or not your symptoms are due to MS. Write back in the future and let us know how you are.

2 Comments
Meredith Treat
10/21/2014 07:38:14 am

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. My Neuro is a migraine and pain management specialist. I see him in Boston, mass as there aren't many migraine specialist in maine. He is not an ms specialist. I am in limerick maine, which is in south western maine, but can travel by way of train to mass fairly cheaply. Two hour trip. If you have a recommendation that would be great.

Reply
Rip Kinkel
10/21/2014 12:21:41 pm

Call Ann Cabot in New Hampshire, Andy Pachner at Dartmouth or Alexandra Degenhardt in Rockport, ME for your second opinion.

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  • Home
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  • Virtual MS Center
    • Q & A for Virtual MS Center
    • Read About Our Virtual MS Center Staff
  • News & Resources
  • Seminar Registration
  • Health & Wellness
  • Blogs
    • Physician Blog >
      • Healthcare Provider Blog
    • Physical Therapy Blog
    • Patient Blog
    • Caregiver Blog
    • Research Blogs >
      • "Ask Dr. Debbie" Research Blog
      • Multiple Perspectives In Multiple Sclerosis Research Blog
  • About MS
    • What is MS?
    • Diagnosis
    • Treatment
    • MS Tips
  • Symptoms
    • Balance and Walking Issues
    • Breathing/Respiratory
    • Bowel Dysfunction
    • Cognitive Dysfunction
    • Crying/Laughing Uncontrollably (PBA)
    • Depression and Anxiety
    • Dizziness/Vertigo
    • Dysphagia
    • Fatigue
    • Foot Drop
    • Hearing or Smell or Taste Changes
    • Heat Sensitivity
    • Leg Weakness
    • Loss of Hand Dexterity and Coordination
    • Memory and Mutliple Sclerosis
    • Migraines
    • Numbness/Tingling/Altered Sensation
    • Nystagmus and Oscillopsia
    • Pain
    • Sexual Dysfunction
    • Sleep Issues
    • Spasticity/Spasms/Cramps
    • Speech/Swallowing
    • Urination/Bowel Problems
    • Vision
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