I finally got a diagnosis, and I do NOT have MS. Awesome! After 2 years, spinal tap (with 2 patches), MRIs, scans, labs...well you all know the deal...I walked into my GI doc for a gastritis check up. I told him what was going on the last 2 years and in 2 seconds he told me what the problem was: CHRONIC DEHYDRATION!!!! I was angry at first, it seemed too simple to have been missed by so many specialists. I had been very athletic (running long distance, yoga, etc) I thought I'd know it if I was dehydrated. The idea that I could have done this to myself was (and is) an awful feeling. But I went home and started drinking water, gatorade and cranberry juice. Constantly. Cut out alcohol and decreased coffee. Within 2 weeks...no headaches, NONE. Leg/feet cramps greatly diminished, I can see again, I'm less iritable, balance is back, nausea gone, chest pain gone (which was the gastritis mistaken for MS hugs!!) My feet don't hurt, I can walk barefoot! I sleep like a baby, awaken w/o headaches. I don't wake up 50 times in the night with my toes bent backward. The all-over weakness, gone. Heaviness of fatigue, gone. Even my bladder issues are improving! I still have a little cramping and twitching, but I feel better than I have in years!!! I'm reading an awesome book called "You're not sick, you're thirsty" and it is like my biography.
I realize how very lucky I am not having MS. I am in NO way saying anyone else could be dehydrated instead of MS...I'm only updating my info and taking this opportunity to thank all of you who wrote to give me some support through what was a terrifying time. I thank you all and I hope all of you find some relief. A cure would be wonderful. You will all be in my thoughts.
Kim
Hi Kim,
Welcome back. What amazing news!! How in the world did the dehydration not show up in your routine bloodwork????????
I'm so very glad that you don't have MS and that you are finally feeling much better and continue to improve. Amazing. Simply amazing.
What a wonderful story to share as well for those who are looking for answers to their bizarre, unexplained symptoms and questions.
It might look like MS and feel like MS, but it might not be MS. This is the reason MS is so hard to diagnose and doctors don't want to make that dx until absolutely sure.
I'm so glad for you and thank you for updating us. Keep hydrated!!
Thank you Lisa!!
I am just relieved to get an easy fix. To think the only thing keeping me from getting an MS diagnosis was no brain lesions is astounding. I have learned so much about dehydration in the last couple weeks, there are soooo many people out there who are dehydrated and don't even know it. Did you know that the first hunger pang you feel is your body calling for WATER?? So when you feel like you have the munchies, all you really might need is an 8 oz glass of water. My doc told me to drink water, wait 30 minutes, eat and then 30 minutes later have another glass of water. I haven't felt this good in 7 years. Which is when I moved from Boston to Florida...in the month of August. The hottest month here in SW Florida. My doctor said he sees people come in who are dehydrated EVERY DAY! It's easy to miss in labwork because the counts change by the minute. You do need other beverages too, like gatorade or juice to balance out electrolyes. Even the eye doctor gave me wetting drops!! HELLO!!!!!! Crazy...now that I'm looking back I feel like I should have figured it out!!
Kim