So here I go, my story is as follows: my dad, uncle and brother all have MS. I have recently been experiancing memory problems (according to my husband), which all started about 2 months ago and has only gotten worse. The memory issues started after my last real long migrane (which lasted about 1wk). I have been having severe migranes off and on for around 6 years. The first severe one lasted about 6 weeks, saw a neuro doctor who loaded me up with migrante meds still took an additional 2wks to get it to go away. My eyes hurts in the back, it sometimes feels like the nerves connecting to my eyes are strained. I have ups and downs with depression, some way worse than others. I have been experiancing female sexual dsyfunction (which is a big change from 3 yrs ago!), my husband is very upset. I have pain on th left sid of my neck to my shoulder, then down to my elbow (where is feels as though ive hit my funny bone several time a day when I dont) and then down into my wrist, metacarpals and fingers. My legs will hurt for several days in a row, they dont cramp too much but feel warn out most of the time. They get really tired easily, and my left leg sometimes shakes while going up or down stairs. Im not in perfect shape, but I dont think my exhaustion is normal either, I get tired somedays just from getting out of bed. I have problems sleeping, and my legs (mostly my knees) will start huring, and sometimes my hips as well will wake me up. And on top of all of this about 3 weeks ago i wet the be, this is extremely embarassing, but I dont why I did it! I do find myself going to the restroom a lot more lately, and sometimes just barely making it in time. I am being scheduled for an MRI through the VA (Im ex-Navy been out for 2 yrs), and worried I wont get properly diagnosised. Any thoughts or advise would be great, dont want to talk to my family about it and get them worried. Thanks!
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I think your best bet would to find a good neurologist who comes highly recommended, in your area. Have them give your a thorough exam after listening to you telling them all of the troubles you've been experiencing. Only as a team can you begin to unravel this mystery, and the neurologist should head your team. If you want to have an MRI because you want to rule out MS, I think you should go ahead and do so.
I hope this somewhat helps. Let us know how you're doing and whether you have any other questions!
Hi,
Sorry to hear that you're going through all of this. Your symptoms sound like they could be related to MS, but they could also be associated with other things. Having MS in your family may increase your chances of having the disease, but it doesn't guarantee it either. You could have something else, or even several unrelated things, going on.
I am working through the VA as well. I haven't been diagnosed with MS, but they have diagnosed me with intention tremor and associated "white matter brain disease". It was a VA MRI that uncovered lesions, and a VA CT scan with enhancing dye that found active lesions. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the VA has not been able to give me a clear diagnosis. They are waiting for a change in symptoms that is significant enough to warrant another MRI or scan.
The Veterans Administration health system has it's pros and cons, but they have been pretty good for me. I was able to get a lot of tests done (including lumbar puncture and many hours of cognitive testing). Did you know that the VA considers Multiple Sclerosis to be "service connected" in most cases if diagnosed within seven years of discharge from the military?
If you don't like the care you're getting from the VA (or just want a second opinion), I would recommend going to a private physician. Do you have supplemental insurance?
I hope you get the care you need and the docs can get to the bottom of your problems. Take care,
KJ
Hi needadvise,
I am so sorry you are having such a hard time. How frustrating to have so many symptoms with no answer telling you why all of this is happening.
Both Cathy and KJ gave good answers, but I am going to add a little from a different perspective.
There are lots of people who have the same concern anytime family is involved, and you already know of several family members. Although the cause for MS is not yet known, genetics does seem to be part of it, but not exclusively. Environmental and immunological factors also have a part in it.
The way I understand it, there is a chance you, too, will get MS, but that chance is still minimal. Chances of developing MS for the general population, is only1/10 of 1%. However, since your father has MS, your chances have increased from 1% to 3%.That is still small. Although you can relax, you know the types of symptoms to watch for.
I wrote about this in an article called Is MS Hereditary that you might find useful. I hope you find his useful. Please keep us up on how things are going for you.
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