Ask:
possible MS
I recently started seeing a neurologist, but I'm just confused on a few things.
Early June, I had a rash that looked something like poison ivy. My family doctor gave me 5 days of prednisone and it finally cleared. On the 5th day of prednisone, I started catching a cold (sore throat, etc.) Within 2 days, I was "out of my head" like I was high on something, my face, hands, and legs became numb. 2 trips to the emergency room, CT scan, and all the blood work you could imagine found nothing. For the next 3 weeks, I started to have trouble walking, talking. Fatigue was terrible. I would have to sleep after only being awake for a few hours. I couldn't work full days. My arms and legs felt like they had weights on them. I would just sit around staring off into space, like I was outside of myself. My short term memory was non-existent. I literally lost 2 weeks of my life during this. My family doctor ended up sending me to a neurologist, saying they would check me for things like MS. **I had a Lyme disease test that came back negative**.
The neurologist had me do an MRI and a vitamin deficiency (B12, folic). Vitamin came back OK. MRI showed 3-4 small white matter foci. Radiologist remarks on report said definitely consider MS and small vessel ischemic disease shows up similarly. Neurologist said there were definitely 3-4 spots, but not in normal locations suggesting MS. He wants to take a non-aggressive stance at this point. He didn't really want to pursue spinal tap at this point. He wants to repeat MRI in 6 months. He wants me to take Lamictal (epilepsy/bipolar medicine that should help numbness, mood, etc.) I have decided not to at this point.
After about 3 1/2 weeks, I started feeling some better - not completely myself. I had strange pains in different parts of my body that would last for awhile, then go away and muscle twitches in different spots. I have shaky hands at times. Numbness has NOT gone away - dull headaches still there.
MY question - in my mind, radiology report and my neurologist do not agree. The neurologist never mentioned small vessel ischemic disease at all. I am worried that these white spots DO mean something. Is it normal to have 4 white spots? I do not get migraines (I heard that could cause them).
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Answer:
possible MS
lymes disease is very tricky to diagnose. I had this in 1992 and was refused treatment until I was very ill because my tests were inconclusive. Please see a lyme specialist as well as a neurologist. Lymes can come on quickly, and unlike other neurological disorders, it will progress rapidly without changes in most bloodwork or mri...ect.
Answer:
possible MS
I had a good ER doctor that started me on Doxycycline - just in case it was Lyme. I was on it for 3 weeks. My neurologist said it is not Lyme - I'm not sure why he believes that but....whatever.