Feeling Lost In Appointments, Diagnostics, and No Answers

Hello. I am 30 years old and got sick a year ago. Over the course of the last year, I have seen neurologists, rheumatologists, infectious disease doctors, etc. I became acutely ill last year in June with extreme weakness, fatigue, lightheadedness, and a feeling like I could die...and I'm not kidding. After several months I partially recovered and have had two big flare ups since then (one in November and one last February).

I had an MRI of my brain and cervical spine with and without contrast and it was normal. My PCP wants to diagnose me with chronic fatigue syndrome, but I feel like that's a nice way of her telling me she's giving up.

I have an array of symptoms, many of them intermittent. Here is the long list:

lightheadedness

weakness in my arms and sometimes lower legs

fatigue

diarrhea

nausea

inappetance

stomach pain (upper right quadrant)

hand tremors

muscle weakness/muscle spasms

a feeling of internal shaking/trembling

difficulty standing for long periods of time

There are some other symptoms as well. When I have a flare up my head feels like it weighs a ton. I have missed countless days of work. I am fighting for answers, but I'm finding it harder and harder to get anywhere.

Do these symptoms sound like MS? And, have any of you had  a normal MRI and then were diagnosed later on? Is it worth it to request a subsequent MRI in the future?

Any suggestions you may have would be fantastic.

Thanks so much!

From the research I've done, your symptoms definitely could be MS...but they are also symptoms that could be any other number of autoimmune disorders. I am going through the same thing, though...been working with my new doc since December to try and figure out what's wrong with me, and all tests have come back normal. Hang in there...eventually, you will figure it out. One thing that is helping me is to eat as if I have an autoimmune disorder...I am following the Paleo autoimmune protocol...you can learn more about it by going to the following blog: http://www.nutrisclerosis.com/Blogs/EntryId/48/What-is-the-autoimmune-protocol-of-paleo.aspx

Changing my eating hasn't eliminated all my symptoms just yet (I've only been doing it for a few weeks), but I've definitely noticed an improvement. Hope this helps!