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Posted 9/27/2014 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all.
I came to this site last month while trying to find answers about numbness and tightening pressure across base of throat, along with other troubling symptoms. The people on this site helped me stay calm as the tightness increased over the next few days to the point I felt like someone had a bar crushing into my throat. It was such a relief when the tightness started easing off. It has not completely gone away but is much lighter.
I just got the results of my bloodwork: ANA and RA negative, B12 high, A1c of 7, thyroid on target, Sed Rate normal. My Dr. had requested the labs based on symptoms I detailed for him in a letter and an office visit. Upon going over labs and discussing the spreading of numbness from my feet to just below my waist, from my face over my head down to just above my breasts, and below my shoulder blades along with the extreme fatigue I drag through, he kept repeating I need to see a Neurologist. He became calmer when I assured him his office staff had set up an appointment for me for November 6th.
I found an app that helps me diary every day, keeping up with my physical difficulties and meeting of goals, that I hope will help my Drs find answers.
Posted 9/27/2014 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like you have a good start ruling some issues out. That's important. MS is a diagnosis of exclusion.

I'm glad you have an appointment with a neuro! Until then, keep track of those symptoms! See if you can get on the cancellation list. That might get you there sooner.
Posted 9/27/2014 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
I am extremely happy some other conditions have been pretty much ruled out and that I am getting some relief from some symptoms since the weather has cooled off.

I checked with the neurologist's office on Friday: no cancellations at this time, but I didn't even think about being put on a list. Thank you for suggesting that! I am going to go over next week and fill out the patient info forms. I will also update the letter detailing what has been going on with me that I had given to my primary that helped him decide course of action to also give to the neuro.

I have been using the MS Self App to track symptoms, so hopefully, that will answer questions in a logical way.

Hope you are doing well. Again, thank you for helping me navigate more smoothly.
Posted 10/2/2014 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
You didn't mention your vitamin D level. Vitamin D is believed to help with MS.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhUuf2QZd_E
Posted 10/2/2014 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi eat2bwell,
Thank you for the info. My vitamin D level is good. I take a multivitamin, calcium+D, and a vitamin D caplet. I also am outside with my dogs at least thirty minutes each day. I think very probably, along with the omega3's I take, I have maybe delayed the progression of MS.
I have not been diagnosed at this point, but it was interesting that the battery of blood tests were exactly the list called for on several MS sites.
It is good to be able to talk with someone about this. :-)
Posted 10/15/2014 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
If you haven't had the test you do not know if your level is good. I though my level was good. I took a vitamin D supplement. Went out the the sun everyday. Ate salmon and took cod liver oil. I had mine checked and it was 19ng/ml. The range is 30 - 90 ng/ml and sick people should be at the top of the range. I started taking 5000IU of vitamin D3 in with an olive oil base and got my level up to 72 ng/ml in 3 months. You do not know the level unless you have the test. Sun exposure does not work unless the sun is at a certain angle in the sky and you need a lot of the skin exposed to the sun. Older people have trouble with the absorption of vitamin D. Our bodies are not as efficient as when we were young. Over weight people have problems with vitamin D. Dark skin people have problems with vitamin D. Here is an article explaining vitamin D.

http://www.naturalnews.com/027345_Vitamin_D_exposure_sun.html
Posted 10/15/2014 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
My vitamin D level was at the high end last winter when bloodwork was done, but it wouldn't hurt to be retested. I go to the neurologist on Nov , not sure what will happen. I am still charting every day and will carry a synopsis with me to help him understand what's going on with me. Thank you for the suggestions and links. Hope you are in a place with cool Fall weather. Last week, our temps here in Ga. We're in high 80's/low 90's, so I'm really happy with the high 70's we're in this week.
Posted 10/16/2014 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Have you looked at curcumin. Many with MS take it. It is suppose to be effective in relieving pain. It must be use in an oil substance in order for the body to absorb it. There is a good video on U-tube where Dr. Bergman explains autoimmune disease. He believe that eating a diet of raw fruits and vegetables is important in fighting MS. He also thinks juicing is helpful in fighting autoimmune disease. It is a way to get large amounts of vitamins and minerals in the body quickly. People that have diseases need more vitamins and minerals to deal with the disease. I hate to see summer leave. I like growing my own vegetables in my garden. When summer is gone I have to buy my vegetables in the store. If you have had your vitamin D check and it is OK then you might want to consider what level is best for you. I believe it is import for people who are sick to be at the top of the range because sick people need more of the vitamins and minerals to fight disease.

http://curcumin-turmeric.net/inflammation.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGmyUppmt-g
Posted 10/16/2014 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
I have heard about curcumin. I am very lucky to have no pain except sometimes hip twinges if I have stood up all day doing different things. I also believe it is important to stay at the high end of the vitamin D range, especially if I'll or getting up in age.
This is the first year I didn't plant a garden or plant flowers around the porch. I have always loved the feel and scent of fresh turned earth, watching the plants grow, and the taste of my vegetables. I just could not face the heat even though I have lived here in the heat all my life. I had no clue what might be wrong until I was researching my daughter's conditions back in June before she was diagnosed with Lupus, Myasthenia Gravis, Sjogrens, and RA. I now know what has been happening with me over the last few years when I would feel so weak and think my thyroid was off kilter.
Posted 11/13/2014 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
I met with my Neurologist 11/6. I wrote a narrative and completed a body diagram that showed how the numbness and tingling had progressed over my body until there's only a band of 'normal from just below my collarbones to my waist.

He did the neurological assessment. I could not stay oriented upright when my eyes were closed. When I was asked to walk heel/toe, I could not retain my balance. I did not know I could not do do this and became upset.

More bloodwork was done on 11/6, I had an MRI on 11/11, and my Neurologist will do an EMG when I see him on 11/19.
Posted 11/13/2014 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
Ah those neuro exams can be so revealing. You may want to ask your neuro about evoked potentials. Ask specifically why he/she has ordered an EMG. That is a test of the peripheral nerves.

I am glad your is neuro looking closely though!! Keep us posted. Remember to get copies of all tests. They can give you a copy of your MRI on a disc along with the radiologists/doctors write up. It only takes a couple of days. Start and keep a notebook.
Posted 11/14/2014 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gretchen.
My Neuro said he didn't think I had anything to worry about, that it could be anxiety-based but we needed to rule out some things. I think he suggested the EMP because I had twisted my back a few weeks ago, but my numbness and tingling predate that by a good four months, plus a lumbar injury would not affect my head and upper torso.

My husband has had two MRIs done this past summer at the same imaging center where mine was done. He was automatically given a disc afterwards both times. At the completion of my MRI, the technician told me I could dress and leave. I asked about a disc to carry to my Neuro like my husband had carried to his surgeon and she told me they would deliver the disc themselves. I found this quite strange but I will make sure I get a copy at my appointment next Wednesday.

I am using an app for daily documentation and continuing the narrative I wrote to my Primary Doctor. It seems all the practice I had documenting as a Science teacher will come in handy helping find answers for my physical conditions.

Thank you for your guidance. You have already helped me save energy on this journey.
Posted 11/21/2014 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hello to all of you. It has been a confusing 24 hours. I am still experiencing numbness and tingling from my toes almost to my waist and from the top of my head to my shoulder blades and below my collarbones. I am still having difficulty finding words, staggering, fatigue, urination problems, struggling to understanding what I am hearing. I saw my Neurologist yesterday. My MRI was totally clear-no lesions. My EMG was also normal and showed my numbness is not diabetic neuropathy and my muscles are in good condition. MS has been excluded as a diagnosis. I am being sent back to my Primary with tentative diagnosis of Anxiety due to stress. I am continuing to try to find answers to what the devil is going on. I hope I have offended no one by joining this site. I wish the best possible for all of you who have welcomed me and helped to further my education.
Posted 11/21/2014 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
I had similar symptoms of MS but could not get a diagnoses. My problem ended up being in my mouth. I had too many amalgam (mercury) fillings and root canals. The way I was able to figure it out was doing a detox program by Tom McGuire. He has a book out telling us what vitamins and supplements we can take to detoxify our bodies. Within two weeks all my symptoms went away. There are lots of vitamins and supplements you are required to take so it will cost a little money to do the program. Another aspect of the detox program is the vitamins and supplements will detox more than mercury so if you have other toxins in your body from other sources it will remove them. Normally eating real food will give us these vitamins and minerals but when we get a large build up of toxins we need a larger amount of vitamins and minerals to get rid of them. That is where a detox program can be helpful. Hope someday you can find the answer to your problem.

http://www.dentalwellness4u.com/browse/guide.html
Posted 11/21/2014 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your rep,y, eat2bwell. Fortunately, all amalgam fillings were removed over twenty years ago. I will look into detox. I know sometimes a person has to keep digging. Thank you for the link.
Posted 11/30/2014 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hey joy,

I haven't heard from you in a while. What's going on? How are you?
Posted 11/30/2014 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gretchen1,
Hope things are well with you.
I am using copy/paste for this message, so if it looks familiar it's not déjà vu:9/26/2014
Hello to all of you. It has been a confusing 24 hours. I am still experiencing numbness and tingling from my toes almost to my waist and from the top of my head to my shoulder blades and below my collarbones. I am still having difficulty finding words, staggering, fatigue, urination problems, struggling to understanding what I am hearing. I saw my Neurologist yesterday. My MRI (head, cervical and lumbar without/with gadolinium) was totally clear-no lesions. My EMG was also normal and showed my numbness is not diabetic neuropathy and my muscles are in good condition. MS has been excluded as a diagnosis. I am being sent back to my Primary with tentative diagnosis of Anxiety due to stress. I am continuing to try to find answers to what the devil is going on. I hope I have offended no one by joining this site. I wish the best possible for all of you who have welcomed me and helped to further my education.

The above symptoms are still with me but are not as severe as long as I don't get too hot. The quest continues. Gretchen1, I appreciate your kindness and the helpful suggestions you've made. Wishing you a relaxing Hliday Season.
Joypineneedles
Posted 11/30/2014 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
You are always welcome here. While I am glad it appears you don't have MS, I am frustrated that they can't seem to pin this down beyond anxiety. Anxiety is real and can cause physical symptoms, it shouldn't be the catch-all for "we don't know."

I hope you are feeling better real soon. Keep us posted when you can. Thank you for the kind words and wishes! Please relax and enjoy the upcoming fun as well!
Posted 12/1/2014 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
It feels good to be welcome at a site. By reading many of the posts I have seen the old anxiety diagnosis over and over. I am continuing to keep track of symptoms. I do wonder what will happen when the heat returns in April to start bakingGeorgia, again. It is possible some symptoms have to do with heat stroke from the early '80's before my school and home had air conditioning. Long day, Christmas tree in stand. Tomorrow, decorating begins!
Posted Today 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hey joy,

I'm thinking of you as I sit next to my just delivered Christmas tree. It smells so good. The needles feel nice. I even gently chewed one. Hehe. My two cats are agog. They love going under there and hanging out.

'Tis the season for pine needles.
Posted Today 4:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gretchen1,
It is definitely the season. The weather has turned off warm here, so the pine scent is strong, again. I know your cats are loving having their tree hideout. Our dogs are leaving the tree alone except for gently touching the ornaments. Enjoy the chew. 😊
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