Could I have a form of MS

[Elmo2201]

I have already been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but I don't feel that this is all I have.  I have more flares than remissions.  My symptoms are extreme fatigue, numbness in my fingers, almost constant pain (usually in my back between my shoulder blades), brain fog, problems sleeping/staying asleep, bowel problems (constant diarrhea), dizziness, and I feel like my vision is getting worse.  I am not sure if it could be MS or not, but I had read an article in the paper saying that a lot of military members are being diagnosed with MS within 10 years of getting the anthrax vaccinations.  It has been around 10 years for me and I have been sick for about 5 years.  I figured that if I posted here, someone might be able to help me.  My doctors aren't looking for anything else after the diagnosis of FM.  If there is anyone out there who can help me, I would greatly appreciate it.  I really do think that a lot of my medical problems have to do with me receiving the anthrax vaccine, but, how do I prove it.  Thank you all for listening and for any help you can give me.  

[Deb61]

Welcome!  There's lots of good information about MS or related diseases, here.  I'd peruse the Health Pages (see top right corner of this page).  You'll have a hard time finding more compassionate and intelligent people anywhere else.  

You definitely have some symptoms that need to be looked into.  Your vision problems need to evaluated--have you seen an opthamologist?  Sometimes MS can cause vision problems; however, sometimes this problem can be caused by something a different disease.  The numbness in the fingers is a neurological symptom.  You need to see a neurologist for this.  See the health pages about MS specialists . . .

Although the other symptoms you've mentioned may be related to MS, they also can be caused by other diseases and problems.  Look at the article about mimics.  There's several--some that even cause white matter lesions that show up MRI's.

BTW, have you had an MRI?

Deb

  

[jensequitur]

Fibromyalgia shares many symptoms with MS, but your digestive problems and pain sound more like fibro than MS.

I do believe there's some sort of environmental contaminant out there that's causing MS, but I don't think it's the anthrax vaccine.  I've never gotten one, although I've had the usual childhood battery.

[JulesL5S1]

Welcome to the forum.  If you haven't reviewed the health pages in the top right corner you may want to.  They contain lots of good information.

I'm not a doctor and I am a LimboLander.  That means that I am in Limbo because I have a lot of symptoms with out a dx of MS.  

I also received the anthrax vacanine in 2002 but hadn't thought to mention that to my doctors.  Hmmmm

I too have extreme fatigue which my new neuro said wasn't fatigue but actually excessive daytime drowsiness.  And that I have narcolepsy with severe cataplexy.  Yeah, he sounded like a quack but gosh he was right.  We are now trying to treat those conditions.  

Where to start?  First find a good primary care doctor.  If you like your primary care doctor ask him/her for a recommendation for a neurologist.  You primary care can also order basic MRIs to show any obvious disk problems.  

Keep in mind that it is possible to have more than one thing wrong.  That can make any dx a challenge.  I would prefer to have one answer for my 10 symptoms but it is likely I have 10 dx's and hence 10 different forms of treatment.

Welcome to the forum - Jules