Does this sound like MS to anyone? My mom has had MS for years and are these symptoms?

[Jeff572]

Hello There.  My name is Jeff. I'll list my symptoms first to see if they make sense at all.  I've had "dizzy spells" for the past 3 years.  They have been getting progressively more often and have been really bad this year.  It's not so much a vertigo sensation, it's more that I just feel off balance all the time.  I'm very sensative to motion and sound due to the off balance feeling.  I also feel like my right foot gets really heavy sometimes and makes we walk funny.  I've been on anxiety medication for about 2 years now which strangely seems to help.  It's a .5 milligram dose of Lorazepam that I take whenever I need them.  I've been taking one a day for a few weeks straight now because the off balance feeling seems to make me very very anxious because I just feel really weird all the time.  I seem to have some trouble focusing or concentrating at work due to all of this.  A few more more things that you might find interesting is that I had a TIA when I was 17 yrs old (this was 11 yrs ago, I am now 28).  My mother also has MS that she has been dealing with for about 15 years now.  I am scheduled for an MRI this Wednesday, and I was just wondering whether either damage from the stroke, or MS are some things they may find on the MRI?  Does this sound at all likely?  Please let me know when you can!  Thanks so much for your help.  Jeff

[Jeff572]

That's an even better state of mind then mine LoveMyBostons, I may have to adopt that one.  Lol.  Just so I can keep up with ya.  Thank you so much for the kind words.

[LoveMyBostons]

That's a good attitude. I decided before I heard my diagnosis that if it was MS I would be fine and it wasn't going to kill me and I would do what I had to do to not let it rule my life.

[Jeff572]

Thank you very much for the info sllowe!  I don't have my follow up until November 11th, but I'm hoping they find whatever they need to make a diagnosis for something. Lol.  The doc wanted to start with this and see where we have to go from here.  But in the next step I will ask about the API and ACI for the Hughes Syndrome.  I will also google it to get more info on it.  

My mom is doing ok, I'm not exaclty sure what type hers is, but I know it has remissions and relapses so it's like a slow progressive.  She has been dealing with it for a long time now so the depression takes a hold of her every now and then and I have to talk her back to Earth.  Lol.  It has to be hard, and even close to unbearable to deal with this and I have the utmost compassion for all of the folks on here conflicted with this disease.  Strength of mind and really positive seems to really happy my mom in her upswings so try to hang in there everyone.  

Also, Love my Bostons thank you for the nice comment.  That's exactly what I'm hoping for, an answer.  Whether it'd be a bad or good one.  I'm in the state of mind now that it doesn't matter what it is, I just want to know if there is a fix or not.  To get my piece of mind back.  Thank you all for your great help and caring!  I appreciate it so much.  Take care and I'll keep you posted.  Jeff

[LoveMyBostons]

Sorry for your troubles Jeff. Hopefully your doctor can give you a firm diagnosis after your testing, that way you can know what you're up against and how to fight it!

[sllowe]

Hi Jeff,

Welcome to the MS forum. You described your symptoms well.  One, (and there are many) mimic of MS is called Antiphospholipid Syndrome, or APS. It can cause the symtoms you mention, and in particular, the TIA.  You may also hear this called Hughes Syndrome.  It can affect your vision, cause TIAs, stroke, white matter changes, and a whole lot more. It's treatable (not curable) if you get proper dx.  Your history should be key to this Dr.

Not saying this is what you have, but just to give you an idea of what they could be looking for based on your history.  It would make a lot of sense to me if they looked in this direction.  

With what you are going through - I'd insist on it being thoroughly investigated. Are you getting a workup from a neuro? If so, can you ask him if he's running APls and ACls (antiphospholips and anticardiolipins) as a part of your labs? If he asks why (hopefully he/she won't) say to check for Hughes Syndrome because you know its a major mimic of MS.

How is your Mom getting along?
Thanks for joining us Jeff - hope we can be here for you.
-Shell  

[Jeff572]

Thank you so very much Julie for trying to help me out on this.  I appreciate it very much.  Jeff

[jules2212]

I cant give you an answer to your question but i hope by bumping this someone can try to help you.
Best Wishes Julie