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MS or cardiologist?

I've had leg weakness with inability to walk far and use of a rolling walker for a year now...also arm/hand weakness with dropping of objects and writing has changed. Just a few of the symptoms...Ive had MRI on whole back, found not contributing to weakness so next EMG was done which was normal and most recent MRI on my brain w/without contrast the results found "A
few scattered foci of T2 FLAIR hyperintensity are seen in the periventricular
and subcortical white matter, which are nonspecific, but may represent
chronic microvascular ischemic change. There is minimal global parenchymal
volume loss. The sellar/suprasellar regions appear unremarkable. "

Could this be MS?
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987762 tn?1671273328
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi and welcome,

Your brain and spinal MRI results that you've mentioned would not be suggestive or consistent of a neurological condition like MS, and a normal EMG from my understanding would all be pointing away from a neurological condition as the cause of your symptoms.

What other tests have you had so far?

Cheers......JJ
Helpful - 0
5 Comments
Thank you for your response. I've had blood work checking for cancer which is normal. I was anemic which has been resolved now with the most recent CBC checked. Everything normal. I saw a Cardiolgist which did stress test holter monitor and that's been normal.
With my weakness, SOB, and fatigued I have more bad days then good. Meaning I'm so weak/fatigued simple household chores are a struggle and I stay in bed alot on my bad days.  When i have a good day i can only do a couple tasks then have to finish the next day.
I get blurry vision toward evening, gum irration that comes and go. Also noted I get muscle twitches daily and tingling or chill sensation in my legs, mainly the right leg below knee.
I see a Neurologist August 5th and hope to find some answers.
You didnt by any chance have a bad viral infection or even covid some time prior to this? I'm just wondering if there could be a post viral or long covid situation going on.......JJ
No viral illness that I know of and I had a covid test before my 2nd foot surgery in Oct 2020 which was normal. My WBC has been checked and it's been within normal range each time.
I sure hope to find answers and some kind of treatment started to help. It's a struggle to do simple tasks and quality of life is very poor with the fatigue/weakness.
Thank you for your time
Its not MS, its Myasthenia Gravis
Thank you for getting back to us with whats been happening, to be honest i never know quite what to say when someone gets their diagnosis, to me the diagnosis is only ever the beginning of the search for answers.....

"What causes myasthenia gravis?
Antibodies

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease, which means the immune system—which normally protects the body from foreign organisms—mistakenly attacks itself.

Myasthenia gravis is caused by an error in the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles. It occurs when normal communication between the nerve and muscle is interrupted at the neuromuscular junction—the place where nerve cells connect with the muscles they control.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that neurons, or brain cells, use to communicate information. Normally when electrical signals or impulses travel down a motor nerve, the nerve endings release a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine that binds to sites called acetylcholine receptors on the muscle. The binding of acetylcholine to its receptor activates the muscle and causes a muscle contraction.

In myasthenia gravis, antibodies (immune proteins produced by the body’s immune system) block, alter, or destroy the receptors for acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, which prevents the muscle from contracting. This is most often caused by antibodies to the acetylcholine receptor itself, but antibodies to other proteins, such as MuSK (Muscle-Specific Kinase) protein, also can impair transmission at the neuromuscular junction.

The thymus gland

The thymus gland controls immune function and may be associated with myasthenia gravis. It grows gradually until puberty, and then gets smaller and is replaced by fat. Throughout childhood, the thymus plays an important role in the development of the immune system because it is responsible for producing T-lymphocytes or T cells, a specific type of white blood cell that protects the body from viruses and infections."

https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Myasthenia-Gravis-Fact-Sheet

I hope knowing its name will help you find the right treatment plan and things start to get better.......JJ
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