Histoplasmosis/Optic Neurtis/Multiple Sclerosis

[Friend2U]

When I was 16, I had laser surgery on one eye following what was diagnosed as histoplasmosis There was bleeding, hence the laser surgery.

A few weeks following this I started having bad headaches. The first headache I had ever had. There was no explanation other than the surgery or the histo could not have caused the headaches according to the doctor. From the day these suddenly started I have had headaches every day of my life.

Around the same time I began loosing my balance when going up and down stairs or bleachers. Didn't fall, but felt unsteady. I remember feeling embarrassed at this being a teenager. Others didn't seem to have trouble with stairs. I didn't mention it to anyone.

As other ms symptoms occurred throughout my life, I just lived with most of them... like body parts going numb then magically getting better after a period of time.  When I mentioned them to my family doctor, he acted like I was just complaining or  worrying needlessly. So I soon learned just not to mention them.

Finally I had a major attach a year ago at age 48, and diagnosed with ms. I had not suspected this. I knew nothing about ms. But by now it had gotten pretty bad. I thought I was having strokes and afraid I had diabetes. That is when I went to a new doctor.

Now, my question really is... CAN THE HISTOPLASMOSIS BE RELATED IN ANY WAY TO THE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS???

[kwarendorf]

Hi mudder-  This thread is nearly 2 1/2 years old. Many of the posters may no longer be around. I just don;t want you to think they are ignoring you :-)

Kyle

[mudderof2]

Last july my husband had histo in his mouth , now he has had really bad headaches now for over a month and we are thinking that the histo may have something to do with the headaches

[COBOB]

Histoplasmosis is not a virus. Histoplasma capsulatum is a fungus.

[heatherzach]

Same thing here never had histoplasmosis in my lungs just histo spots in my eye and I went to 3 doctors cause I never have been around chicken coops or bats and live in Wi. And all say they are definetly histo spots hmm.. I am thinking the same thing maybe the histoplasmosis virus attacked my immune system. I have not been diagnosed with MS but now that you say that you can't get diagnosed right away I am really questioning that I may find out down the line that my fibromyalgia is MS. I am just happy in a way to hear that I am not the only one that got diagnosed with occular histoplasmosis and had all the same issues as others that had this. Cause I have been to soooo many doctors that thru the years looked at me like I was crazy cause they looked at my MRI with no lesions. I am on some medications that people with MS take just thru going to each doctor for each symptom. So I am thinking I will keep on taking my meds and if I get any other bout of dizziness or tingling or other wierd thing I have had in the past come up I will research good neurologists in my area and might give them another try. Also I wanted to ask this question I get horrible knots and the worst migraines on my left side of my head when the weather changes and when my menstral cycle is about to come does this happen to you all too? Thank you for letting me ask you some questions and telling what happened to me.

[COBOB]

Now a damaged immune system and a susceptibility to fungal infections may go hand-in-hand.  So that may also make someone susceptible  to one of many viruses  linked to molecular mimicry. (Epstein-Barr, etc)  Maybe a defective immune system in some folks starts several disease paths rolling.

Bob

[littleone232]

Hmm wondering now if histoplasmosis is related to MS.  BTW I did not have a histo spot on my lungs and never had problems with my lungs..My story

About 17 years ago I was diagnoised with histoplasmosis however I never had the "histo" spot on my lungs.  My Dr at the time wanted to test me for autoimmune diseases however I refused...now 17 years later I have been diagnoised with MS.  Oh in between these years I had problems however like most people I went to different Dr for the different things.  I had bladder problems, then stomach problems and then all hell broke loose!  For the past 3 years I haven't felt 100% for more than a week or 2 and it got worse each time.

I think I am going to investigate this a bit further because it seems odd that 2 people on this forum alone has had histoplasmosis and now have been diagnosed with MS....something to think about.

[COBOB]

I'm pretty sure current science says No.  Histoplasmosis is caused by the Histoplasma capsulatum fungus.  In all the stuff I have seen implicating various viruses in MS, I have seen nothing linking fungal exposures.  

As far as the "detection of MS," we wish it was that easy.  At this point, there is no test for MS.  Even lesions on an MRI are not a sure fire diagnosis.  It takes a trained neurologist looking at all the signs and symptoms to rule out all the MS mimics and make a diagnosis.

Bob

[heatherzach]

Hi my name is Heather and your story is identical to mine I was diagnosed with occular histoplasmosis and had a hole in my vision for 9 months had photodynamic therapy 5 months in and on the 9month my vision came back just can't see too well periphially . And during this whole time I had migraines that started from the time I woke up til I went to sleep. Then the whole dizzyness happened for about a year and had spells with tingling. I must have went to 40 doctors and I still don't believe my diagnosis of occular histoplasmosis and Fibromyalgia. I had a brain MRI when everything first started but they couldn't find anything wrong I have thought from the beginning that I had MS cause occular histoplasmosis is so rare and a normal healthy woman went to having knots and migraines including bladder problems so what I did was went to each doc for each symptom and I have a cocktail of medication that helps everything besides the knots and migraines. But anyways I am really interested if you found anything out because I never heard of anyone saying the exact same thing. And I would be really interested in talking to you. Cause I finally gave up with the doctors and live with the pain since the meds help a little could you tell me how they found your MS? Can MS be undetectable right away? Cause I have the Fibromyalgia label but I have bladder issues and my rhuematalogist says that isn't a symptom so after reading your post I feel that I should go to a good Neurologist and find out for sure. Your post made me feel like I'm not the only person in the world that has this issue and this question. Thanks!

[Friend2U]

Thanks so much for the nice welcome. I can't wait to learn my way around the site and read up on the materials on the Health Pages.

Sllowe, I put a comment on one of your pictures. Don't know if I did it right and if you will automatically be notified. Will be glad to become a little more literate on the website.

Blessings to both of you!

[doni54]

Hi Friend, and welcome to the forum!!

Shelly has given you a great answer and guided you to the health pages, so I just wanted to let you know how happy I am that you've found us!!!

I'm one of the undx, but have learned so much from being on this forum.  The people here are second to none.  You will find caring and friendship and much support.

I look forward to getting to know you better, and again, welcome friend!!!

doni

[sllowe]

Hi there!

Welcome! I'm Shell, I was dx'd with MS in 07.  I didn't know anything about it either.

To answer your question, "don't know, but don't think so."

Our immune system has checks and balancing in it to not allow an attack on our brains and our spinal cords.  There is all sort of trickery that has to take place for the damage to be allowed in the 1st place.  Meaning that break thru the blood brain barrier. Even the medical explanations, studies and variations of what makes some more succetible to MS is vast and they still don't have that "one" cause.  These things occur at the cellular level and it's pretty technical.  

We have the most wonderful health pages that explain in better terms that I think you will enjoy reading (top right corner of the site).

I'm very glad you found us here, and couldn't be happier to hear that you moved on to another Dr. who knew what he or she was looking at.

Have you been offered treatment? Did the Dr. dx RRMS?

How are you feeling?  Have you learned more about MS?

With us, you will find those of us who are dx'd, some are not, and some have a dx of something other than MS.  But together, we have a world of experiences and knowledge, and compassion and support galore.

Welcome Friend,
Look foward to seeing you around,
Shelly