Is this MS or something else?

[RoxyDavis]

I really am in desperate need for some answers, i am a 21 year old female and have been suffering from urinary overflow incontinence and fecal incontinence, periods of dizziness, fatigue, eye pain, ear pain, pressure headaches, digestive issues, seizure like fainting spells(only happens when my body is exposed to hot temperatures), and pain in my back and down my legs, all of this has been happening for about 2 years some symptoms coming and going. But i just recently had an elective c-section(because of the fecal incontinence, the doctors didn't know what was causing it they said possible nerve damage) to deliver my second child(approximately 6-weeks ago) when leaving the hospital i got a perscription for fluoxetine 20mg and started taking that(approximately 5 weeks and 4 days ago) because i suffered from PPD  with my first child. About 2 weeks ago i had to go to the Er for urinary retention(i am totally unable to feel when i need to go to the bathroom anymore and sometimes unable to release any urine no matter what i do) since then i have also suffered very debilitating symptoms increase in eye pain and blurry vision, increased pressure headaches and ear pain with some hearing loss, confusion, very bad dizzy spells unable to stand up, abnormal gait i have to literally think about how to walk, forgetfulness, unable to understand things explained to me, loss of coordination i bump into things, weird facial things like i am barley able to chew food or swallow food anymore and most of the time i almost end up choking, extreme weakness in my arms and legs with weird sensations described like tingling, pins and needles, with a hint of burning, and the most serious (which i was in the Er again last night for) is totally numbness of my body especially in my finger tips and the bottom of my feet(probably not recommended by doctors but i can poke then with needles or hold fire to them and not feel anything)  but i can still move, that's the weird thing. I have had an MRI of my lumbar region and there is nothing wrong there but slite disk degeneration and i had a ct scan of my head and  they found no tumors or any bleeding. I have met with a neurologists (he knows that i am taking fluoxetine 20mg)and he suspects MS i am scheduled for a MRI of my brain, neck, thoratic, and cervical regions, and other tests like VER (think that is what it is called ) and another one that i can't remember. So  i guess i have two questions:
Could these symptoms be caused by the Prozac?
Is it MS or something else?
I am pleading, if anyone can give me some in site it will be greatly welcomed because this is affecting my everyday life.

[wingnut19]

Thanks, Patsy!

I just saw this now.....lol


Tammy

[patsy10]

You're welcome to both of you.  

Wingnut19.  Your dog is very cute in the picture!

[RoxyDavis]

Thank you patsy10 i will talk to my neurologist about Lyme disease, i did have those tests run though when i joined the Army and then before i was sent to GTMO,Cuba, but they could of missed something. Thank you so much for helping me out.

[wingnut19]

Thanks Patsy!!

:)

[patsy10]

The testing your doctor ordered is very thorough.  I have or have had many of your symptoms.  I have had all those tests too and the VER or VEP (visual evoked response or visual evoked potential)Just wanted to let you know these symptoms are also consistent with lyme disease.  I see on your profile that you live in PA, which is a lyme endemic state.  Not saying you have this but it should be checked for.  The blood tests are not very accurate so you can have it and show negative.  Some of the sickest people who have lots of neuro symptoms test negative.  It can be misdiagnosed as MS.  Many doctors are not too familiar with lyme.  Since you live in PA maybe your doctor knows more about it.  There is a website called lymenet dot org that is all about lyme.  You can ask questions, research etc..I doubt these symptoms are from the prozac.  There are just too many symptoms.  I had the trouble walking, had to think about walking etc....I had the lyme disease rash from a tick bite years back.  I have improved significantly on antibiotics.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

I am not sure how much I will be able to help with my post. Prozac does not seem to causing these symptoms. Since many of the symptoms are already there before Prozac was started, the suspicion is on some disorder which affects almost each and every body function. The first differential that comes to mind is MS. All the necessary investigations should be done. VEP (visual evoked potentials) will aid in finding out if the optic nerve is affected, and in fact, if there is a loss of function anywhere in the entire visual pathway.

Prozac may have caused a few side effects, they are masked by the already progressive symptoms that you have been having since 2 years.

You need to have your CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) examination done for a few markers of demyelination. Demyelination is the basic fault in MS.

Keep in mind that normal MRI and CSF tests do not rule out MS.

What is more important is prompt treatment. Since your neurologist has already ordered for the investigations, you should be looking at saving time. If MS is identified and treated promptly, the quality of life can be as good as when you are MS free.

Let me know about the results.

Regards

[wingnut19]

bump