M.A.H. blood draw

[Queenfan]

Well, last week I had a M.A.H. level blood test (b-12 absorbing) and found out today the results were normal.  
I've had a normal lumbar, normal, MRI, normal blood workups, normal b-12 levels.  
Still have a range of symptoms that sound like a lot of what gets mentioned around here...

Question is:  what other tests would you all recommend?  I haven't made another appointment yet, but he told me to call if I had questions.  I told the receptionist.... considered me as "calling" now.  He has my number and the reference question "what next?".

I don't know what it is that I have, no idea if it's MS or not, I was hoping it was the b-12, but that seems to be dashed now, it seems.

Thanks in advance,
Sue

[Queenfan]

Regarding the epilepsy and Lyme, I doubt if it's epilepsy, and I have been checked for Lyme and all of it's cohorts... all negative.  I hadn't given a thought to copper.  I'll look into the Wilson's thing and see what it's about.

Thanks,
Sue

[sweetwoman23]

Hello Queensfan

I am sad to hear about your situation,sounds quite neurological to me too.
I  luckily haven`t had a real tremor in my life but sometimes muscle twitches,which nobody can see but also are kind of irritating me.

Have you been checked up properly for epilepsy and Lyme disease?

How old are you,if I may ask and have you ever heard about Wilson`s disease?
It is a disease of the liver in which you deposite too much copper in your liver and brain,which can both have a fast form which breaks out in childhood and also a latent form that breaks out in adulthood and can cause neurological symptoms like hand tremors.
I have also thought I could possibly have it some months ago,but the liver enzyme and copper testings went back negative.
Wilsons disease is genetic,the possibility to have it is low (I think one in 20 000 to 1 in 30 000) but you need two defective genes from each of your parents.

But don`t be too scared,the liver does good in regeneration itself and you can cure Wilson`s disease which chelating the copper and giving high doses of zinc orally.

And I think that liver testing have been done in your case,so let` s get copper levels and coeroluplasmin levels checked out for sure.

More information you find here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson%27s_disease

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/wilsons-disease/DS00411

http://www.wilsonsdisease.org.uk/WDSG-P0.asp

About the B12 thing:

Sounds also interesting and I have it also "tested out" myself with a Vit B supplement (all eight vitamins) but it didn`t change anything in my situations except for a bit better concentration and unfortunately also more intense weird and bizarre dreams.(which are often quite weird in my case genereally)

I wish you a good health and finding your dx soon

Yours,

sweetwoman :)

[Queenfan]

Hi Sam,

A year ago, this May, I ended up suffering from a hand tremor.  It was about the time of my 2nd daughter's graduation from high school.  The tremor was blamed on stress.  After a while, as it didn't leave me, I went to my doctor and he diagnosed me with essential tremor.  
Since this past Oct., 2009, I was being seen by a chiropractor for an old back issue.  In conversation I was telling him about the tremor, but complaining about burning muscles, numb arms and more.  He wanted me to get a 2nd opinion on the tremors.  He actually ordered up some MRI's for me so we could get a jump start on some diagnoses while waiting on the first neuro appoitment that was then 5 weeks away.  

So we have a brain MRI (both w/ contrast and w/o), and a cervial MRI.  There were some hypersensitivites and bright spots on the brain MRI, but I also am being treated for high blood pressure.  Also in this report, we then found out that I have cervical spinal stenosis and a way good headstart on disk degeneration.  

Current symptoms nowadays:  numb arms, toes, fingers, feelings of vertigo, feeling 'out of sync', extreme fatigue, memory issues, depression (on meds for that), tremors (from the essential tremor), constant neck pain (prob. from the stenosis), speech issues (slurring, not finding words, etc) loss of balance, difficulty walking sometimes.... etc.

Most of these symptoms affect me mainly on my left side... the OA is in the usual places, finger joints, wrist, knees and feet joints.  I can tell the distinct difference between the different symptoms however.  It would be a new thought if the OA was tied in to what's going on.  That would mean I've had that for the past 20 years.

Sue

[silkcut]

Hi queenfan

Forgive me if I've missed where you posted your sx , but did you have a brain, cervical spine or whole spine MRI? Interesting that you have OA rumbling around - I wonder where you're affected most?

People do say that med school docs seem to be more astute and, as you'd hope, up-to-date.That long drive might turn out to be well worth it and save you a lot of time in the long run. Can you get a friend to drive with you?

bestest
sammxxx

[Queenfan]

Actually, no, I haven't.  Several years ago, several times, I had been tested by way of a blood test for RA, and it has always been negative.  It turned out I had OA instead.  

I might consult w/ one, however, just to see if they can rule out anything further.  

Now, since my posting of the original note up there, I have since talked w/ the neuro once again and he feels that he can't help me; he has referred me to KU Med Center here in Kansas City.  I'm to explain my symptoms and ask to see a sub-specialist in the neuro field.  I'm glad he was honest and stated he couldn't do more, but makes me wonder why he's a neuro when all he did was examine me, watch me walk, prescribed gabapentin (which didn't do anything) and looked for b-12 def.  Nothing else?  No nerve tests, no anything???

Oh well, perhaps going to a school of medicine will work out better?  (I just cringe thinking about the drive down there tho)

Thanks most kindly,
Sue

[StormyRenee]

Hi,
Have you seen a Rheumatologist?
They look for things much less obvious...I always tell folks to see one because there are so many Rheumatic diseases that have neurological symptoms but are not actually neurologic....
The Rhuemy will most likely test ANA,DS-dna, RA factor,Sed rate,Vitamin D...There are just soooo many different tests that can be done.....

If you know somethings wrong do not let anyone tell you otherwise and do not give up!
Please Take Care....