VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, [2], 3 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 17:35:56 05/26/00 Fri
Author: Lisa
Subject: Lisa's Letter of introduction
In reply to: Limboland 's message, "Letters of introduction" on 17:01:48 05/26/00 Fri

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for the warm welcomes! I am happy to be on this list because I know that you all understand!

Well, here's my story. I just turned 28 this year and have been married to my highschool sweetheart for 4 years. I live in Atlanta and am finishing
up my MBA this year.

On September 12 of last year, I woke up and the bottoms of my feet were tingling. I figured that I slept in some strange position and that it would go away. It never did. About 3-4 weeks later, I noticed that there felt like I was standing on a lump in my right foot. I would press on my
foot and I didn't feel a lump, but whenever I stood on my feet, the lump felt like it was there. I went to my PCP and she immediately thought it was my thyroid acting up again. (About 5 months prior, I had some strange
bout of thyroiditis where I was constantly tired, had major hot flashes and my weight fluctuated to the point that from week to week I wouldn't know if I could fit into my jeans - even though I worked out a lot.) I had taken
thyroid medication for about a month and my thyroid finally went back to normal and I stopped taking the medication. The blood tests that my PCP
did came back fine on the thyroid and she sent me to an orthopedic surgeon to see if maybe I had a pinched nerve, etc.

The orthopedic surgeon was worthless and basically told me that there was nothing wrong with me. Finally the lump in my foot went away, but the tingling changed somewhat. I began to notice that if I walked a moderate
distance that my feet and lower legs would start tingling REALLY bad. I figured it had to be something in my spine (like a herniated disc) causing it. Finally in December (after 3 months of fooling with my PCP) I went to
a neurologist. I had an EMG which was negative. She ordered all MRIs except for the cervical spine (who knows why...). Well it came back that I had a herniated thoracic disc that was inverted and pressing against my
spinal cord. A ha! That was what it was! Well, my first neurologist decided to "wait and see" when it gets better. I had no symptoms at all unless I walked a moderate distance. It became so bad that I couldn't walk
across the parking lot at work to get to my car. The tingling moved up my legs to my waist and I physically could not walk any distance. There wasn't any physical pain, only awful tingling and "fingernails scratching a
chalkboard" nerve feeling - if you can imagine that.

In January, I got fed up and my PCP referred me to a neurosurgeon. Well, the neurosurgeon wanted a cervical spine MRI and an SSEP test. Well, SSEP was negative but cervical spine showed an area of inflammation. I was so
mad at my 1st neurologist that I basically said I wanted to see someone else because she should have ordered the cervical MRI with all the others.
In February I had 3 days of IV steroids and they dramatically helped my tingling problem. The problem is probably 95% gone, but when I walk, I still get some tingling but it is very mild and ALMOST unnoticeable.

Well, I had all my MRIs redone a few weeks ago. Brain was clear both times but the cervical spine still had the inflammation. And the neurologist claims that there is a new spot in my thoracic spine but I don't know if I
believe him. Why? Well, I think that area was always there because it is close to my herniated disc and I recall the radiologist who read my MRI the first time stated something about a Gibbs artifact, which I think was
really something the first time. So.......

Here we are. My neuro wants me to start on Avonex even though he hasn't even said possible/probable MS. He has not done a LP. I haven't had any other problems. I definitely know its something though because normal
people don't have these things in their spine. However, I'm not 100% yet.
I have an appointment with an MS specialist in August. I have decided that I am going to call my neuro's office and ask to have the LP (not that I want to go through that, but I think my neuro hasn't done all that he needs
to). I am very scared, but I don't want to start on any "life-changing" medication if I don't have to yet.

So, sorry that is so long! I'm just scared, frustrated, nervous and worried all at the same time! I know that you all have similar frustrations. I just hope we can all find something out soon and hopefully things will work out.

Thanks for listening!

Lisa

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

  • Marlo Holly's Letter of introduction -- Marlo Holly, 17:56:03 05/26/00 Fri
    [ Contact Forum Admin ]

    Forum timezone: GMT-8
    VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
    Before posting please read our privacy policy.
    VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
    Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.