Hi everyone! I first visited this site years ago with suspicious symptoms. 2 years ago, after suffering terrible vertigo with vomiting and slurred speech, I was diagnosed with Menieres Disease. Betahistine stopped the attacks. However, over the past few months some symptoms from many years ago reappeared …. Balance issues, terrible vision despite eye test and new glasses, bumping into things, wet wash feeling in my leg, feeling hot all the time (not menopause as I had a hysterectomy in 2000), and bad muscle spasms near my ribs and in my back. Most concerningly, frequent episodes of bowel and bladder incontinence. I saw a doctor 3 weeks ago, who immediately performed a rectal examination to check for paralysis (all clear). I’m 63 … go now made urgent neurology referral but I’m told it may still take weeks. I think what comes next is an MRI (had one last year for suspected TIA), which was clear, but go says they would have been specifically looking for signs of a stroke. I’m also informed that a lunar puncture may be performed. I’m a bit scared ….. anyone also at my stage? Looks like it was never Menieres but MS all along x
Hi,
You’ve been through quite an ordeal just to get this far, from the sound of it.
It does sound a bit odd to me that you could have an MRI and they would simply ignore evidence of MS because they were “looking for” a stroke. I had an MRI for something else and that was how I actually learned about MS (lots of lesions).
Diagnosing MS is complicated and involves gathering a lot of evidence… Most MS symptoms could also be something else, or you might have more than one condition. It’s right that they should refer you just in case, so they can put you on treatment if you need it. And as you see, if they don’t do an urgent referral you’ll take forever to get seen. So perhaps not a reason to be too alarmed just yet?
If they do decide on a lumbar puncture, please don’t worry about that. I was very apprehensive about it, but it was a piece of cake. No more painful than a blood test. I wrote about it (search for “lumbar puncture: read this first” on the forum) because so many people spread horror stories and forget to say when things go well.
I’ll second the comment about the lumbar puncture by leonora. I was terrified prior to having it done. On the day I wouldnt have known the procedure was completed or even started unless the nurse told me. I also posted my experience on here if you search. please dont worry about it. Any additional stress is the last thing you need.
Good luck with everything.
Dave