additional info and questions

[Guest guest]

Hi Everybody,

I sent my first message yesterday. It was very short

intro. I wanted to give a more in depth intro today

and maybe ask a few questions.

As I wrote yesterday, I do not have a diagnosis of MS.

For now, my doctor acknowledges that I have an

autoimmune disease. What it is, however, is not

clear.

I've done some reading about MS and one thing has me

puzzled. The usual method to aid in reaching a

diagnosis of MS is to do a CT scan or an MRI. I've

had both done because of my chronic headaches and

nothing shows up on the scans that would give a reason

for the headaches. No lesions, nothing...everything

is clear. Then I read that it is possible to have

normal scans and still get a diagnosis of MS. Why is

that possible?

Yesterday, I wrote that I have unrelenting fatigue.

It doesn't matter how much or how little sleep I get,

the fatigue remains. Is this a common symptom and how

does one get around it?

I also have balance problems, I use a cane at home and

a walking staff when out in public.

I still drive limited amounts of time. But the

fatigue does get in the way. My 16 year old son is

learning to drive and since I'm the only licensed

driver I have to sit in the front seat. I think he

does okay, but what if an accident happens, I wonder

if I will be able to know what happened. I have big

problems with my short term memory and brain fog.

When I went to the neurologist for the first time back

in April, he had me walk, had me sit on the exam table

and raise and lower one leg then the other. He used

something that looked like a tuning fork around my

ankles. I'm not sure what he was checking there. He

asked me why I walked so slow and I told him it was

because I sometimes fall if I try to go too fast for

me.

I have definite weakness in my left leg. My right leg

weakness seems to come and go. I don't know why that

is. The neurologist asked me why I couldn't lift my

leg when I reached down with my hands to raise it. I

don't know why.

I think it was in early June when I had the EEG and

around mid June when he did the EMG. I've never had

an EEG before. The neurologist said mine was normal.

Is there anybody in this group that has had an EMG?

I'm just curious what the purpose of this test is and

why was it only done on one side?

This is probably enough for now. I'm just trying to

find answers.

Donna in WA

It does not require many words to speak the truth.

--Chief ph

__________________________________________________