I have seen multiple doctors for possible MS for around 6 years. Had vertigo, limb weakness and numbness, brain fog and fatigue.Never able to find out anything definitive. MRI showed lesions on my brain tupucal for MS but cervical spine was clear. They did not do a spine MRI because the cervical spine was lesion free. I am told that doesn't happen where the cervicsl spine is clear but the rest of ghe spine is not. Since then I have lost much of my gag reflex, developed gastroparesis and other motility issues. I have a weird muscle spasm around my abdomen and my legs.
But the newest thing is the diminished gag relex. So now after telling my new doctor I have lost my sensitive gag reflex she brought up the possibility of me having MS. Yet again I am on this ride.
She wants to send me to a neurologist that is a MS specialist. Nowhere near here.
I hate this. I wish this illness would stop lurking in the background snd I could get a for sure yes or no diagnosis.
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BumbleBeeBumble
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The trip to a MS specialist may help you find the answers you seek. Have any of the previous doctors ordered tests other than MRI? Have you had a lumbar puncture and blood work done for evidence of MS? Current protocols use all three tools for diagnosis.
Yes! Go to an MS specialist!!! When they last did my spine I had no lesions there, just in my head. I'm having my spine done again next Wednesday to make sure nothing has shown up there since the last time 6 years ago. - But none on my spine did not keep him from diagnosing MS.
Yes, BumbleBeeBumble if you can, do see an 'ms' specialist. Six years is too long to not have a definitive answer. If they can finally give you a diagnosis, then you could be on the path to a treatment. Keep Smiling
My first neurologist wasn't a M.S. specialist. He diagnosed my first bout of optic neuritis and tracked it using a laser pointer and a black painted ball about the size of a basketball mounted on a table I sat in front of. The following 4 or 5 times I had optic neuritis, my ophthalmologist, sat me with my face in a brace viewing a screen and a button in my hand. Every time I saw a red dot, I was to press the button. The program ran me through it all. When done, it printed a picture of where I had blanks in my field of vision. I learned you could do the same looking at many rippling waves of a lake in the sun. The point? See a specialist. I've learned to agree 100%.
On my second bout of optic neuritis, I researched neurologists, and picked one who was rated highest for M.S. in all Chicagoland by don't ask me what criteria/source. He turned out to be one rated in the top 7 in the U.S., if there is such a thing, by being invited to speak at a world conference on M.S. back then. I also thereafter, chose to go with a "back-up neurologist", one who ran the M.S. department at one of the fancy university teaching hospitals in Chicago. He just left and started his own practice, and found him as good, but also had points I hadn't heard from my other expert neurologist.
Anyway, over the years, and there's been many, I've come up with at least one symptom they never saw till I got it. (The broken vertical hold on my vision, the whole world rolled like a broken old, old tv set pre-solid state!). I've heard there was someone else who had it years after I did.
Anyway, you may have to travel. But do so. It will be worth it, at least from a peace of mind
The only other test for MS is a spinal tap. If you have MS it would appear in the spinal fluids. Everything you mentioned can be caused by MS but you need to see the neurologist who can better identify what your diagnosis is.
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