Fibromyalgia Support Group

I saw my PA this morning and decided I'm going to stay on the Lyrica for now but he is referring me to a neurologist next week to be tested for MS. I know they do a lumbar puncture for that and I have had one before about five years ago but it still makes me nervous. I'm having terrible brain fog today and my son and his family are coming to visit for about four days. I just hope I'm not a mushy blob the whole time haha. Usually when I see my little grandson's smile, it perks me up pretty well for a while. Does anyone know if there is other testing for the MS beside the lumbar puncture? The whole idea of this is making me kind of anxious even though I want it done to either confirm or rule out MS. Any input is welcome

Julie (Jubilee)

You need MRIs to check for active typical MS lesions. LPs are not the most accurate test, there is alot of extensive testing if your MRI shows possible for MS and it can take a long time for a dx such as that. There's an MS Group here. Your dr is prob just doing the ruling out that they do with many if they felt you had many of the major symptoms they would have went over it with you. Good Luck!

Yeah I think he wanted to rule MS out even though he continues to treat me for fibro. I've been curious about it myself though for the last couple of months. I wish it were easier to diagnose also but it seems my adult life has mostly consisted of "mystery illnesses" so I push on and hope for answers. Thanks for your input Stacey. I see that is one of the things you suffer from so I truly appreciate your experience on the MS issue.

Hugs,

Julie

Hi Julie,

Is Lyrica giving you problems ? Side effects ?

Isn t it amazing how little grandbabies can turn us to quivering jello and forget (for the time being ) about our pain. ?

I hope you feel better soon ~~~

Marilyn

The Lyrica is giving me side effects of visual disturbances, weakness, dizziness, swelling in my hands and feet and increased appetite leading to weight gain. I'm also having more trouble sleeping but the doc is helping me address that problem with new sleep meds. I have learned to live with the other side effects as well for the most part. I just have to be more careful about driving when my vision is being screwy but I've definitely benefited more than suffered from the medicine and that's why I don't want to try switching to something else right now.

I'm waiting to hear from my doc's office about the referral to a neurologist but it should be in the next few days that I will be able to get in contact with that office to set up additional tests.

My weekend with my kids and grandkids was awesome and fun and I'm just amazed with the wonderful family I have. I've been very blessed and I'm loving being a grandmother. It took a while to get there since my oldest daughter has been married for six and a half years. She has not been able to have children yet and they are saving up for in vitro procedures in the next couple of years. Both my sons got married in 2008, May and December, and now they each have a son, 8 1/2 months and 5 1/2 months. My youngest daughter got married in July of this year and she has already been pregnant once but had a miscarriage which is exactly what I did and never had any problems after the first pregnancy so I'm not worried about her having fertility issues.

Anyway, I'm rambling and I tend to do that when talking about my family so I'm sorry if I bored anyone with this haha.

Hugs,

Julie