Well we're back to scratch again as all my tests - CSF, Lyme, Lupus, etc. - came back normal *banging head on desk*. So far the only actual "tests" that showed anything were a positive Romberg and a bilateral Babinski. Believe it or not, Dr. Shuster (from Mayo) actually called me herself as her nurse was out today and she didn't want to make me wait until tomorrow for my results (WOW and lots more points for her, right?)
She said we would talk about Autonomic Neuropathy when I go back for my gastric emptying test later this month (which is funny, because that's what I had asked the Neuro about here after Googling my initial symtoms to death - he was the one that mentioned MS).
There are a couple of things I'm not quite clear on though after looking it up, so I'm asking you guys (as I need a much bigger brain than the one I have :o) if any of you are familiar with Autonomic Neuropathy...
1. It appears that A/N is not really a condition in and of itself, but triggered by an underlying cause - so can MS be a cause? I didn't see MS listed as a possible cause, but since those lists aren't always exhaustive I thought I'd ask. I've also had Dermatomyositis, which is currently in remission (that wasn't listed as a cause either).
2. I have several symptoms of A/N, but I also have stuff that's not there. The biggest thing being a sporadic pain along the rib cage that comes and goes, is sharp or dull, (on the left or right depending on which way the wind is blowing :o) This one has been with me since the beginning, and I was pretty darn sure it was "the hug".
- and -
Major mental moments - cognition issues - nice and inconsistent of course, but as an interpreter it's kinda important for my brain to zip along. The one that really freaked me out was when I decided to swap from the radio (in the car) to a CD and could not for the life of me remember which button to push to make the CD play. Must have spent five solid minutes just staring blankly at the radio wondering what to do (uh-oh...)
Another good one was the day I jumped out of the truck to go in the house and my legs just folded right up on me (I made a lovely splat), and refused to work for an hour afterward. Then we have the TN question of years ago too...
I'm not a diabetic - or even overweight - and I'm not an alcoholic (yet :o) Those were the two main causes of A/N. I did have chemo in 2006, but wouldn't A/N have shown up sooner if that was the cause? I would think that if the chemo had damaged the nerves it would have shown up more quickly, instead of a delay of several years. Does anybody know?
Okay, guess I'll stop here as I'm trying not to make it too long (probably way too late though *grin*). I did ask Dr. S. about possibly doing another MRI on their big, bad 3T machine (just in case, as mine was clear on a 1.5) and she said she would check to see if the new machine was up and running yet and set it up if it was. I've ordered a copy of my records to add to my collection, but I'm thinking I may wind up SOL (Stuck Orbiting Limboland). My, it's hard to stay positive through the many piles of poop we schlep through, isn't it?
Thank you for reading all this!! - Jen