Blood tests and MS

[EmmaGrundy]

Hi

Can anyone help me with some information about blood tests and MS please? DS has had blood tests which have returned all normal and my understanding (having consulted Dr Google) is that this rules out other conditions which can have similar symptoms to MS but doesn't imply anything about MS itself? Is it likely that you could normal blood test results and still have MS? DS is early 20s.

DS is worried, so am I but am trying to be reassured by blood test results, is this reasonable do you think?

Blood tests were yesterday and the surgery phoned today to say the results were normal and to make a follow up appointment for next Thursday, 18th. Bit of a while to wait so would be grateful for any information.

Hi Emma

I thought that you needed an MRI to confirm MS- I'm fairly sure you can't diagnose it or rule it out based on blood tests alone. I'm no expert though- I'm sure someone will be along shortly with more info. What are your DS's symptoms? I had worrying symptoms a few years back and they took blood tests to rule out basic things like thyroid imbalances etc. If bloods come back normal they will then explore further avenues if the symptoms persist. Mine were nothing and hope your DS's are too.

I have MS - it is diagnosed with an MRI and neurological testing. Bloods are only done to rule out other conditions.

i had to have ct ,ct with contrast , mri ,lumbar puncture and blood tests to rule out MS .

I have MS. No blood test can indicate MS. An abnormally low vit D level can be an indicator towards MS but not sufficient at all for a diagnosis.

MRI, neurological tests (balance, plantar reflex etc) and possibly a lumbar puncture are all used to enable a neurologist to make a diagnosis.

It's worth noting though that separate relapses (at least two) need to be observed by a neurologist for a diagnosis to be made.

Google the Macdonald Criteria for more info.

Best of luck with the journey. I have everything crossed it's not MS. But if you need anymore info, feel free to PM me.

Thank you for the replies, and especially for the PM offer wherethe.

DS has muscular tics all over his body and altered sensation in a toe and fingers. But he thinks that possibly the toe is due to wearing tight boots at Glastonbury and the fingers to sport at the weekend, so not sure really.

I think perhaps we know so little about the other conditions that the symptoms could indicate that we did not appreciate that there are all sorts of other awful conditions that he could have had, and which have been ruled out by the blood tests IYSWIM.

So my understanding now is that these other things are ruled out but that the blood tests are most irrelevant to MS. Does that sound right to you? So the doctor will decide whether the other symptoms mean that other tests which could result in a diagnosis of MS are indicated?

There is no family history but DS has previously been ill just before he reached puberty, when his immune system set off in the wrong direction (I know that's not a medical way of describing it) and he developed all sorts of allergies. At one point, the plan was to reboot him with chemotherapy drugs and that wasn't ultimately done but I think I have tended to worry about him because of that and I am concerned that there is some sort of connection. There was no diagnosis given when DS was younger but his immune system meant that he was susceptible to any bug going for a while and he would be more ill than other people with the same bug.

DS has been to the GP twice about the tics and so I think the GP is regarding this as two incidents, hence the testing now. The tics are not painful.

Hi Emma

MS can only be diagnosed/ruled out by a neurologist. So your GP will arrange a referral if he/she thinks it's the appropriate course of action.

I have a lot of allergies (weird ones too!!) but I know many many people with MS through support groups and it doesn't seem to be a common factor amongst us at all.

I know you're going to stress about it anyway. But try not to panic too much at this stage. Even something as simple as a vitamin B deficiency can have neuro-type symptoms which mimic MS.

Your DS is 3 times LESS likely to have MS than a female. It's also much more likely to be diagnosed in late 20s/early 30s. So try not to panic until you have more information.

An MRI would most likely be a neurologists next port of call, if your DS is indeed referred.

Hi wherethe

I hadn't realised that DS is less at risk than a female, thank you, but I think his age (early 20s) is a concern.

DS has grown out of many of his allergies now, which is a relief, but although it sounds odd, he was really ill for around 18 months and remained vulnerable for a while so I think I was all set to be more concerned by what could be another immune system condition - I thought MS is an immuno type condition but not sure about that. It's reassuring that you haven't come across a connection with allergies though, so thank you.

I think some of my concern is fuelled by DS's own concern. He is worried and so I'm worried that this is because he doesn't feel right in some way. It's really not like him to go to the doctor, think his visits this summer have been the first for probably 5 years if you don't count sports injuries, so it's almost the reverse of the crying wolf situation.

However, thank you for your replies. I think statistically DS is unlikely to have anything awful and we will both just have to wait it out.

I do appreciate everyone's time. It might have been easy for you to dismiss my concerns.

HiRedannie

He has altered sensation in fingers and toes. He is not particularly tired and hasn't mentioned any other symptoms. I don't think we would be so worried if he hadn't been told to make a double appointment with the MS specialist GP to discuss the results.

No problems with skin or breathing other than long standing eczema and asthma, both much better than in the past