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Does this sound like MS? Please help I'm desperate

Posted , 6 users are following.

jj2828
jj2828

Hi everyone. I have been severely anxious and have not had a day where I've not broken down. My boyfriend has been very supportive of me but I can't help but feel like I am becoming an annoyance. 

Basically in the beginning of august, I got a sudden onset of dizziness that basically persisted for about 2 months. I also experienced weird feelings in my eyes where I had trouble focusing on things, for example reading long paragraphs of text- my eyes would then dart away.

 After my dizziness (NOT vertigo) disappeared I started getting muscle jerks in my neck. It's like a one off jerk forward, about 15-20 times a day. 

My jerks are slowly declining in frequency. However, a couple days later I started feeling a funny ticklish weak feeling in my right knee area or lower part of my thigh. I initially didn't think anything of it but then I started getting pins and needles along with it. The pins and needles were on both hands, both legs, and also appeared randomly in other areas for example my lips. My calf also started feeling this.

I also noticed my left eye seems a little blurrier in comparison to my right. 

As of right now my symptoms include:

- infrequent neck 'jerks', soreness

- heaviness in my right leg (it can still do everything my left leg can in terms of strength)

- pins and needles sensations that persist for a while but come and go from time to time 

- a pressure in one point in the back of my skull near my ear 

- blurrier vision in my left (fixed with glasses)

I have visited my family doctor multiples of times and each time she tells me it's just anxiety. I asked her if I possibly had MS but she said due to the inflammatory markers from my blood tests being absolutely normal I do not have MS. I was skeptical of this as I have read that MS is not detectable through blood tests. She has referred me to a neurologist anyways but I cannot function at all while waiting. All I think about is that I definitely have MS and how grim my future will become. 

I will not deny I read about MS briefly before my weakness and pins and needles came about but I never thought that I had MS. So Im really not sure if anxiety can be causing all this.

If anyone can shed some light, help me out through this dark time it would be really appreciated. 

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • marilee43089
    marilee43089 jj2828

    Posted

    I would try to get some anti-anxiety medication to take until you can get to the Neurologist.  

  • FaithInHim
    FaithInHim jj2828

    Posted

    Hi JJ  (((((huggs))))

    OK, Take a deep breath, slowly exhale, and another.  First of all, yes I have MS, and my Future is Not Grim!

    I will tell you that I don't sugar coat anything, I give it to you straight.  So You, and only You have the power

    within you to Calm down.  You have to do this and you can do this. You can worry everyday, all day, and guess what, it changes nothing, right?  Now it may be good to try anti~anxiety meds while you are waiting, such as

    Ativan, or Buspar, which are prescriptions from your doctor.  Here is my most important suggestion, Start today,

    with the day, date, and symptom you are having. Write this journal everyday.  What symptom are you having?

    Example: double vision, left eye only, lasted for two hours 

    When you chart your symptoms and how long they last it will be of help to the Neurologist when you have your appointment.  Be sure you tell about your dizziness that lasted for two months and be descriptive about how that affected you.  Now here is why I'm telling you to relax, and calm down.  Getting a diagnosis of MS is sometimes

    a lengthy process.  1st  You usually will have an MRI of the Brain  then possibly and MRI of the cervical neck region and/or thoracic spine.  The MRI looks for lesions on the Brain or spinal cord, if confirmed, a lumbar puncture is sometimes ordered to obtain spinal fluid to look for O Bands.   So just be prepared that it could take 

    a little while to determine if you have MS.  Seriously, what I tell my friends that have MS, is to live in the moment.

    We all have a choice to make. We can live in fear, or we can chose to be happy with each day we have. Believe me JJ, I do understand what you are going through.  I'm telling you to grab hold of the reins and get back up in the saddle of Life.  You said you have a very understanding boyfriend. That is worth Celebrating!!  Don't waste another moment on all the uncertainties. It can take some time, but you can learn to take control, if something scares you, learn about it.  Do something that keeps your mind busy. Something you really enjoy.  Take time to really relax, meditate, or prayer really does help.  Having support is wonderful being able to share concerns,

    ask questions.  So, I'm here for you JJ  ~ You stay strong and positive  Keep in touch cool Best Wishes, Faith

    • jj2828
      jj2828 FaithInHim

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your response. Shortly after I wrote this post I went to the ER, after speaking to the doctor at the ER and doing some clinical testing, he thinks its unlikely I would have MS. Along with that, I did a CT scan to rule out anything else that could be the cause, but it came out normal. 

      I feel a lot better today, and feel a lot of my symptoms have subsided, it might have been that I got some reassurance. But I know for myself, I should not completely dismiss the possibility that I still might have it. 

      I admire your strength to keep looking forward, I have been nothing but a mess this past week and just don't know how others do it! 

      My only concern at the moment is now, since I am nervously awaiting my MRI is...

      In your opinion do you think that my symptoms could be a cause of other things other than MS? The only thing that I am thinking about to calm myself is whether or not there are other less serious things (anxiety, or others). that could be causing the symptoms I am describing 

    • FaithInHim
      FaithInHim jj2828

      Posted

      Hi JJ

      Glad to hear that you went to the ER.  Sometimes we just have to seek the answer or get some

      relief in between our waiting.  I am hoping that you were able to get something prescribed for your

      anxiety.  In my honest opinion, I must tell you that there are just too many things that can mimic

      symptoms of MS.  Just one of many examples, the pins and needles, well it could be a sign of MS, OR, it could be a pinched nerve.  Did you know that Lyme Disease mimics MS.  So I would not want to confuse you, or add to your worries.  For now, I would write in your daily journal any symptoms

      you have.  There are times when symptoms can go away and then come back a year later or earlier.

      It all depends on the individual person.  MS affects everyone differently, although there are similar features of the disease, as well as 3 stages of the disease.  So right now at this moment in time, there is no reason to worry, about something we don't know the answer too.  Do you know what they gave you the CT Scan for? Also what about the testing they did at the ER, what were they looking for??

      Just curious.  So stay strong, and write that daily journal.  It really does help with pin pointing what is happening, when, and how long it is lasting.  When is your MRI ?  Keep in touch ~~  Faith

  • johanna21
    johanna21 jj2828

    Posted

    Hi jj2828

    Your GP needs to refer you to a neurologist for further investigation, inflammatory markers will be normal unless something else occurring.

    Often it can take years to have MS diagnosed as can present as many other things and often it won't be MS.

    I was recently diagnosed with MS after 3 years of symptoms, i still work full time, memory is rubbish so you have to keep this active..and keep positive as there is so much by way of treatments now.

     

  • amanda88048
    amanda88048 jj2828

    Posted

    Hi there are many issues that you can have that are similar to MS. You are correct they cannot tell by a blood test. I have similar symptoms to you and it took nearly 4 months and struggling to walk and a visit to A&E before I got the tests I needed MRI, CT, lumbar puncture, and many blood test that all showed clear as did my lumbar puncture results but the MRI showed liaisons in my fluid spine. This resulting in a diagnoses of MS. If you are diagnosed, please do not panic read into other peoples experiences, there are people who have had MS for 20 years and still have no relapses. Join the MS society web site it is very informative, and you can make changes to your life that keeps you well.

    The more you stress and worry, the more you are putting strain on your mental and physical health. Just take each step at a time. You may not have MS and it may be stress. 

    Good luck x

  • tony01764
    tony01764 jj2828

    Posted

    Hi everyone im all new to this.so anyway ive been sufering fro balance problems since 2014 and now its got worse ive had tests done by ent specialists but today i went for results and they tell i have to see a neurologist becaause it dosnt show inner ear problems.i do have extereme fatigue, balance problems and abornal walking mainily weakness in left leg could this be ms .thank you
    • FaithInHim
      FaithInHim tony01764

      Posted

      Hi Tony  (((huggs)))

      Gosh sounds just like me ~ Lol  You noticed that I laughed because keeping a sense of humor

      is so Important!!  Seriously, I started with symptoms in 2012 and then in May of 2016 started the long process of this test and MRI's and lumbar puncture.  I went to an ENT and then sent to Neurologist when my MRI was showing lesions.  Long story, shorter version, diagnosed on May 3, 2017.

      Let me just say, write a daily journal of your symptoms, how long they last, and take the journal to your

      neurologist appointment.  It really does sound like it could be MS.  By the way, You can still live a good

      life Tony, it's just that You have to make that choice.  So stay strong, do things to relax you, eat well,

      proper rest, and hang out with us here.  We are always glad to answer questions or just share our experiences to support one another.  Keep in touch and Best wishes  Would like to talk more with you,

      for now I have a Thorasic MRI to go to.   ~  Faith

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