Sorry, I cant remember what muscle it is. If you feel where the bottom of your sternum is, there's a muscle (I think) just below that. That's where I'm talking about.

The area between the bottom of the sternum and above the navel.

I'm numb right there, and numb below that too. (down to a personal area)

The part that's freaking me out right now is the muscle I just described (below the sternum). It's numb, really really stiff and it's really uncomfortable. It's scaring me because of where it is. I feel like I'm breathing ok, but if I lay down it's really uncomfortable. It feels kind of like someone is standing behind me and grabbing me like a heimlich, and is just pressing down on the muscle. Feels like it's being pushed into my stomach. Really weird feeling.

My legs are also numb and I'm walking really funny. I'm a lot worried that I'm about to end up paralyzed.

I have about an hour before my neuro's office opens.

Am I right to be a lot worried about possible impending paralysis?? This is my biggest fear about the MS.

I'm really tired but I cant sleep. Otherwise I'd go back to sleep while I wait for the neuro's office to open. So I'm here freaking out instead.

your diaphram?

Breathe, take a big cleasing breath. and then tell yourself that no matter what, you WILL be ok. Let the person examine you and come up with what is going on. Flares normally go away hun.

yeah...maybe that's the muscle. I've only had 2hrs of sleep and I've got lots of baclofen and a little bit of valium in me right now. brain isnt working all that great.

Wish the baclofen and valium would make the stiffness in that area go away. It's really really %^&*#$ uncomfortable.

Sounds like the "MS hug". They suck. If this is a new symptom for you, you might be entering a flare. Are you getting an underlying infection?

I'm no doctor, but I don't think this is a sign of impending paralysis. MS hugs are a very common MS symptom.

I've had the hug before, even a painful one. This is just extremely intense and the fact that the numbness goes from that down to my toes that is freaking me out. Wobbly walking again, and can barely balance myself.

It feels really tight, but at least it's not hurting (knock on wood)

Laying down makes it really difficult and uncomfortable to sleep.

As for underlying infection...I dont think I have any.

Sounds like a flare and the hug. It'll go away. I wouldn't worry about paralysis. It's uncomfortable but it will end.

I'm apparently Flare City this year.

Ever since last April, I've been getting a new flare or an encore presentation of previous symptoms that have come and gone and come back again about every 5 to 8 weeks. Sometimes sooner, sometimes a little longer.

It's getting really really really old. I'm tired of it.

I havent been that hungry since this little flare started last week. The numbness is right above my stomach. Little worried that the numbness is going into my internal organs and that's why I'm not hungry. When I do eat, I dont feel good eating. Food just isnt any fun for me right now. The lack of hunger and the wobbly drunk walking are really worrying me now.

I've been really worried about my dad (heart condition, has a baaad cough right now but no cold. He's had the cough since early november) He's not looking all that great and I cant talk him into going to the doctor. (gets really mad at me and stomps off if I suggest it) I wonder if the stress of worrying about him is what's causing this latest flare up of the MSishness for me.

I just wish I could talk him into going to the doctor. It's driving me nuts that he wont go.

Edited to add:

My neuro just called me back. Wants to see me next week. Told him all that was going on, and he got that worried sound in his voice. So, I have an appointment. Sounds like he'll actually do a neuro check on me. (havent had a actual neuro check since january of 2010.) I hope his cold is gone by then, he sounded bad when I talked to him. I dont want his cold.

Just watch, everything that's screwing with me right now will have resolved itself by the time I see him next week.

Feel better soon, Erin..

I was hungry tonight. Parents went and got me a cheeseburger from Applebees. It helped a little bit to eat something while I was actually hungry. (they were starving and no one wanted to cook)

They also got my refills of baclofen and valium. (YAY!!!)

Tomorrow I have an eye appointment to see if I have optic neuritis going on in my right eye. I need to ask if the gigantic floater in my right eye is a cataract or something from all the 'roids I did this year. I may draw a picture of it for him. (yes, it's big enough for me to draw a picture of it...bunch of little tiny dots, like I'm looking thru a microscope in my eyeball.)

I think I just want to be able to sleep again and not be uncomfortable while doing that.

Erin, what did the Neuro and eye doctor say at your appointments? How are you feeling? Are you in a flare?

How is you Dad feeling? Is his cold gone now?