[pickleeater]

I'm a 31 year old mother of two young girls (3years and 8 months). I'm married to a wonderful supportive man.

I'm not even sure where to begin. I'm not even sure when my story starts, to be honest.

But I'll start with the obvious - half of my face started going numb/tingling about 3 or 4 months ago. It comes and goes, but lately it's always there, revolving around my cheek, eye, and ear. Honestly I didn't think much of it because prior to this my upper back/neck was in severe pain from (what I thought) a pinched nerve from carrying my baby around so much. I thought the facial numbness was just another pinched nerve symptom and didn't think much of it.

The numbness began showing up in other places. The toes of my left foot. My left arm. Occasionally my right arm. Sometimes it feels like I've got a hairband wrapped around my arm, cutting off circulation. Sometimes the numbness travels to the right side of my face.

Then the head pressure started and that's when I got scared. When my head is tilted too far forward from poor posture or too many pillows in bed, my head starts feeling like I'm in an airplane. But it does it when I'm overexerting myself, or just at other completely random times. My ears start popping (especially the left side).

So, I saw the doctor. Twice. I had a CT scan of my head and sinuses, all clear. I went to the neurologist, who ordered some bloodwork.

And that's basically where I am now. I haven't seen this bloodwork but I called on it and I have a positive ANA with titer of 1:160.

Supposedly everything else came back normal and this time I tested negative for Lyme (I know that's not always accurate).

Looking back in my past, I've had weird one-sided (also on the left) severe leg pain for ten years. It comes and goes, probably once every other month and lasts 4-5 days at a time.

For the past five years, I nearly constantly have this feeling of buzzing/bug crawling on the entirety of my upper back.

Last summer, I had serious, unexplained itching on the soles of my feet and on the palms of my hands. My daughter did as well, but they said hers was hand, foot, and mouth disease and hers lasted the appropriate amount of time before disappearing. Mine lasted for 2-3 months.

A couple of months after that, I had unexplained hives that lasted 2-3 days. I saw the doctor who prescribed prednisone but I never took it because I was breastfeeding my daughter and didn't want to deal with that.

I also had supposed Mastitis (breast infection) about six months ago. Fever of 103, my entire body ached like crazy, and my resting heart rate was 150bpm. I thought I was surely dying. The strange thing was that my breast never actually hurt very badly, but that was the best guess out of everyone. Again I took no medication and this was gone in ~5 days.

I have rashes on my arms and an unexplained itch that I'd rather not mention to ANYONE for the past six months.

I've got brain fog.

Lately my entire body itches under the skin so nothing helps.

I'm waiting (and waiting and waiting) to get my MRI scheduled. Apparently the holdup is with my insurance company, go figure.

I'm scared. I'm tired. I wish I had answers. I keep digging into my past and trying to connect the dots, but I'm not sure if there are any dots to connect. I'll have a good few hours and then just think that I'm making all this stuff up and that nothing is wrong with me...but then those few hours are over and I wish that I had just enjoyed them instead of thinking I was crazy. I don't want to worry my friends and family so I don't like to talk about it with them, so I'm feeling pretty alone right now.

I'm not sure whether to think I have MS or Lupus or Lyme disease. I know that I should just wait for the MRI to assume anything, but I would love some opinions or thoughts from anyone at this point.

It's awesome to be here. Thanks to anyone who reads through this.

[Darlene]

pickleeater,

It is great to have you come and be with us. You will fine a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Please keep us up to date on your condition. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene