Concerned I have MS
 

I'm new on this. 30 year old female, newlywed. And really concerned.

Started having symptoms of feet/hand tingling in the (hot) shower over a month ago, then started noticing that it occurred in hot weather and even when exercising. That made me concerned, that its affecting my everyday life now. (1 month prior to that I was on my honeymoon in the tropics- think hot weather- and had no problems).

2 years ago I had episodes (almost daily) of extreme dizziness/vertigo to where I thought I'd black out but never did. It lasted almost a month and then vanished. During that time I had a brain MRI (normal) and cardiology workup (normal). I forgot about it completely until I looked up my current symptoms and 'MS' appeared.

Now the tingling/pain is even more sensitive and frequent (hard to do dishes). I'm also in much pain- I wake up with leg pain/soreness, that gets better with motrin. I got a massage yesterday and the therapist was amazed by how tense my muscles were all over my body. I'm not working out as much anymore so theres no reason for my muscles to be tense.

I just got married a few months ago, and have a job where coordination is necessary. I'm extremely concerned that I have MS, and scared to get the diagnosis.
I don't have disability insurance, and read that I should make sure I have it before I get diagnosed- this process may take another 2 months for me.

In the meantime I'm terrified and still experiencing daily symptoms. I've told my new husband (only a little bit, don't want to concern him too much yet), and not any family, as I don't want them to worry. So I'm going through this alone, and have had crying breakdowns when I'm alone and this happens. This waiting time is really difficult- I'd rather have a diagnosis or not- and deal with it either way.

Any thoughts/suggestions? Does this sound like MS to you?

hello and welcome, first breathe just take a breath. I know you are probably scared to death and overwhelmed trying to look up as much information as you can. First, let me tell you there are more than 100 diseases that can mimic MS. The list can be long and scary. It includes many things like vitamin deficiencies, B12, D, Lyme disease, lupus, Devic's, and several other strange sounding diseases.

The place to start is with your primary care physician. Have him run a simple panel of blood tests including your vitamin levels have him include an allergy panel and a C reactive protein level. Keep a journal write down every test that you've taken, and what the results are. Keep a symptom journal record what time of day your symptoms are better or worse. What conditions make it better or worse hot or cold are you tired or hungry?

Take your journals and your test results and have your physician recommend a multiple sclerosis Center. They are the pros at weeding out one disease from another. Please know there are a lot of diseases to go through and they will start with the most likely or the easiest to weed out. Like vitamin B-12 is easy to fix but can cause the same symptoms as multiple sclerosis. Lyme disease or lupus can cause many of the same symptoms but are harder to fix, they can also be discovered in bloodwork. once you weed out 90% of the things that can cause MS type symptoms you are left with a small handful of diseases your doctor will take what is most likely to be the cause of your symptoms. You will probably need an MRI and some doctors want a spinal tap.

Please know this is a long road and isn't usually answered quickly, so breathe, just breathe. Arm yourself with information, read research go to the MS Society website. There are several wonderful places to get information.

I wish you the best of luck please let us know how you're doing and what you're finding out.:hug:

Dej pretty much said it the best. Keep a journal, helps the docs tons while they are trying to figure stuff out. A lot of things can mimic MS, so it's sometimes a long haul to find the right answer.

It is scary to know something is going on. I've totally been there, done that, had the panic attack before I got the t-shirt. :rolleyes: But you will get through it. Hang in there!!!!

hello and welcome to NT.
dej always says things so well. her advice is sound.

IF you do have MS getting a dx (diagnosis) is a process of elimination so it may take some time to have tests done.
i went to my PCP when my gait problems started. her exam came up abnormal so she sent me to a neuro and the rest was hx.

try to take one thing at a time and one day at a time.
when you look at just what's in front of you it's not as scary. and worrying doesn't help anyway.

i agree with getting disability thru work. make sure you have good health insurance. don't carry this burden alone. consider sharing with your husband.
it the tables were turned what would you want him to do?

let us know how you are.

Welcome to NT...

Many diseases mimic MS, as was posted above...as suggested, keep a symptom journal, and questions to ask docs, as well as tests run, etc. Ask for copies of all reports from tests and mris...

It took years for me to get dxd. Drove me crazy...til I found friends on sites like this one. Made me feel I wasn't alone.

Try your best to get exercise, eat right, and get enough rest. Take time to stop and smell the roses, even if you feel crummy. Don't let these symptoms run your life...

Take care and keep us up to date...:grouphug:

Hello concern
 

I want to welcome you to Neuro Talk. I can already see alot of others are responding to you. This group of people on this site are really knowledgeable and caring. I am glad you found this site. I know you are frightened. I was too when I arrived here. Hopefully members here can help you through to the time where you can have the proper tests done. Breathe deep and keep right here when you can. Just knowing you have a place to come to will help you get through this. I came here with other problems, and I got all the help I needed to get through surgeries and health conditions. I do wish you all the best. ginnie

Thank you
 

Your few messages above have actually really helped and yes, does make me feel like I'm not alone.
I did share with my husband my fears and although he's optimistic things are fine, he did reaffirm that whatever happens, we'll face together.
I'm working on the disability insurance before getting worked up, so that will take a few months. In the meantime I'm going to kick whatever this is in the butt. I do enjoy the small things in life, and I don't think I want that to change. I'm going to stay as active as I can and if I feel tired, I'm going to make myself get up, because I can.
I'm in healthcare, and the knowledge of this is almost a double edged sword.

Things happen to people everyday- accidents, diseases etc. Stuff happens. Its just that with this, well, we almost know what may happen.

How do you deal with the anticipation of what may follow- how much longer will it be before I'm in extreme pain/too weak to walk/unable to work etc??

None of us EVER know. You learn to live with the uncertainty of it all. Will tomorrow be the day I go blind? cant walk? cant balance? cant bathe myself? cant feed my family? That day maybe today, and that day may never come.

Greater than 80% of MS patients NEVER end up in a wheel chair full time. Many of us use a cane, rollator or walker to get around during attacks, but once its over, the rollator starts collecting dust again.

You will learn to set up your shower so that you are almost fall proof. Rails, a seat, learning to prop your feet against the side to get leverage when you close your eyes to shampoo. Turn down the heat so you take a warm not hot shower, get shampoo/conditioner in one, so you only have ONE step to wash your hair, soap on a rope so you dont drop it, rubber strips to help you grip the bottom, a thick mat outside the shower with a rubber backing so it wont slip. Sit on the toilet to dry off instead of standing and rubbing down. Ride the scooters in the store to save energy so you can still have enough energy to fix a meal when you get home. Folks give you dirty looks when you park in the handicap spot, but if it means saving enough energy to bathe the kids, who cares what they think?

its a learning process and you wont know which MS patient YOU are going to be, till you become it. Its like a fingerprint. What makes you swoon, and sweaty, may not bug me at all, but what makes me tip over and need 3 days to recover may be a breeze for you. it all depends on lesion placement.

Start eating clean NOW. Get used to a clean diet BEFORE you feel forced. The more chemicals you remove from your diet the better off you will be. Want mac and cheese? dont open a box, make it! Many go Gluten Free and their symptoms clear up. Others go on the Swank diet and feel great. Other go with the Makers diet removing all chemicals and do great. You have no more excuses to continue to abuse your body. it has put you on notice that it needs better fuel, bigger rest periods, better maintenance, and more comfort care. STart being really good to yourself.

Please dont be surprised when you start to see friends become more and more distant. They are busy. They have full lives, and sometimes hearing us say "we just cant" or "i just dont feel well" becomes old to them. They see us and how great we look (you will hear that A LOT! "but you look so good!") and think to themselves "she just needs to try harder" and then once that seed is planted will start to think you are lazy or looking for excuses and start to get busy on you. "sorry, cant make it, we are busy that weekend." and so it begins. Dont worry, when the rest are done peeling away, you will find out who your REAL friends are. The ones that keep coming back at ya. LET THEM HELP! How upset would you be if a friend needed help and they wouldnt let you try?

Hang in there. come back and let us know.

Hello Concerned. So glad you joined us.:)

What we anticipate in our MS progression is based on what others have suffered, but we are all individuals, even with MS. We will not all end up in a wheel chair, in a lot of pain, have eye problems, etc.... Fatigue seems to be pretty usual for all of us, also some numbness, pins and needles & spasticity (tightness of muscles)

Just as the DMDS don't work on all of us, because we have different types of MS, with different causes and triggers.

Hang with us and we will try to keep you informed. supported and loved.:hug:

Great posts...

and if you are diagnosed and you tell people about it, don't be surprised to hear of people that they know with MS who are in wheelchairs, can't walk, died, yet "you look normal" with a sideways glance at you.
People try to make you feel okay about your diagnosis...let it roll off your back. You know what you are dealing with, no matter how "good" you look.

That's why this place is priceless...we all "get it"...we let each other cry, scream, vent, and help dry the tears, even if it is virtual...I thank God daily for the friends here. Don't know if I could have gotten through it so far without them.