Frightened/trying to diagnose

[jenbe]

Hi, I'm new here because I'm in the process of being diagnosed. I go to a neurologist on Friday, but was told by an ER Dr. that I have probable MS. (Went to the ER because my primary thought I might be having TIA's.) Just wondering how it all started for you? A couple weeks ago I noticed that I was mixing up my words, pausing while I was talking and then started the headache(not terrible) with right eye tunnel vision, right hand and foot pins and needles. A week ago I started with dizziness and just feeling funny this last Thursday the speaking got worse and the pins and needles turned to burning and pain going up both my leg and arm. This last weekend the burning got worse and my hand feels so funny just holding a pen. It almost feels like when your just getting a chill and your skin feels funny when you get goose bumps(without the goose bumps) kinda feels like something is on my skin, but nothing there. Then I remembered that last February I had the same kind of "headache" but my left hand and arm felt funny, just not to this extreme.
Any feedback would be helpful while I wait for a difinitive.
Thanks

[jenbe]

Thanks to everybody for sharing your symptoms and kind words. It's funny how when I get out of bed in the morning I have the feeling that things are going to be better, then after my shower the right foot starts then my rt eye and then progresses through the day. Guess I will just have to start with the appointment and see how it goes from there.

Again thanks,
Jennifer

[Sparkysarah]

Mine started with numbness in little finger, then mild hearing loss on one side, then later a numb half of face, then mamptoms of numbness, tingling and pain all down left arm and leg.

Best of luck when you see your neuro and as Lulu said it can take time to seek a dx and just try and keep an open mind....there are many different conditions that present with similar neurological symptoms.

Look forward to finding out how you get on so let us know how your appointment goes.

Best wishes

Sarah

[Sumanadevii]

I started with a backache that felt like (and continues to this day) that feels like an exposed nerve.

[jujuminx]

Mine has started with numbness/tingling on left side of body from hip down. Lasted approx 2 months, and went away completly. Fast forward 8 yrs and it happened again and went away completly. Fast forward 10 yrs and same thing but then moved to right and was more painful and more odd senstations including "hug" around trunk area.

No balance problems, no eye problems or mixing of words.  Multiple MRI's of head done over the years with negative results. Finally dx with MS in August of this month after they did spinal MRI and found lesions.  On daily drugs now and doing great.

You need to see a neurologist.  As most will tell you here it can be a long process to get dx but generally they rule out everything else first. Good luck to you and keep coming here to update us on your progress.

Julie

[gypcwmn]

I started with headache and ear pain.

[jenbe]

Thanks so much for your responses.

Lulu, the ER dr. that said it was probable MS only did a CT scan to rule out bleed or tumor. That MRI's were only done in the ER if it was life or death. She was discussing it with my PMD that sent me to the ER. My PMD is sending me to the neurologist.

[Lulu54]

Welcome Jenbe.

It's easy to be frightened when you don't know what you are facing.  Let me tell you that MS is no longer the disease it was 20 years ago - it can be treated and quite successfully for many people.  Yes, there are people who don't respond favorably to treatment, but most people do.  

Your symptoms sound neurological to me, but I'm no doctor.  What I can tell you is normally a diagnosis of MS takes time - and plenty of it.  This is a diagnosis of elimination, which mean the doctors will first look at everything else that it isn't, including TIA's.

Did they do an MRI in the ER ?  I think that is pretty normal with suspected TIA's.  If they did, be sure to get a copy of the pictures from the hospital and keep those for your records.  You want to keep copies of everything so if this turns into a long process and you see more doctors you can share the previous results.


We're happy to answer any and all questions you might have.  We also have great health page that give clear and concise information on a variety of MS topics.  You can find the index for these at

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple-Sclerosis/MS-Information-and-Resources-Index/show/22?cid=36

welcome again and good luck with this journey.  - Lulu

[starryeyes1]

Hi and welcome! This forum is soo helpful.
I had tingling in my legs and feet, blurry left eye, left side of my tongue went numb and one day I woke up and couldn't walk straight.I kept running into walls. My knees felt like thay were numb inside.It took a year and a half before my 3rd neurologist diagnosed me.
Good luck with a diagnosis. I hope you feel better!
Kristi