Broke down and made a doctors appointment for Wednesday.

[lovemy6monkeys]

I've been getting pretty good at just trying to ignore my symptoms. I know I'm in a tough spot because my doctor is looking for absolute evidence from testing, and I'm resisting taking medicine for symptoms as much as I can. I take gabapentin ( usually 300mg) before bed.

I have the chest pressure again (it feels like my 15 month old is sitting on my upper chest, lower throat) I can still breathe but it feels hard to take a deep breath. The weird thing is, at night after I take the gabapentin it feels much better. And I wake up with it feeling much better, but as the day goes on it gets worse, and by late evening it is worse. It does not hurt, but it's uncomfortable and my chest (muscles?) feel so tired.

Adding in my left eye has been hurting, almost like a headache/ soreness in my eyeball. Yesterday that feeling started traveling from the outside corner of my eye down to my ear and upper molars. Still not very painful, but uncomfortable at times. Also, I've noticed over the last week that if I touch or brush against my mouth, for example if I wipe my mouth or when I brush my teeth, then my upper lip will feel tingly for about 30 minutes. Weird, huh?

My neuro is out of town for the next 2 weeks. I set up an appointment with my regular doctor for Wednesday afternoon. My neuro has been sending him copies of all transcriptions from my visits, so I believe he should be up to date on what is going on with me.

If nothing else, at least my symptoms will be on my record.
~Jess

[tonyad]

   I also wanted to say 'Good For You" :)   Sounds like you have a Great game Plan!
AND, since your GP has all the Neuro notes....at least you are not going in there with
no resources / test results and stuff.

   Try and relax if you can until your appt....Of course, I know it is hard w/ several children PLUS your school work.....

Wishing you a Great doctors appt :)
<>
~Tonya

[tjj3761]

Sorry to hear in your increased symptoms.

I agree with RedFlame, you need your gabapentin increased.  For the past 5 years, I have been on maintenance dose of 900 mg per day.  Sometimes if I need my own little boost, I will take another tablet when needed.

Also to me it sounds like you are having the MS HUG.  Mine is very similar to your description.  Mine feels like somebody giving me the "Heimlich maneuver" from behind.  It feels as though I cannot take a deep breath also.  

With someone's suggestion on the forum here, I have noticed if I apply pressure to my upper abdomen with my hand, I can then take a deep breath, as strange as it sounds.  
Mine are exacerbated by heat, exercise, and sometimes just after going to bed at night.

Like RedFlame said, I think muscle relaxants work as well.  I believe the cartilage in between the ribs go into spasm causing these sensations.  My hug is not painful either, just uncomfortable.

Feel better....

terri

[RedFlame]

Hi Jess!

Good for you getting an appointment with you PCP!  I don' think there is any reason that wouldn't be able to increase your Gaba dose.  You are on an extremely low dose.  

Is that all you take is the 300mg per day.  I take 900 and need a drastic increase.  Really push for more Gaba and muscle relaxant too.

And having everything on record is important like you said.  I think the visit will help you in some way.  I saw my PCP before I got the results of my LP.  She told me that the presence of O-Bands can change over time, and that they don't always show in early diagnosis.

Red