Does this sound like MS?

[anniebd85]

Hi! I am a 27 year old white female, 5"1', 105lbs. In the winter of 2009 I started a new job and it was very stressful. I started to fall into a deep depression and my anxiety (which had always been minor and really not an issue in the past) became extremely uncomfortable. I started to have a issues with my sleeping (either not being able to get up or on the opposite end, not being able to sleep for days) but have chalked it up to the depression. I was on Lexapro for about 4 months and they bumped my dosage up about 3 times. I felt no different at all so I just quit taking it.
At the same time, I have been experiencing extreme headaches, which started around the same time. I had always gotten a migraine on occasion, but nothing like the severity and frequency of these. I get the headaches about 3-4 times a week and they are always right behind my eyes to my temples, with my right side becoming increasingly worse. My head is so sore the touch that I can barely lay my head down on my pillow. About 4 months ago I saw a new doctor and was put on a Propranolol and this has helped tremendously, but I still get a about 1 a week and I am on 120mg. I was also put on Effoxtor (150mg) for my anxiety. I am ending the effexor this week as it has done nothing but make me even more fatigued then I already am.
I was a gymnast for 15 years and have been diagnosed with spondylolisthesis. I have had very bad back pain since I was about 16, but it has become increasingly worse over the past couple years. Lately, my right lower leg and ankle have been going numb and tingling. I figured this was connected to my back condition, but it has been happening more often lately. I then had something happen that scared the crap out of me. About a month before I went on the beta-blocker, my right hand started to spasm. It was a strong enough spasm to visibly see my hand shake and this continued non-stop for three days. Then all of a sudden, it stopped. My hand was so sore and cramped that I could barely use it for about 3 days. This has happened once after, but only lasted for about a day and a half.
You know the feeling when you have had too much to drink and you really have to concentrate on walking- I will feel this way at work all the time and I seem to misjudge doorways and will run into the wall. This is something I feel started before 2009 and maybe I am just clumsy. I do have very bad eye sight (-11.00) and my right eye's retina is very thin and very close to detaching, so I just thought that was probably the cause. I also feel that I have issues forming sentences and remembering words sometimes. This could just be me being distracted but I don't feel like I have always had this problem.
About 6 months ago I was holding my pee from the car to the 2nd floor and couldn't make it. It was the strangest feeling. I was holding my muscles but it didn't matter. This has never happened nor have I ever had an issue with this. I have not had children either. I laughed at myself and figured I just had a weird accident. Then slowly I feel that I have lost control of my bladder- not completely, but there are many times now when I have a real issue making it to the bathroom- as well I have begun to urinate more frequently.  
Jeez, sorry for the long post! Two more things- when I am very stressed and feel anxious, my arms will sometimes go numb. It is like they fall asleep and nothing I do will wake them up. It eventually goes away, but it's strange. Also, I feel that the hearing in my right ear is not as strong as it was a couple years ago. I am constantly having to turn the volume up to a ridiculous volume and have ringing quite often.
I am just sick of feeling sick. I know that my issues could be nothing but me reacting to stress, but I just thought I would get some outside advice. I actually have not thought any of this was anything until last week when I was talking to my dad, telling him some of my issues and he said I should know that our great aunt had MS. Made me think and worry a little.

[Ricobord]

Hi.  I saw your post and I thought I'd suggest you get tested for Lyme Disease.  While you should definitely see a neurologist and/or Rheumatologist to get checked out for autoimmune disorders, a Lyme test is worth doing, because Lyme can cause every symptom you list.   I have had several of the same symptoms, such as hitting door frames, speech issues, stomach and digestive problems, tingling, fatigue, anxiety, and depression.  While I haven't had the bladder issues, numbness or weakness,  plenty of other people do. I am also on a beta blocker for tachycardia and a pounding heart beat.  My heart rate has spiked as high as 155.

Since you describe word finding problems and speech issues, it suggests involvement in the CNS.  Since you have had symptoms over a year and you have neurologic symptoms, you are more likely to test false negative on standard blood tests.  The rheumatologist who proposed the CDC surveillance (sampling) criteria for blood tests says that neuro Lyme is extremely rare, but in reality, most of us just don't show the same antibodies as people with rheumatologic Lyme. There are a lot of us out there, but we are more likely to go undiagnosed for a while because of flawed testimg. For me, it was 6 years.

You are welcome to come check out the Lyme Disease forum for others' perspectives.

[Tara437]

I can relate to you and your symptoms.  I too was a gymnast for 10 years and have been battling very similar symptoms minus the depression and anxiety.  I am 33 years old and tired of not feeling well.

I am currently seeing a neurologist and have had a MRI, lumbar puncture, evoked potential test, every blood test under the sun, and a nerve test.

I have recently been put on Gabapentin and go back to the neurologist in July.  I am in limbo-land for a diagnosis...

I would suggest that you write down every symptom you've had and when they occurred. The more specific you can be, the better. Take this information to your doctor and make sure to disclose everything. This will help your doctor in finding a diagnosis for you.

Good luck!

[SarahL2491]

ms doesn't usually attack both sides, only later. You will never know unless you go and have lots of tests done.  Write down your concerns and take them with you to the doctor.

I still don't see anything that connects you with MS.  We are just MS patients here, no doctors.

[anniebd85]

Sorry you had trouble reading my post- hopefully this is a little more clear>

I have talked to my doctor about my anxiety, depression, and headaches. I am working on finding something that helps for the anxiety and depression but so far no medication has given me relief. I am on a beta-blocker for my headaches and they have improved but I am still getting at least one a week. She thinks they are all stress induced.

I have not talked to her about the following symptoms:
-right leg goes numb (occasionally)
-loosing bladder control
-painful muscle spasms, some lasting for longer then 24 hours
-complete numbness throughout my entire arms when under duress
-difficulty walking at times; it feels as though I am drunk but I am not.
-chronic lower back pain; basic pain meds do nothing to help the pain.
-chronic morning nausea
-I constantly feel fatigued, even when I get a full nights sleep.
-I noticed simple tasks such as opening a bottle of water prove to be more difficult; my muscles often feel weak.

I am really bad about going to the doctors, as well as remembering to talk about issues when I do go. I am sure I am fine, but I am a little frustrated with feeling like crap all the time. Plus, some things just don't feel right, like the numbness in my legs and arms. I did see a doctor about 2 years ago and talked about my headaches, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and at the time, extreme weight loss as possible acid reflux due to stress, but the trial meds (can't remember the name) didn't help much, and some symptoms improved a little over time, so I never went back.

[SarahL2491]

your post is hard to read, so much type and no spacing, many of us have a hard time holding concentration.  I had to read it several times.

MS by inheritance is only 2% from parent to child if that helps.  I don't see any red flags in your descriptions that scream MS.

Have you talked to your doctor about this?