MS hug question

[mamiJ]

I have not yet been diagnosed, although my neuro "suspects"
I have had chest pressure, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue (more than usual) dizziness and nausea for two days now.

When it first happened, I attributed it to my mitral valve prolapse/dysautonomia. When it reappeared today, I got scared and went to the ER because heart attacks at a young age run in my family.
Well, all was well with the ER. They told me they suspected the pain/pressure was from an inflammation in my chest. they gave me a shot of torodol (i think) and it help while i was there.

now I am wondering if this could be the "MS hug" that I have read about.
do my symptoms match that of ms hug?

Thanks for reading!

[jensequitur]

Costo-chondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage around the sternum - it can be quite painful.  I thought originally that the pain I was having was costochondritis, but then it changed.

[Lulu54]

Hi M-
Your nausea is worrisome because that isn't normally an MS symptom, as Jen pointed out.

Inflammation in your chest also occurs from things other than MS.  The hug doesn't cause inflammation, as I understand it.  One thing that comes to my addled mind right now is have you been thoroughly checked for Lupus? t definitely can cause inflammation of the chest cavity.

We're not doctors around here ,so be sure to followup with your doctors from this ER visit - good luck in pursuing the answers.  It looks like you have been in limbo for some time.

be well, Lulu

[tjj3761]

Hi,

I think the MS Hug is different for everybody.

I first noticed something when I was taking a walk.  I had to stop because I could not catch my breath or take a full breath, as if my diaphragm was not working.  Felt like somebody was doing the Heimlich maneuver on me or bear hug around my ribs.

A couple days later I went to bed, I sat straight up because I had a pressure sensation in my upper abdomen in my diaphragm area or ribs, could not get my breath.  I felt panicked.  I then went to sleep.  The next morning, I went to the ER because I was still having that pressure sensation and short of breath.

They did the full heart workup.  I really was thinking it could be my heart because my dad died at the age of 48 (same age) with massive coronary.

Everything was normal.  ER doc chalked it up to gastrointestinal.

It then dawned on me, this was the MS Hug.  Now when I get it, I just try to relax knowing it will go away shortly.

I hope this helps.

terri

[jensequitur]

Oh - I should have said that nausea is not typically an MS symptom, unless you're also experiencing vertigo.

[jensequitur]

Chest pressure, as I know it, is different from the MS hug.  For some, the MS hug feels like a rubber band around the chest, creating a sensation of being squeezed.  Others experience cramping and pain around the chest, from a specific spot on the back.  Sometimes the pain goes all the way around, and sometimes it's on one side or the other.