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Please help - does these symptoms sound familiar to anyone with MS???
hi there
im new to medhelp and i dont have a diagnosis yet but i have a neuro appointment on tue. I would really like the opinions of some of you good people ASAP pls
Today i have had an experience of some symptoms and as i have a neuro appointment in a few days i would like to ask for your help because i dont want to go to appointment sounding mad if there is no reason to suspect MS.
Anyway im from Scotland, and un-usually it has been a nice day so i have been out side today with my 2 boys and my mum, we went for a walk and as we were 5 mins into journey i started to get blurred/hazy vision and a heavy sensation on my eyes also i had electric shock sensations shooting into the side of my head at the edges of eyes. i was feeling tired and warm, however we continued our walk which in total lasted about 25 mins and on the way back home my right leg and foot started to feel weak/numd/heavy and almost a sensation of wanting to drag it along the ground then we went back into house and my left hand and arm started to go weak with a tremor and i could not un-zip my sons cardigan then my whole arm and hand went into a weak/numb spasm which pulled my wrist over to the side and i could not move it, this all lasted about an hour and after i rested a little and cooled down gradually eased off.
pls could someone get back to me asap with any ideas or similar experiences and let me know if these could be symptoms of MS
I would be very greatful
thanks
i have been unwell now for about a year with various symptoms which come and go.
im new to medhelp and i dont have a diagnosis yet but i have a neuro appointment on tue. I would really like the opinions of some of you good people ASAP pls
Today i have had an experience of some symptoms and as i have a neuro appointment in a few days i would like to ask for your help because i dont want to go to appointment sounding mad if there is no reason to suspect MS.
Anyway im from Scotland, and un-usually it has been a nice day so i have been out side today with my 2 boys and my mum, we went for a walk and as we were 5 mins into journey i started to get blurred/hazy vision and a heavy sensation on my eyes also i had electric shock sensations shooting into the side of my head at the edges of eyes. i was feeling tired and warm, however we continued our walk which in total lasted about 25 mins and on the way back home my right leg and foot started to feel weak/numd/heavy and almost a sensation of wanting to drag it along the ground then we went back into house and my left hand and arm started to go weak with a tremor and i could not un-zip my sons cardigan then my whole arm and hand went into a weak/numb spasm which pulled my wrist over to the side and i could not move it, this all lasted about an hour and after i rested a little and cooled down gradually eased off.
pls could someone get back to me asap with any ideas or similar experiences and let me know if these could be symptoms of MS
I would be very greatful
thanks
i have been unwell now for about a year with various symptoms which come and go.
Weeme - In my search answers about my own health, I came across your comments and they seem very similar to my situation. Please take a look at my story below. If nothing else, you will see you are not alone. Did you ever get results back on the MRI? Hopefully, you were able to get some answers!!
My story is almost 8 years in the making, so I will try to be as brief as possible!
First "Flare-Up" - July 2002
Became extremely dizzy at work completely out of the blue. Symptoms over the next 4 months included cloudy/blurry vision, inability to concentrate/focus, severe muscle achiness, weakness in legs (felt as if legs would give out when walking or standing), tingling on right side of face & right arm, shallow breathing & chest tightness, pain around eyes. I didn't drive for 6 months due to the dizziness and blurred vision.
Symptoms improved about 50-75% over next 3 1/2 years.
Second "Flare-Up" - March 2006
This started the same way - I became extremely dizzy. Over the next 5 months I experienced the following symptoms: overall weakness (especially legs), felt as if I was going to pass out, intense leg pain that made it hard to walk, numbness/tingling in the front of my head and behind my eyes, blurred vision, cognitive difficulties (hard to talk or find the right words), general feeling of being out of it, extremely stiff leg muscles even though I wasn't exercising them, inability to do anything strenuous, noticed small "electrical shocks" very randomly across my body (felt like little bug bites...would even wake me up at night).
Again, had about 3 years where things were somewhat improved. However, during this time, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease and began T4 & T3 replacement. Earlier blood tests did not show Thyroid disease, so I don't believe it was related to the earlier two "flare-ups".
Third "Flare-Up" - January 2010
Experienced the most intense and frightening migraine-type headache that came on suddenly. The pain was almost unbearable; however, it just lasted a night. Not sure if there is any significance to this, but my third flare-up started about 6 weeks later. Symptoms this time have been more intense and include: very weak hands, wrists, and arms (hard to type and write), pins & needles in my finger tips, weakness in my legs, very stiff legs and shoulders, skin hurts to touch around legs and arms, frequently dropping things, lack of fine motor skills, slight urinary tract infection, burning/numbness in arms and legs, shallow breathing, swollen tongue, dizzy & disoriented, feeling as if someone is pushing down on me (heaviness), difficulty in standing (using counter to hold me up while cooking dinner), numbness in left foot, facial weakness (feels weird to talk), etc.
I am a 34 year old otherwise healthy woman, 125 lbs. I was a senior manager in a very large corporation, have my MBA, etc...but have completely scaled back in the last year and a half in hopes that my health would get better. I moved out of the city to a small town, quit my stressful job in favor of a much less stressful position. I have had 3 MRI's (that have been "normal") over the past 8 years and many blood tests that have shown some increased auto-antibodies, high eosinophils, decreasing RBC, WBC, and platelet counts (although still within range). My most recent neurologist wrote me off in 5 mintues as probably just having Fibromyalgia or CFS, which I could probably agree with if it weren't for the severe muscle weakness in my arms and hands. If anyone has any ideas, I could definitely use some advice!!
My story is almost 8 years in the making, so I will try to be as brief as possible!
First "Flare-Up" - July 2002
Became extremely dizzy at work completely out of the blue. Symptoms over the next 4 months included cloudy/blurry vision, inability to concentrate/focus, severe muscle achiness, weakness in legs (felt as if legs would give out when walking or standing), tingling on right side of face & right arm, shallow breathing & chest tightness, pain around eyes. I didn't drive for 6 months due to the dizziness and blurred vision.
Symptoms improved about 50-75% over next 3 1/2 years.
Second "Flare-Up" - March 2006
This started the same way - I became extremely dizzy. Over the next 5 months I experienced the following symptoms: overall weakness (especially legs), felt as if I was going to pass out, intense leg pain that made it hard to walk, numbness/tingling in the front of my head and behind my eyes, blurred vision, cognitive difficulties (hard to talk or find the right words), general feeling of being out of it, extremely stiff leg muscles even though I wasn't exercising them, inability to do anything strenuous, noticed small "electrical shocks" very randomly across my body (felt like little bug bites...would even wake me up at night).
Again, had about 3 years where things were somewhat improved. However, during this time, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease and began T4 & T3 replacement. Earlier blood tests did not show Thyroid disease, so I don't believe it was related to the earlier two "flare-ups".
Third "Flare-Up" - January 2010
Experienced the most intense and frightening migraine-type headache that came on suddenly. The pain was almost unbearable; however, it just lasted a night. Not sure if there is any significance to this, but my third flare-up started about 6 weeks later. Symptoms this time have been more intense and include: very weak hands, wrists, and arms (hard to type and write), pins & needles in my finger tips, weakness in my legs, very stiff legs and shoulders, skin hurts to touch around legs and arms, frequently dropping things, lack of fine motor skills, slight urinary tract infection, burning/numbness in arms and legs, shallow breathing, swollen tongue, dizzy & disoriented, feeling as if someone is pushing down on me (heaviness), difficulty in standing (using counter to hold me up while cooking dinner), numbness in left foot, facial weakness (feels weird to talk), etc.
I am a 34 year old otherwise healthy woman, 125 lbs. I was a senior manager in a very large corporation, have my MBA, etc...but have completely scaled back in the last year and a half in hopes that my health would get better. I moved out of the city to a small town, quit my stressful job in favor of a much less stressful position. I have had 3 MRI's (that have been "normal") over the past 8 years and many blood tests that have shown some increased auto-antibodies, high eosinophils, decreasing RBC, WBC, and platelet counts (although still within range). My most recent neurologist wrote me off in 5 mintues as probably just having Fibromyalgia or CFS, which I could probably agree with if it weren't for the severe muscle weakness in my arms and hands. If anyone has any ideas, I could definitely use some advice!!
Hello and welcome.
When a doctor does a 5-minute neuro exam and then says you don't have MS, he is either lazy or incompetent, or both. I don't know how in Scotland doctors record what tests they do during an exam, but I'm betting yours wrote that he had given you the whole thing. Just not true!!
Possibly you have posted about what testing you've had (MRIs, etc.) and I've missed it. But since MS is a complicated disease that is mimicked by other diseases, a great deal of rule-out testing has to be done. Please take time to read our Health Pages (yellow icon upper right) for a lot of info on this.
If you continue to get such poor service from this doctor, do whatever it takes to find a new and better neuro. After all, Scotland has the highest rate of MS in the world.
ess
(ancestors members of the clan MacNab)
When a doctor does a 5-minute neuro exam and then says you don't have MS, he is either lazy or incompetent, or both. I don't know how in Scotland doctors record what tests they do during an exam, but I'm betting yours wrote that he had given you the whole thing. Just not true!!
Possibly you have posted about what testing you've had (MRIs, etc.) and I've missed it. But since MS is a complicated disease that is mimicked by other diseases, a great deal of rule-out testing has to be done. Please take time to read our Health Pages (yellow icon upper right) for a lot of info on this.
If you continue to get such poor service from this doctor, do whatever it takes to find a new and better neuro. After all, Scotland has the highest rate of MS in the world.
ess
(ancestors members of the clan MacNab)
what does it mean when neuro does a 5 min exam and says normal does this mean definately no MS??
And what happens when you go on a day when no real symptoms are bothering you?
would exam stilll be abnormal if i had MS??
When i have these funny symtoms i definately have obvious weakness/numbness and cant balance properly but when im having a good day these are not always present???
sorry for all questions but you really are all good help and im just trying to figure out whats going on
many thanks
weeme
1 day to go till appointment i will let you all know how i get on xx
And what happens when you go on a day when no real symptoms are bothering you?
would exam stilll be abnormal if i had MS??
When i have these funny symtoms i definately have obvious weakness/numbness and cant balance properly but when im having a good day these are not always present???
sorry for all questions but you really are all good help and im just trying to figure out whats going on
many thanks
weeme
1 day to go till appointment i will let you all know how i get on xx
Weeme,
I had one Neurologist say fibromyalgia. It took me four Neurologists and two years to be diagnosed with MS.
Try to remember even if it is MS. MS is not like cancer it is not life threatening and it usually does not advance rapidly so if it takes awhile to get a diagnosis its o.k. So there is no need for panic.
My experience with Neurologist is it is best to let be quiet at first and let them take a history and do their exam and then when they ask questions answer. They are a logical bunch. Then ask questions.
The Neurologist learns a lot from what we think are simple tests such as reflexes, following his finger, or walking.
Good luck,
Alex
I had one Neurologist say fibromyalgia. It took me four Neurologists and two years to be diagnosed with MS.
Try to remember even if it is MS. MS is not like cancer it is not life threatening and it usually does not advance rapidly so if it takes awhile to get a diagnosis its o.k. So there is no need for panic.
My experience with Neurologist is it is best to let be quiet at first and let them take a history and do their exam and then when they ask questions answer. They are a logical bunch. Then ask questions.
The Neurologist learns a lot from what we think are simple tests such as reflexes, following his finger, or walking.
Good luck,
Alex
hi there you guys
I would just like to say a big thanks for replying so soon and offering your advice you really are a lovely bunch of people and this community is very informative and supportive.
I have my neuro app on tue and hopefully i will get the answers i need this is all driving me crazy i seem to spend every waking moment thinking about all this and need some peace of mind once and for all. And i feel a bit guilty in case i am worrying about nothing and there are all of you guys on here who really do have MS!!
i know there may be other explanations for my symptoms and i have researched all of them but i still keep coming back to MS
My last neuro wasnt very nice let me speak for about 5 mins then told me to be quiet, did a quick 5 min neuro exam then said normal and he thought i had fibromyalgia?!
which im not sure i agree because i dont have sleep problems in fact i have problems not being able to get enough and i dont wake up feeling unrefreshed i actually flag after being awake 2/3 hours, the heat make my symptoms worse and also i dont think numbness in fibromyalgia cause discoloured cold fingers??!
Also all my symptoms come and go and when they flare up i usually have different symptoms each time?? (with a couple of the old ones still in place)
Also i havent seen anything saying that with fibromyalgia when your legs go numb and weak that you feel like someone has tied bricks to your legs and you can hardly move them!!
or electric shock sensations??
sorry for my rant i am feeling very nervous, fed up with all this and doubtful of my own sanity
i have had very poor treatment from the medical profession so far and would just like somone who will listen and help me find out whats going on and help me feel better so i can get back to my job and continue to bring up my 2 little boys properly!!
also would just like to add that i went onto fibromyalgia doctor forum and explained everything and received a lovely reply from Dr Rajgopal who in his opinion seemed to think my symptoms were more MS not fibro.
thanks for all support
hope you all are well
weeme xx
I would just like to say a big thanks for replying so soon and offering your advice you really are a lovely bunch of people and this community is very informative and supportive.
I have my neuro app on tue and hopefully i will get the answers i need this is all driving me crazy i seem to spend every waking moment thinking about all this and need some peace of mind once and for all. And i feel a bit guilty in case i am worrying about nothing and there are all of you guys on here who really do have MS!!
i know there may be other explanations for my symptoms and i have researched all of them but i still keep coming back to MS
My last neuro wasnt very nice let me speak for about 5 mins then told me to be quiet, did a quick 5 min neuro exam then said normal and he thought i had fibromyalgia?!
which im not sure i agree because i dont have sleep problems in fact i have problems not being able to get enough and i dont wake up feeling unrefreshed i actually flag after being awake 2/3 hours, the heat make my symptoms worse and also i dont think numbness in fibromyalgia cause discoloured cold fingers??!
Also all my symptoms come and go and when they flare up i usually have different symptoms each time?? (with a couple of the old ones still in place)
Also i havent seen anything saying that with fibromyalgia when your legs go numb and weak that you feel like someone has tied bricks to your legs and you can hardly move them!!
or electric shock sensations??
sorry for my rant i am feeling very nervous, fed up with all this and doubtful of my own sanity
i have had very poor treatment from the medical profession so far and would just like somone who will listen and help me find out whats going on and help me feel better so i can get back to my job and continue to bring up my 2 little boys properly!!
also would just like to add that i went onto fibromyalgia doctor forum and explained everything and received a lovely reply from Dr Rajgopal who in his opinion seemed to think my symptoms were more MS not fibro.
thanks for all support
hope you all are well
weeme xx
Hi Weeme,
Welcome to our community here at MedHelp. I hope you will find lots of answers for your questions here. We have great health pages (yellow icon, upper right side of this page) that I would strongly encourage you to read over before your neuro viist. You will be armed with knowledge .....
Your symptoms sound neurological in nature, but as Alex said, we're not doctors here and can't say for sure what anyone has. The symptoms you describe could certainly be MS but they could also be other things as well. Your neuro will help you sort these out.
We all sound mad at some time or another with our doctors - we can afford that small luxury to ourselves when dealing with this disease and looking for a diagnosis.
I hope we will see you around - we're here for you if you need answers or just company while you wait.
be well,
Lulu
Welcome to our community here at MedHelp. I hope you will find lots of answers for your questions here. We have great health pages (yellow icon, upper right side of this page) that I would strongly encourage you to read over before your neuro viist. You will be armed with knowledge .....
Your symptoms sound neurological in nature, but as Alex said, we're not doctors here and can't say for sure what anyone has. The symptoms you describe could certainly be MS but they could also be other things as well. Your neuro will help you sort these out.
We all sound mad at some time or another with our doctors - we can afford that small luxury to ourselves when dealing with this disease and looking for a diagnosis.
I hope we will see you around - we're here for you if you need answers or just company while you wait.
be well,
Lulu
weeme,
I am no Doctor. Those sound like Neurological symptoms like MS. Heat can make symptoms worse. I experience my leg going numb and feeling heavy on long walks.
There are many Neurological Disorders and it takes a trained Doctor and sometimes several to sort it all out.
Good luck to you,
Alex
I am no Doctor. Those sound like Neurological symptoms like MS. Heat can make symptoms worse. I experience my leg going numb and feeling heavy on long walks.
There are many Neurological Disorders and it takes a trained Doctor and sometimes several to sort it all out.
Good luck to you,
Alex
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