Possible MS hug episodes?

I am still awaiting appointment for 2nd opinion on MS dx, but have some questions on what I have read on the term MS hug.

I had an experience several years ago involving a long out of town drive for a family funeral. It was an abnormally stressful situation. After a week of literally  getting little sleep or rest I had an 'attack'. I began to have unexplained chest pain, at times it was like a heaviness...others like a tightening. Needless to say i was scared by it each time. It would come on suddenly and then  subside only to return later. Went to see a dr, who sent me to ER for EKG and blood work...all normal. They said I had esophageal spasms or panic attack and gave meds for that.

The chest tightening was still occuring and next was vertigo.

It took 2-1/2 weeks before I was in any condition to be able to make the 12 hour return drive home.

Is it possible this was an MS hug experience, or does the hug come and stay, not wax and wane?

ALso, for years having fibromyalgia dx, I would experience what I termed the rubber band twist: a muscle spasm which was around my ribs and would increasingly tighten. When I  had this, it would not release. More of a steady gradual tightening with increasing pain. Almost like an elastic band around my ribs was gathered at my back and someone was simply twisting it steadily to tighten.

Just interested to know if it is possible that these experiences were indeed MS related and not realized at that time.

Thanks for any help on this!

[TLC_31]

Yes, your previous experiences could very well have been MS-related. The hug, like other MS symptoms, can come and go, relapse and remit.

Once I was diagnosed I was able to remember back to things as much as 10 years earlier that had gone unexplained. We can never be certain such things were MS-related, but if the other conditions they indicate haven't turned up, they probably were.

[SarahL2491]

It does sound like our hug.  Could you tell us a little more about your MS quest.? what tests you have had done so far?

welcome to our little corner!  you might want to keep a timeline journal of these types of things, its helpful when finally going to doctors.  Not a daily thing, but just monthly strange things that occur.  Then pick the top 3 when you go see the doctor

[Guitar_grrrl]

Yup, sounds like the hug we all hate!  I suffer from the hug - sometimes intercostal muscles, sometimes mid and lower abdominals.  I also have esophageal spasms, which also occur with MS.  They're scary as he!!, because they do mimic angina.  My EKGs have all been normal, too.  Prilosec (over the counter) hasn't done anything for it, so now, when it happens, I just do my best to relax while it's happening, and trust that it will subside.  It always does (so far), knock wood!