how do i know if in having an "episode"?

[JB74]

I was recently diagnosed with MS. Basically,I need to know when it that I am having an “episode”.

I get the most horrible headaches! that’s what triggered the MRI's that lead to MS. But besides that, i get tired; I get this weird pain on the side of my heart, like an electric shock. Blur vision (sometimes)

Anyway, how do I know when its the MS or just anything else?

[JB74]

Thanks guys! All this good info, i have to take some time to understand.

I am not on any meds for MS yet. I do take everything thats available for migraines and muscle spams. My GP said he wants the Neuro to decide what he gives me.

For now, i decided to decrease caffeine intake and stay cool. And wait till the Neuro sees me and decides what to do. It’s so hard to wait lol

Again, thank you all!

JB

[Deb61]

You may want to visit your ophthalmologist, too, about your blurry vision.  Vision problems can be a sign of optic neuritis if you've been diagnosed with MS.  Being out in the heat, though, can make your vision blurry because the nerves don't perform very well when too warm.  It could be Uthoff's, which many people have with MS.  This is not a disease, but a symptom of past CNS damage/demyelination.  As Shell said, those symptoms should go away when you come in from the heat and your body temperature returns to normal.

Bright light can trigger migraines.  I get them all of the time.  I have many triggers for migraines which I avoid.  If you make a journal of your symptoms (like migraines), you may find a correlation with what you're doing that day, what you eat, etc. and an increase in migraines.  I was waking up in the morning with them and getting them daily.  I found that I can't have certain foods and drinks or I will have a near 100% of getting them.  I also got rid of the caffeine, which works like a medicine to get rid of them, and found I have fewer of them.  Caffeine, when it wears off, sets my migraines into action (rebound effect).  Medicines do the same thing.  I now take supplements and a beta blocker to help them.  They are better than they used to be.

BTW, my eyes stay blurry all summer.  I've had two episodes of ON.  I can't seem to ever cool off here in Texas!  I've been to the ophthalmologist, so I know it's just Uthoff's.  This could be what it is for you, but you better get this checked out by a professional.  As Alex mentioned, it could be migraines or TN, but again, it could be something else.  It's better to be safe than sorry!

Deb

[sllowe]

Hi JB,

Welcome to the forum. You've been given cuh good info, so I'll just say hello, and add that heat can cause pseudo exacerbations - that is an increase in symptoms related directly to getting overheated. Once you are able to get away from the trigger (heat as an example) you should return to normal.

My neuro has always said new or return of an old symptom that lasts for more than 24 hours is a general rule where attacks are concerned. But, like Alex says everyone is different. What is an attack to one, may not be for another.  

To know for certain - I compare my problems to my 1st attack. That's my baseline. Since MS was uncovered for you while looking into the headaches, this may be difficult for you to determine until you have an attack to compare it to.

Did the doctor dx you with definite MS, and offer you a disease modifying drug?

Thanks for joining us,
-Shell

[JB74]

Alex,

Are you saying that heat can cause or trigger an attack? I mean...i live in Florida its always HOT here.

I was "fine" to call it something, normal you know. Saturday i was in the heat, outside for around an hour, It was HOT as can be. And thats when the headache got worse. I am just so confused! I call my GP all the time, it was a time that i was going every week, i kinda felt bad, i didn't want him or anyone to think i was making things up. But, to be honest with you, i cant, just cant deal with the headaches. Other things like the back pain, muscle spams, tingling and other little things, i deal with. Just cant take the headaches.

anyway, i did sign up with the NMSS and have been reading a lot. Sometimes i just don't wanna read anymore. I am in denial, looking for other things i can have other than MS.

Thx so much for the help here. I really appreciate it!

JB

[HVAC]

That is a very good question and a little hard to answer. My rule of thumb is run it by my GP first. If something is really bothering you you have every right to seek help. I do not have episodes (I have a different kind of MS I have had my whole life) I am not the one to answer when you know you are having an attack or relapse.

The first thing I did was get to know as much about the kind of MS I have. I contacted the NMSS and got all kinds of literature. There are other sources as well, other non profits if you google MS.

I also and this took me awhile to understand Uhtoff's phenomenon. That is where heat make MS symptoms worse. Here is a link.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uhthoff's_phenomenon

Keeping a symptom diary helps to get to know yourself.

Neurologists like to say everything is not MS. Many things which have been going on for me for a long time turned out to be MS.

It took me awhile of reading other people describing things on the forum and knowing my own body to figure things out.

If you have questions be sure to bring them up with your Doctors. I take a list since I see my Neurologist so seldom.

Everyone with MS has their own set of symptoms. Many of them overlap with other people.

Bad headaches may be something called trigeminal neuralgia or they may be migraines. There are things that might help but it goes case by case. I have headaches all the time. They respond to migraine medicine, but I get only a few pills a month. My vision goes blurry from the migraine.

Some Neurologists have nurses you can talk to, some you need to make an appointment. Some people like me who can't afford care get most of mine from my GP. My GP is not crazy about treating MS and my Neurologist is busy so I have to figure out many things by myself and bring them up when I see him.

Alex

[jensequitur]

I think anything weird could safely be written off to the MS.  Your horrible headaches are the most normal thing, and they're what led to your diagnosis.