what does this mean?

[shel67]

I know I keep posting questions that you probably cant answer but if anyone could... I've been through hell the last week. Symptoms began 4 months ago and began one way but now they have evolved. what does that mean? They were stable for a little while there and maybe was feeling they would be better somewhat and then they just got worse. What does that mean? Can anyone help? Is there hope for this to remit still?

[shel67]

I'm sorry for being selfish and neurotic. I know you all are going through the same things and worse. I feel so bad to be like this. It's just surreal to be faced with this and the options for it all suck. I sincerely wish everyone the best and good days ahead. Bless you all. I'm praying for us all.

[shel67]

For the longest time I did think it was perimenopause until these symptoms became so intense and lasting. Its the tightness and leg numbness with that neuropathy like pain that isn't bad but I do have it. Then there was the slurred speech that lasted 2 months when this began 4 years ago  I  always, in the back of my mind knew wasn't normal but It was the bending my neck and feeling some tingling or some kind of sensation that convinces me. I know the neurology exam found some sensory reactions and the Gyno and GP says my symptoms aren't perimenopause and I don't have any traditional perimenopause symptoms though I do think some of the dizziness is that. I think the visual auras are due to that for sure cuz I only have it during cycle. Anyway I hope it is but I dunno know. It don't look good for me. I just hope to God I can work tomorrow.

[supermum_ms]

As strange as it may seem, because of the effects it has on the central and peripheral nervous system, numbness, tingling and pin's and needles are actually not uncommon menopausal symptoms.

"Many women often have the somewhat bizarre experience of suffering from numbness and tingling extremities whilst going through menopause. This sensation, while sounding a little odd, is commonly experienced and is a relatively harmless side effect of fluctuating levels of hormones during menopause. Despite that, numbness and tingling extremities are enough to interrupt normal quality of life and therefore, one should be informed on the treatments available to deal with it."
http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/tingling-extremities/articles/numbness-tingling-extremities.htm


This is a link to a discussion from medhelp's 'menopause community', its from 07 but there are over 160 posts and all talking about tingling and numbness etc. It might be of some help to read similar stories, it wouldn't hurt to post your situation in the menopause community and see if they can't additionally offer you some help and direction.  

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Menopause/Menopause--Arms--hands--legs-and-feet-numbness/show/342458

Keep in mind......if there isn't any other medical explanation found through out  your testing, then it likely is all interrelated to the estrogen fluctuations your dealing with and targeted treatments 'might' actually help with the sensory and psychological symptoms your experiencing...  

Cheers.........JJ  

[shel67]

Yeah but its the numb hands for 4 months straight that have me thinking no way this is hormones. And the walking is effected from the tight, numb knee. I know depression has kicked in and I can't even eat.

[supermum_ms]

I genuinely believe what you are dealing with, is very 'unlikely' to be something like MS...............if what your saying is that the catalyst was the "haemorrhaging" 4 years ago, the continued coinciding connection to your menstrual cycle ever since, along with the totality of your wide spread of symptoms with out you having the expected corroborating 'abnormal' neurological clinical signs and or any other suggestive neurological test evidence.

What you are saying in regards to your light-headedness, tingling, foggy brain etc to me actually does sound more likely to be related to the fluctuations in estorgen, which if it was would be expected to improve or worsen as your cycle is ending and the hormone imbalance keep fluctuating.

"Central and Peripheral Nervous System Symptoms and their Causes:

Fatigue, tingling extremities, electric shocks, dizziness, memory lapses, trouble concentrating, and sleep disorders are among the 34 menopause symptoms related to changes in the central and peripheral nervous system.

The brain and nerves throughout the body serve as the command and satellite centers for virtually all bodily functions and sensations. Estrogen has myriad effects on the brain and nervous system. For example, fluctuating levels of estrogen in the body can affect the brain's vestibular system, which controls balance. This can lead to the menopause symptoms of dizziness.

Nervous system changes causes by estrogen fluctuations in menopause can also affect cognition and energy levels, leading to difficulty with memory, concentration, and alertness."
http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/menopause-symptoms-causes.htm

I would highly recommend you focus on the probability of this actually being menopausal related, as it was what was originally diagnosed to be......speak to your GP about exploring all the various treatment options available, with the point of finding something that works to improve your current situation, because at the end of the day improving your tomorrows is what treatment is all about, right?

Cheers..........JJ  

[shel67]

Well, went to ER and make a long story short doc did. Nuro exam, not as complete as the neurologist did but he said it was good. No weakness and eyes were okay and no weakness and I guess coronation is okay. He diagnosed me with anxiety  and said my issues seem sensory. He said to follow up with MRIs and try to rush the doc to follow up with me sooner.    

Interesting, he gave me ativan and for some reason I feel better. I do think anxiety and depression is adding to this mix. I'm just going to enjoy this small reprieve. I still have numbness and the other stuff but they don't feel as bad Thanks all for dealing with me. And Alex and all I'm praying for you all.

[shel67]

The reason I think it's MS is of the past "flares" that were more consistent with MS. But who knows? I'd give anything for this to be anxiety / premenopausal. I can tell you this, every last "flare" I had over the years was in relation to a cycle change. I'm regular as heck but the first time I had symptoms I hemorrhaged and the times symptoms/"flares" began always were on the day of cycle. Now the change is lighter bleeding from the usual clotting I had ever since that hemorrhage I had 4 years ago since this all began. Last year when I had wired head thing going on for a few months when I tried natural progesterone cream (cuz I was convinced it wad perimenopause) the weird head thing immediately lifted. I had some light headedness but I'd say it cleared up 90%-95%. Now I think it was coincidence. I was using cream when this happened but I since stopped because I got to intense tingling hands after I used it. Anyway I'm still dizzy today but cycles ending so that can be why I'm very slight better and why I got bad last week. Hands are still numb, toes numb. One foot little burn. Right knee numb, right quad tight along with chest and arms.

[supermum_ms]

Hi there,

It's easy to make the assumption from this post that you are actually diagnosed with MS but looking at what you've posted before, you are as yet undiagnosed and don't know what is causing you all these problems.

Keeping in mind that even though you have a lot of issues/symptoms (some MSish and other not) your actual neurological assessment was not clinically abnormal and whilst you've had 3 MRI's you don't mention if there was any MS suggestive findings in any tests you've had so far.

It is expected, if these issues were due to a neurological condition like MS, for there to be some suggestive diagnostic evidence and clinical abnormalities evident in your neurological assessments. eg

You've mentioned that you perceive tightness in your limbs... "muscle tightness in both hands, both forearms, both biceps and 2 months ago numbness in right knee, toes on both feet and tight muscles in chest, right waist. The tightness is sometimes in my neck..."  generally the neurological assessment would basically corroborate what the patient perceives, with abnormal responses in their problematic or symptomatic muscle groups.

If their neurological responses are 'not' abnormal, it would usually mean that a neurological issue isn't the 'most likely' cause. Having said that though it doesn't mean what the patient perceives doesn't exist, just that it's 'less likely' to be from a neurological medical condition if there isn't anything clinically abnormal showing up. (hope that made sense)  

It probably isn't a good idea for your mental health (you've mentioned dealing with depression and anxiety) to be worrying about MS progression or MS attacks, when you don't actually know if the medical condition your dealing with, is a neurological condition like MS or something else entirely.

Perimenopause may be inter related to what's going on, or a separate issue making things worse but i'd recommend you speak to your GP about getting some symptom relief, and to try to be open minded about which medical condition you may have, as it is in your best interest to not focus on MS at this stage....

Cheers........JJ  

[shel67]

Thank you Alex. I know I'm a pain. It's just getting help is slow for me. It's the stress of having to work or we're dead. I need  to work. The virtgo is making it hard. I was managing until last week when I took this turn for the worse. Is this normal for MS to keep attacking when your trying to recover from an attack? I'll be honest, I'm worried about progressive cuz the onset of my first signs and symptoms was at 43 and now I'm 47 almost 48. My first symptoms or flares were so mild compared to this and I had no head symptoms. Let me ask this; how much can perimenopause effect the course of this?

[HVAC]

Inflammation is a big part of MS. When you have inflammation you have symptoms. When the inflammation dies down hopefully the symptoms will die down. That is remission. The big question is how long does that take? No one knows everyone is different. If the symptoms are hard to take they can give you steroids which do nothing for the course of MS but help with symptoms at the time. If you are having muscle spasms they can give you Baclofen onr Zanaflex. If you have nerve pain something like Gabenpentin, Lyrica, or Trileptal. For Fatigue Adderall or Nuvigil, or Provigil.

Yes anxiety can effect MS. Any stress can. How much I do not know. Each case of MS is different. All depends on which part of the CNS has the inflammation. 4 months is not that long with MS symptoms.

Be kind to yourself.

Alex

[shel67]

I feel something is really wrong. The symptoms leveled and then got worse. Can anxiety make  them worse?

[flipper336]

There is always hope that you will remit. As for your symptoms you already said it; they are just evolving. Your body just might not have reached the "end" or limit that your symptoms will reach.

Like mine for example. My seizures started one way and they remained the same for 6 years, Then I was finally able to get them under control and was seizure free for around 8 years. Needless to say I started to have them again out of the blue and they where completely a different type and much more severs.

I think my body just finally got to the point where drugs were no longer able to control them so they evolved into what I am facing now and hopefully they are at the end of progressing any further. Only time will tell.

I wish you luck and just try and hang in there.