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Anxiety or possible early symptoms of MS?

Hi all,

I'm a 24 year old female attending grad school (so I am stressed, haha). Anyway, to start: about 3 months ago I quit smoking (about a 6 year long habit) and a little more than a week later I had very intense symptoms that I attributed to nicotine withdrawal. I had severe vertigo, tingling sensations in my right hand and forearm, and a milder tingling sensation in my right cheek. I also experienced dizziness. I had blood taken to see if any of my vitamins were low, they were fine. These symptoms subsided, besides the dizziness would come back mildly from time to time. I've also noticed while driving I feel like I have a hard time moving through space, almost like my eyes are not working correctly. Which gives me great anxiety because I've never feared driving before. Since last week, the tingling began again in my right hand and forearm (BTW I have a minor ganglion cyst in this wrist) and in my cheek. The dizziness came back full blown with very mild vertigo for a few days. I had trouble concentrating, etc. It freaked me out so I went to the doctor again and he put me on steroids, Naproxen, and dizziness meds (I haven't taken the dizziness pills yet, because he said to only take them as needed). He did some informal neuro tests like having me press against him in various ways, he said all of that was fine. I've been taking the steroid and naproxen since Tuesday, and the dizziness seems to be a lot better, but I don't know if it's necessarily from the medications. I also now feel a tingling sensation in my left scalp area. All of this is really freaking me out. I don't really have any fatigue, can exercise fine, and have decent coordination. Should I get a referral for a neurologist or wait this out? Any ideas? I've also always been healthy my entire life, so no other issues there.

Thanks,
Chelsea
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Avatar universal
How did things turn out for you?

I am also a grad student and have similar symptoms to yours: tingling numbness in face, left leg and hands. I also have pain in my hands and legs, tremor in head and hands, fatigue, transient sensation of popcorn popping under skin, some dizzines when walking. All of these things come and go but have been occuring in different combinations over the past month and a half.

Will see a neurologist soon. My doctor seems to think it's stress since the brain MRI,b-12 and other bloodwork came back normal. Now have sore throat (past two days) and voice is gone. Could this just be stress? - I certainly don't feel anxiety or depressed or overly stressed.
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Avatar universal
Hi Laurel,

Thanks for your response. The doc said he didn't think it was neurological and took blood to see if there were any rheumatoid issues. The steroids and naproxen were given to me to prevent inflammation, as he thought that maybe my muscles were inflamed and causing my nerves to tingle. And no for any emotional/physical trauma, just stress from school and work.

Thanks,
Chelsea
Helpful - 0
614508 tn?1265281722
Hi Chelsea,
Sorry you're feeling so poorly. You don't say what your treating physician diagnosis was to proscribe steroids and naproxen and what his thoughts were with respect to the "tingling' sensation. Quitting smoking months ago, I would think, would not have residual affects that far after quitting.  I would request a referral to a neurologist for a work up since the symptomolgy has been ongoing for sometime with minimal improvement. You don't mention if there has been any physical or emotional trauma that would have cause & affect. Get a second opinion.
Laurel
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