I agree. It is too easy to blame things on MS only to find there is another problem brewing.
Hi,
A couple of things stand out in your post. Were you overheated at all during the episode when you had to blast cold air on yourself to get rid of it? If you were..you could have been suffering from Uthoff's phenomenon. Uthoff's phenomenon causes the temporary worsening of MS symptoms due to a rise in temperature. That's why the cold air help...it brought your core temp down relieving your symptoms (Just a guess on my part).
Do you have a history of high blood pressure?
The chest & abdomen tightness can also be a MS symptom called the MS Hug. It's not the kind of hugs that you want..but that's what someone named it ( my guess is that person had a sick sense of humor). Here's a description of it:
What Does It Feel Like?
Like many MS symptoms, the “MS hug” feels different for different people – it also feels different in the same people on different days or at different times of day. It can be:
As low as the waist or as high as the chest; rarely it can be felt as high as the shoulders and neck
Focused in one small area (usually on one side or in the back) or go all the way around the torso
Worse when fatigued or stressed
Present in “waves” lasting seconds, minutes or hours or can be steady for longer periods of time
Described as sharp pain, dull pain, burning pain, tickling, tingling, a crushing or constricting sensation or intense pressure
How Severe Can It Get?
Some people experience difficulty breathing or painful breathing, so severe that it is often perceived as a heart attack or panic attack.
Either way, I would go and see your neuro and discuss these symptoms with them and see if they are related to your MS or blood pressure.