Sensory Symptoms

[Heather3418]

Many, many folks talk about their sensory symptoms on the Forum.  I wanted to make a few comments to try and help.  Whether I accomplish that or not, I will still TRY.

Sensory symptoms CAN be very frightening.  Especially when you are experiencing them for the first time.  (I know, I've been there.)  Try to remember when there is ANY damage along the nerve-pathways, whether directly from the peripheral nerves or from the brain and spinal cord, you can experience what seems like really off the wall sensations.  

The "wiring" in our bodies is extremely complex.  ANY disturbance or disruption anywhere along that "wiring" can send "wacky" signals or sensations along that pathway.  Buzzing, tingling, feelings of water running down the leg, for instance; vibrations in certain areas, even some of us saying we "see a mouse running along the floor, when there is actually NO mouse."  When any of these feelings happen for the first time, it scares the beejeebers out of you.  This is a totally normal reaction.

Even though you may be experiencing these symptoms, be assured that while you should make notes of these happenings to tell your doctor; please do not be afraid.  Trust me when I say that after the hundredth time of these strange sensations, you begin to ignore them or find them just merely annoying.  I am actually at the point where I laugh alot of them off.  Like the hundreds of "bugs" I feel crawling around on the left side of my head, as I type this now.

These kinds of feelings used to scare me.  In fact they used to make me very nervous and would actually make me cry.  I was scared.  I have learned though, that they are part of my neurological problems.  While strange, I am no longer frightened by them, nor do I let them disrupt what I am doing.  I merely chuckle and dismiss them.

Please take it from a old lady that has had this problem for a long time...there will come a time when you barely pay attention to them and realize that they are just a part of your life, as it stands now.  I am totally understand your fears and I do not dismiss those fears in the slightest.  They are real and ARE frightening at first.  Please be assured that with time, these strange sensations will become nothing but a nuisance in your life.

This Forum is here to help you understand and help to explain some of the strange occurrences when you are having these problems in your nerve pathways...whether from MS or another disorder.  We are here to comfort you and help you to understand that we DO know what you are feeling and will do everything in our power to try to allay your fears.

We are here for you.  You are never alone.  Many of us have been where you are today and are now here to help YOU through it.  We really DO understand some of these things that frighten you.  Let us hold your hand and tell you that everything is going to be alright.  You are among friends.

Big Hugs from the "Earth Mother."

Heather

[Heather3418]

To answer your first question about the red flushing.  I am a red-head so I am fair-skinned naturally.  When I get overheated or even extremely embarrassed about something, I will get a red flushing on my face and especially on my neck.  This is NOT a sensory symptoms per say.  I was told by a Dermatologist that this is Roscea.  Very common among fair skinned people.  It's harmless, although I consider it unsightly as you know what.  I have people ask me all the time, "Are you alright?"  I believe they think I am going to have a heart attack.  When I get red, I GET RED.  So this possibly could be what is happening to you.

Your Chapter 2 question:  This is exactly what I was feeling yesterday, when I was typing my post.  Like a thousand bugs crawling around in a small area of my scalp.  Then the tingling went into the right side of my lip.  This IS a sensory symptom and basically harmless.

Your Chapter 3 question:  This chest pressure you describe is not something I would chalk up to sensory.  Anytime you have symptoms like this you need to notify your doctor.  Some people describe such a feeling AROUND the chest when they are describing the "MS Hug," but when you talk about pressure ON TOP of your chest, I would suggest that you contact a doctor to be sure that everything is okay.

I know you're scared Wonko, but we are here.  Working in tandem with your doctor, you have all the support that you need.  Always consult a doctor first.

Don't be afraid....I am holding your hand...can't you feel it?  I'm with you and so is everyone else here on the Forum.

Big Hugs but Gentle Hugs,
Earth Mother-Heather  (Quix-Momma Bear-named me Earth Mother some time ago.  I guess you will have to ask her why?  I guess cause I am the Motherly type and always have been.)

[wonko]

Thank you for posting this.

I do try to remember that sensory symptoms can't hurt me, and panicking will only make them worse.  But I'm thick-skulled and have a couple Q's.

I've been having a lot of sensory symptoms from the neck up lately, and these get especially difficult to ignore and stay calm through.

I have a nearly constant feeling of sunburn.  Sometimes when that feeling is really strong  and I see myself in the mirror, I actually LOOK sunburnt.  (I'm normally pale, and will appear RED).  And my opthamoligst (and anyone who sees me) notices that my eyes are blood shot.

So, my FEAR (that I know I shouldn't have) is that if I can turn red and go bloodshot, is it really just sensory?  My opthamologist asked if I have high blood pressure.  My BP was measured at my docs ~2 weeks ago as 114/72.  But could my pulse or BP be spiking, making me flush and bloodshot?   Haha, I suppose there is no way you could answer that, but I guess what my muddled Q is how to be sure a symptom is purely sensory?

Chapter 2:  I get really icky feeling tingling in my head, it is gross and I'd describe it as feeling like my brain is pins and needles.  It's like that most of the time, but can spike in intensity and when it does it is REALLY tough to stay calm.  I did once when it was first happening get a mini-panic attach because I thought my brain was, well, I was just really scared.  Can anyone relate?

Chapter 3:  For the last week or so I've had another icky feeling that is really tough to describe, and also in the category of "is this just sensory?  is it ok to stay calm?"  I don't know what it is but it is somewhere between nausea, short of breath, and pressure, like if I was on my back and there was a weight right below my sternum, but it happens in any posture.  It gets scary to have sensory stuff near the ticker and the lungs.  When it is bugging me, I usually stretch my back and take slow deep breaths.

Anyway, I guess I'm just looking for any extra assurance, or people who can relate to these scary feelings.

Sorry for the long list, but it is these very things that are keeping me from relaxing well right now!  My symptoms wake me up and/or keep me up alot on bad days.

Thanks!  I'm sure if I got back and read my own post I'll get right to sleep.

[6-paq]

Thanks so much for putting those sensory annoyances into perspective.   You most certainly are our comforting and caring Earth Mom!!!

((HUGS)) and take care, Pat :)

[santana8]

You have a way of explaining things that is so calming to others!  And you are right about adapting to the little strange things after a while. I have had a lot of strange things with both my vision and with transient numbess and tingleing. At first I was scared to death of them. I used to walk through the store clinching both my arms tight into my chest and my husband told me that I looked scared to death and like I was being held captive at gunpoint!

This was because of how strange the store looked to me because of the visual field defect that I have. Finally, I am able to let go of my arms, and I now put them in my pockets to keep me from doing this! Now when I look at the crowd of people walking out of the store in front of me and see thier feet are not there or that thier arms look cut off at the elbows or even when they look like the back of thier heads are sliced off, Now I do kind of chuckle( a little).

Also when I feel the tingleing and numb patches in my legs or arms, I understand what it is that are causing these wierd things to happen. The visual things that I have seen are by far the worst, but even them I can now calm myself about them and understand that this is just the cut in my vision field and not the way things really are! It also helps that it is improving quite a bit from the onset!  The onset was horifying visually!

understanding what and why is the key to calming the fearful feelings that are most deffinately real. That doesn't mean that we want these thing to stick around forever, but as long as they do then knowing why really helps to cope with them!

~Santana~

[Wobbly]

You are such a helpful, supportive person and we all are so happy to have you as our "Earth Mother"  For myself and I'm sure for others, you help calm our fraid? nerves.

thanks Heather, I'll think of you when the mices come home...heheh

andie

[jensequitur]

Thank you Heather, for putting it so sweetly!