Aa
Should i go to the ER or just call my PCP?
I hope someone can give me an idea on what I should do. I am a 38yo female with 4 beautiful boys. I have hypothyroid which I take 90 Amour thyroid daily, that's my only condition that has been diagnosed. So here is my dilemma, for a few months now I have been experiencing right side facial tingle sensation with tongue and lip tingle sensation also. It comes and goes sometimes lasting a few min. To other times lasting hours! It doesn't really hurt, just annoying, but lately I've felt like I have a low grade fever while experiencing the tingle. Yesterday my right arm started to burn and shake, I almost spilled my coffee because of the shaking and I just felt horrible. It started about 11 am and the shaking didn't stop till this morn. But I still have the right arm heaviness and burning and now I have a bad headache, not migraine cuz I get those also, along with the tingle in face but today more on both upper cheek areas and of course tongue and lips. My mom-inlaw thinks I have ms, she's not a doc..but my symptoms seem to fit. Should I go to the ER now or just make an appt with PCP? Is ms easier to dx if I am symptomatic? I should mention that I gave felt crappy forever, I will have one good day and the next be so exhausted that all I can do is lie in bed, I've spent many weekends in bed because I'm sooo tired, also had gallbladder removed 3 months ago. Thanks for reading my book :-).
Best wishes tomorrow in finding out what is wrong. It is possible that your neuro found something on the MRI. Make sure after your appointment that you get a copy of the MRI on CD/DVD. You will need this to show your new neuro for comparison/baseline if it's possible MS.
I'd avoid the stairs, if possible in the meantime. Plus, be sure you have your footing/feeling before standing up on your feet. You don't want to have an injury due to having your knee buckle. This is exactly how it feels for me when my leg goes out. Having an injury due to fall complicates things and sometimes causes permament injury. So, be careful!
Deb
I'd avoid the stairs, if possible in the meantime. Plus, be sure you have your footing/feeling before standing up on your feet. You don't want to have an injury due to having your knee buckle. This is exactly how it feels for me when my leg goes out. Having an injury due to fall complicates things and sometimes causes permament injury. So, be careful!
Deb
Thank you so much for responding!! I did try and document my symptoms over the last week with help from hubby..i think I got most of it..and today I have been keeping a more detailed timeline with my issues. I hope it helps him instead of I don't know, scare him off :-) and no they didn't even really address my eye issue after they realized it was not a major stroke or tumor.but to their credit they did want me admitt as a patient so they could run more tests the next morn. But I just couldn't do it, my mom was admitted almost two years ago for pneumonia and passed away after becoming septic, so my experience with being in the hospital, aside from child birth has not been to good. Its a mental thing I guess... But I am ok going this route..again Jen & Lisa thanks for the help! I think hubby is planning on going with me in case I forget something or the doc relays important info I might forget.
I will post my outcome tomorrow afternoon.
Amy
I will post my outcome tomorrow afternoon.
Amy
They did a MRI of brain and spine but did not consult a neuro-opth for your right eye issue? Did they order a VER (VEP)?
Jen hit the nail on the head when it comes to the first visit and what to expect. They take your medical history, allergies, family history and chief complaint(s) -- (notice the "s"?)
He will then do a (hopefully) thorough neurological examination from motor to sensory. For example, he may ask you to walk normally and turn around, tandem walk where you have to heel/toe in a straight line like you're walking on a balance beam, and walk on your heels then walk on your toes. He will ask you to stand with your arms out/feet together/eyes closed, he will have a tuning fork and see if you have any sensory deficits from right to left. He may ask you to extend your arms out with fingers pointed, closing your eyes and try to touch your nose, or lay flat on the table and ask you to take your right heel and run it down along your left shin as straight as you can. There's quite a few....as you can see. (I left some out because I could be here all night.
Just go with the flow...let the doctor be the doctor and try not to tell him what you think it is.....or afraid what it is...let him do the thinking and you be the patient.
Jen is right about starting to document a timeline (date/time/symptom --how long it lasts 20 seconds to 3 hours to 24 hours to a week to a month) Honestly, if I didnt write anything down, I'd forget it. Seriously.
When my Neuro asks me what happened, I have to go and open up my little fat/stubby notebook to refer to it and can't recall from memory. Once my symptom is gone...I forget about it..of course until it returns.... :D
Good luck to you and please let us know how it goes!!!!!
Lisa
Jen hit the nail on the head when it comes to the first visit and what to expect. They take your medical history, allergies, family history and chief complaint(s) -- (notice the "s"?)
He will then do a (hopefully) thorough neurological examination from motor to sensory. For example, he may ask you to walk normally and turn around, tandem walk where you have to heel/toe in a straight line like you're walking on a balance beam, and walk on your heels then walk on your toes. He will ask you to stand with your arms out/feet together/eyes closed, he will have a tuning fork and see if you have any sensory deficits from right to left. He may ask you to extend your arms out with fingers pointed, closing your eyes and try to touch your nose, or lay flat on the table and ask you to take your right heel and run it down along your left shin as straight as you can. There's quite a few....as you can see. (I left some out because I could be here all night.
Just go with the flow...let the doctor be the doctor and try not to tell him what you think it is.....or afraid what it is...let him do the thinking and you be the patient.
Jen is right about starting to document a timeline (date/time/symptom --how long it lasts 20 seconds to 3 hours to 24 hours to a week to a month) Honestly, if I didnt write anything down, I'd forget it. Seriously.
When my Neuro asks me what happened, I have to go and open up my little fat/stubby notebook to refer to it and can't recall from memory. Once my symptom is gone...I forget about it..of course until it returns.... :D
Good luck to you and please let us know how it goes!!!!!
Lisa
Perhaps the neurologist looked at the MRI, and saw something that was initially missed. If so, it's great that he wants to see you tomorrow. Maybe he wants to schedule you for another MRI, this time with MS protocol and at a higher strength.
At this point he's going to want to do a neurological exam. This includes watching you walk, checking your reflexes, seeing if you have any numb areas, looking at your eyes and seeing if they track properly... If he's doing it right, it'll take about fifteen minutes. He'll ask you about your symptoms and how long you've had them.
I find it useful to write everything down that's been happening. I also like to provide some sort of time reference, so he knows if it's still going on, or if the problem went away and came back.
The MS diagnosis process can all be very scary, and sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. Sometimes they can't diagnose you right away, and you end up in limbo. Many people that are diagnosed with MS have several flares in the first year, and it's debilitating.
Before I was diagnosed, I had gotten up to answer the phone, and my right leg just gave way. I fell to the floor, and had to get back up so I could answer the phone. All the while I'm on the phone, I'm trying to get sensation in my leg, and there's none there. It wasn't as if it was asleep, it was like it wasn't there. Since then I've continued to have problems with it - spasticity, weakness, fatigue (feeling heavy and weak) feeling floppy, feeling buzzy - I can certainly relate! Anyway, it turns out I have lesions in my spine. I would talk to your neurologist about your leg weakness and see if he'll schedule you for a spine MRI.
I would also ask for a 3T MRI. He may say that it's not necessary, that your problems can be found with a 1.5T, but with spinal issues a 3T is better.
At this point he's going to want to do a neurological exam. This includes watching you walk, checking your reflexes, seeing if you have any numb areas, looking at your eyes and seeing if they track properly... If he's doing it right, it'll take about fifteen minutes. He'll ask you about your symptoms and how long you've had them.
I find it useful to write everything down that's been happening. I also like to provide some sort of time reference, so he knows if it's still going on, or if the problem went away and came back.
The MS diagnosis process can all be very scary, and sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. Sometimes they can't diagnose you right away, and you end up in limbo. Many people that are diagnosed with MS have several flares in the first year, and it's debilitating.
Before I was diagnosed, I had gotten up to answer the phone, and my right leg just gave way. I fell to the floor, and had to get back up so I could answer the phone. All the while I'm on the phone, I'm trying to get sensation in my leg, and there's none there. It wasn't as if it was asleep, it was like it wasn't there. Since then I've continued to have problems with it - spasticity, weakness, fatigue (feeling heavy and weak) feeling floppy, feeling buzzy - I can certainly relate! Anyway, it turns out I have lesions in my spine. I would talk to your neurologist about your leg weakness and see if he'll schedule you for a spine MRI.
I would also ask for a 3T MRI. He may say that it's not necessary, that your problems can be found with a 1.5T, but with spinal issues a 3T is better.
Well I did end up going into the ER on monday evening after work. My symptoms got worse including the vision in my right going really bad, i could not even read my computer screen with my right eye! It was a bit scary. So they took some blood and then did a ct and mri. According to the Neuro at the hospital they came back normal. They wanted me to stay overnight but after i realized I was not dying I declined. :P So they referred me to a Neuro and I called them yesterday, i could not get in till Jan! UGH! Then today i got a call back, and after reviewing my tests the doc wants to see me tomorrow?? Did he see something the hospital Neuro missed? Its kinda scary to think why does he want to see me so quickly??? Ive been stressing over it all day! Im still having the same symptoms plus one extra, now instead of my right leg feeling heavy/weak it feels floppy?? Has anyone else felt this?? Also while going up the stairs today I felt like my right knee was going to buckle, it didn't, thank goodness!! I know the Doc is not going to have a firm dx for me tomorrow, but what can i expect from this first visit?? What other tests should i expect him to order?? I really despise the unknown, so any enlightenment will be greatly appreciated!! Again thanks for reading!
My opinion is...in my own experience going through this type of process is....if you call your MD and complain about a new symptom, they want to see you...They may or may not make notations on reason of visit. They may order some laboratory work pertinent to your situation. Sometimes things are figured out this way, sometimes not.
If you go to the hospital (ER), this is recorded as an event... and care is put into motion -- ie: Neuro, primary care doctor visiting you. They not only have a diagnosis when you're in the ER to work with, they also have to document in their progress notes and test results or ordered lab/diagnostic tests to explain as to why you're having these symptoms. But that is MY opinion.
Glad you're going to your PCP this afternoon. Please let us know what he/she says and what laboratory work has been done.
Lisa
If you go to the hospital (ER), this is recorded as an event... and care is put into motion -- ie: Neuro, primary care doctor visiting you. They not only have a diagnosis when you're in the ER to work with, they also have to document in their progress notes and test results or ordered lab/diagnostic tests to explain as to why you're having these symptoms. But that is MY opinion.
Glad you're going to your PCP this afternoon. Please let us know what he/she says and what laboratory work has been done.
Lisa
I ended up not going to the ER. It was our I i thought sitting there forever with no answers wasn't the way I wanted DH to remember our 29th. I do have an appt. With PCP this afternoon....i think I'm gonna have some blood work done, have him check for anemia, B12 and bit. D deficiency. I know I'm bit. D deficient . I'm suppose to be spending time outside but I don't cuz the heat just kills me. Maybe now that's its getting colder I can handle it? Thanks for your responses, I'll keep checking in and updating..it seems that once you say what's going on, somehow it lifts a little stress :-)
3 years ago I had numbness in my bottom lip and tongue. I was also tripping all of the time. I googled my symptoms- everything was pointing to MS. When I went to my PCP, I was shut down. He told me it was just stress and to stop self diagnosing mysel. Fast forward to 2011, I started to feel dizzy, my left side went numb, and my right side was extremely heavy. After a couple visits to th ER, PCP, neurologist, and an MRI. I was diagnosed with MS. I say do your research and see your doctor sooner than later.
Good luck!
Good luck!
HI, welcome to the forum! I agree with Deb and go to the ER while symptomatic so it can be documented. Then follow up with your PCP.
As mentioned by Deb there are MANY mimics of MS. We have Health Pages located in the lower right corner of this page. There is one in particular that pertains to MS Mimics.:
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple-Sclerosis/MS-Mimics---Part-I/show/375?cid=36
Most of our Health Pages were written by Quix, a pediatrician who c=had to give up her practice due to MS. The remaining pages were peer reviewed by are array of highly educated people such as engineers, doctorates of anatomy and physiology, etc.
I hope we have been helpful. Let us know what happens!
Warmly ,
ren
As mentioned by Deb there are MANY mimics of MS. We have Health Pages located in the lower right corner of this page. There is one in particular that pertains to MS Mimics.:
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple-Sclerosis/MS-Mimics---Part-I/show/375?cid=36
Most of our Health Pages were written by Quix, a pediatrician who c=had to give up her practice due to MS. The remaining pages were peer reviewed by are array of highly educated people such as engineers, doctorates of anatomy and physiology, etc.
I hope we have been helpful. Let us know what happens!
Warmly ,
ren
Because you don't know what the problem is, I'd go to the ER just to make sure you don't have something serious going on. They can check your vitals, etc. to ensure that you're not having a stroke or TIA or something like that.
Then, if nothing is found, I'd set an appointment with the PCP so he can see the symptoms your talking about. Then you probably will want to see a neurologist. It's not necessary to be symptomatic if it's MS, but the trouble is if it's not MS then sometimes tests may be negative when you're not having the problem. With MS, it's helpful for the doctor to see the symptoms, but not absolutely necessary.
There are lots of mimics for MS. Having hypothyroidism, which often is autoimmune, you could have other issues like lupus, Sjogren's, etc. that can cause your neurological symptoms.
Keep us posted . . .
Deb
Then, if nothing is found, I'd set an appointment with the PCP so he can see the symptoms your talking about. Then you probably will want to see a neurologist. It's not necessary to be symptomatic if it's MS, but the trouble is if it's not MS then sometimes tests may be negative when you're not having the problem. With MS, it's helpful for the doctor to see the symptoms, but not absolutely necessary.
There are lots of mimics for MS. Having hypothyroidism, which often is autoimmune, you could have other issues like lupus, Sjogren's, etc. that can cause your neurological symptoms.
Keep us posted . . .
Deb
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community
Top Neurology Answerers
Australia
ON
Queensland, Australia
Queen Creek, AZ
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease
