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MS in the Family; sudden choking, weakness and muscle twitches
As I mention in the title above, I have MS in my family (two grandparents). I'm 34 years old.
The symptoms below are my concerns; some have manifested themselves over the last week (the muscle\finger twitching in my left hand) and some of the others have cropped up and gotten stronger over the last year or so.
I know I need to follow up with a doctor, but I'm putting it off (obviously).
*Some sudden numbness in tongue, chin and\or fingers (usually right side). This will eventually subside and doesn't seem connected to anything in particular.
*The above has been associated with sudden spike in blood pressure (when I have time, can check while at work on a machine)
*Unexplained violent choking; best way to describe this is that my saliva will sometimes "slip" back into my airway causing me to choke. It can happen anytime, but it's not related to eating or any other activity. This has been going on for a while and I never really paid any attention, except when it happens at an inopportune time like in a meeting!
*Most recently: my left index finger and thumb have developed a strange twitch although it does stop when I'm doing something like typing. There is a definite feeling of weakness when the twitch is happening. I am right handed, by the way.
Thanks in advance for the attention.
The symptoms below are my concerns; some have manifested themselves over the last week (the muscle\finger twitching in my left hand) and some of the others have cropped up and gotten stronger over the last year or so.
I know I need to follow up with a doctor, but I'm putting it off (obviously).
*Some sudden numbness in tongue, chin and\or fingers (usually right side). This will eventually subside and doesn't seem connected to anything in particular.
*The above has been associated with sudden spike in blood pressure (when I have time, can check while at work on a machine)
*Unexplained violent choking; best way to describe this is that my saliva will sometimes "slip" back into my airway causing me to choke. It can happen anytime, but it's not related to eating or any other activity. This has been going on for a while and I never really paid any attention, except when it happens at an inopportune time like in a meeting!
*Most recently: my left index finger and thumb have developed a strange twitch although it does stop when I'm doing something like typing. There is a definite feeling of weakness when the twitch is happening. I am right handed, by the way.
Thanks in advance for the attention.
Hi, all - just a quick update.
Brain MRI was completely clean, which is a relief. I've been scheduled for a whole battery of follow up tests. The in-office test results were troubling to the neurologist (balance, tremor, temperature sensitivity, etc.) but at least the MRI results were positive.
Onward!
Brain MRI was completely clean, which is a relief. I've been scheduled for a whole battery of follow up tests. The in-office test results were troubling to the neurologist (balance, tremor, temperature sensitivity, etc.) but at least the MRI results were positive.
Onward!
At the end of the day, it is best to know? or to even rule out. Finding out is such relief, as it relieves frustration , anxiety and reassures you and others that at least your not going mad and imagining things !!> ardent supporter !
At the end of the day, it is best to know? or to even rule out. Finding out is such relief, as it relieves frustration , anxiety and reassures you and others that at least your not going mad and imagining things !!> ardent supporter !
I really hope you can get the help and answers you need. I am sorry you are suffering and have to even wait one more day. It gets so frustrating or scary for some of us. I hope it is not MS or anything serious, but at least if you find out what is wrong they can treat it > I wish you the best.
One thing to keep in mind, as was somewhat mentioned by another post, is that you may have a genetic predisposition to autoimmune disorders, but that doesn't mean that it will manifest as MS. Our family has had a case of ALS, two of MS, at least one of RA, and others possibly looking at fibromyalgia or lupus. These are all genetically linked.
Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. Have made the appointment for Friday, so we'll see how that goes. I suppose it's a true testament to my level of work-aholism that my increasing trouble sending emails with my blackberry is what finally made me take action this morning.
If nothing else, I can rule out the genetic time-bomb of MS and move on from here.
Thanks as well for the kind words of support. I am not a person who posts to forums by nature, but this had been amazingly helpful.
If nothing else, I can rule out the genetic time-bomb of MS and move on from here.
Thanks as well for the kind words of support. I am not a person who posts to forums by nature, but this had been amazingly helpful.
HI there, I really hope it is not MS, but there are so many diseases out there that look like or mimic it. But it would be better you know, than to have to suffer. I put off getting a brain MRI for along time because I was so scared of getting diagnosed with ALS, MS, or whatever. Please make sure they check you for muscle disorders also like Myasthenia gravis, and like a nice person suggested to me Lyme disease as well. But, also from personal experience due to familial autoimmune disease get checked for SLE (lupus and such too if a neurological work up does not show anything) I wish you the best.
My son (15 years old) was recently diagnosed with MS. He has experienced most of the typical MS symptoms at one time or another. Although, he has not had the choking that you mentioned, one characteristic of MS is the onset of a symptom, then to subside. Then another different symptom will pop up then subside. Tingling or numbness is a neurological symptom that something is going on in your body, but there are many others things related to that too. Thats why its good to get checked out by your Doctor.
Keep track of everything. Write it down with dates and how long each symptom lasts. It will be helpful for the Doctors even if they don't think its MS. Its always better to go soon than put it off. If you are referred to a Neurologist he will put you through basic tests right in the office to check your balance, reflexes, etc. and then go from there if they suspect anything.
One good thing is that the treatments have improved in the last ten years and I'm positive they will only get better.
It is important to know that the life expectancy of someone with MS is much better now. The first thing they told us was that most people live long, almost completely normal lives. Just need to pay attention to the triggers and continue to do the injections.
Props to you for paying attention to what you are experiencing... even if it isn't MS. We were told that many people ignore their symptoms for years. By then the damage is done. Always go with your gut feelings. We did and caught it early with my son. Good luck and stay positive...
Kim
Keep track of everything. Write it down with dates and how long each symptom lasts. It will be helpful for the Doctors even if they don't think its MS. Its always better to go soon than put it off. If you are referred to a Neurologist he will put you through basic tests right in the office to check your balance, reflexes, etc. and then go from there if they suspect anything.
One good thing is that the treatments have improved in the last ten years and I'm positive they will only get better.
It is important to know that the life expectancy of someone with MS is much better now. The first thing they told us was that most people live long, almost completely normal lives. Just need to pay attention to the triggers and continue to do the injections.
Props to you for paying attention to what you are experiencing... even if it isn't MS. We were told that many people ignore their symptoms for years. By then the damage is done. Always go with your gut feelings. We did and caught it early with my son. Good luck and stay positive...
Kim
Hi, Tom - thanks so much for your note. I'm so sorry to see that you're all too familiar with the symptoms and the disease process. I've finally started to look into neurologists in my area and will make an appointment, it's a start at least. When one or two things started happening to me, I was able to ignore them a little - that is until I found out that a second grand parents died of MS and until I started having symptoms that couldn't be explained away by too much caffeine, jetlag, stress, etc etc.
Still plan to be positive but I do at least need an answer one way or another. Will let you know how the appointment goes.
Thanks again.
Still plan to be positive but I do at least need an answer one way or another. Will let you know how the appointment goes.
Thanks again.
I've had the same experiences with saliva, choking, drooling(not females), left leg weakness, twitching right leg especially at nights. I understand these to be induced by neurological lesions and are par for the course. Getting your head around physiological changes are a bit frightening, but rest assured no one professional can predict the outcome of this disease process. So therefore best to live in the present, as all else is of secondary importance. All the best an ardent supporter.
Tom
Tom
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