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my first symptoms, do I have MS?

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Multiple Sclerosis
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Posted 8/23/2013 11:24 AM (GMT -8)
This morning I ended up in the Urgent Care center after a few days of unavoidable symptoms. I, of course, scoured the internet and read about every possible thing that my symptoms could be. For the past few weeks I have had tingly and sometimes numb, lower legs, feet, forearms, and hands. At times even my lips and parts of my face have felt numb. I have tried to ignore the sensation of hot flashes, I am 33 and too young for menopause, but the feeling of being hot for a period of time is real. I have been tired, but often feel tired working a fast paced full time job with two little children at home. Two days ago, in the morning, my sense of taste turned off like a light switch. No more taste, nothing. It is very strange and makes me feel sad as I have always enjoyed food and cooking. I keep thinking I'll wake up and it will be back but it hasn't come back yet. I have been having vision problems for quite a while now but over the past few days my problems have worsened with tunnel-like vision, foggy. Not that my eyes aren't seeing but more like my brain is slow to comprehend what its seeing. I have been very distracted at work, having a very hard time staying focused. I'm forgetful, will be doing something and forget what I'm doing, it's very frustrating. I feel my performance is lacking, I feel less smart. I went to the Urgent Care Center afraid it might be something major, like a stroke or something. They performed all blood work, different testing, reflexes and such, and a CAT scan. Everything is normal, he's sending me to a neurologist because he thinks it might be MS. I feel overwhelmed, I'm trying not to let the assumption shake me because I know there is a lot more testing to do. I just wonder if other people have felt like me. My head feels really weird, a kind of pressure, I feel kind of weak, dizzy, and unwell but I can function. My thoughts, ability to process things, and focus are cloudy. Part of me feels like no one believes me, like they think it's "all in my head" but I really feel unwell. I just want my taste back and I want to feel better.
Posted 9/1/2013 2:37 PM (GMT -8)
I am sorry you are going through this. I can certainly commiserate and I am in a very similar situation as you are right now. I am waiting to get in with a neurologist. I also know the demands of parenthood as I have two young kids as well. My stress has been compounded by a recent move across country. I have not even begun to look for a job because I don't think I could even work right now if I had to. I am at the point where I am not functioning very well.

I too have made the rounds going to the ER and trying to talk to my very unsympathetic PCP. He actually asked me if I needed a "fainting couch"! I found that comment very unsympathetic and sexist. I have an appointment scheduled with a new PCP but the woman in the front office is complete bulldog and she insist there is nothing available until Sept. 16th.

My symptoms began last December. I would get a very stiff back and it would radiate to my neck. I would become dizzy and lightheaded. It did not feel like a panic attack. I was actually in pain. My legs and arms would shake and tremble and sometimes I felt a warm rush over my body and I would feel like I might wet my pants. When the attack was over I would feel completely wiped out and limp. I have had panic attacks before and they never felt like this. I continued to have these symptoms from time to time. I had some blood work with my PCP at the time and nothing was found.

I also started to feel dizzy a lot of the time. At first I thought it was allergies affecting my inner ear or maybe tmj affecting my ear and contributing to my dizziness. I also feel tired. I can relate to your feeling of pressure in your head. Sometimes I feel like someone is squeezing my temples. I have had no problems with taste, but I have swallowing problems, where food feels like it is progressively packing up in my throat when I eat. I have to stop eating for a bit and let things catch.
The reason I finally started thinking about MS is the last time I went to the ER with abdominal pain he mentioned the MS "Hug." This is an awful symptom and after reading other people's account of it I really feel like it could be the cause of my burning abdominal pain.
Good Luck and try to remember that lots of people go undiagnosed for years with autoimmune problems only to finally get a diagnosis. You need to be persistent and not give up even if you doubt yourself from time to time.
Posted 9/5/2013 6:13 PM (GMT -8)
Make sure you two ladies check out lyme disease. A lot of us lymies stalk the MS pages because we originally were told we could have MS. Luckily for me - it turned out to be lyme and all my neurological symptoms went away on antibiotics.
For some reason drs would rather diagnose patients with MS then lyme, why? I have no idea - a lot of them are convinced lyme doesn't exist.
Posted 9/13/2013 8:31 PM (GMT -8)
Hello, I have not been diagnosed yet with MS. I have had fatigue for a long time, lots of pain in my legs, feet, shoulders and tingling in my hands. None of that made me curious until now. I am 32 and have always had good health. I was driving and realized something was going on with my left eye. Saw 2 eye docs and was sent for an MRI. = optic neuritis. I had no knowledge of it. Now they found one white mark on my MRI and soon I see a neurologist. I feel for all of you and I'm thankful for such a site. I am not sure what happens from here but I am optimistic and am a fighter. Good luck to all of you.....take care
Posted 9/23/2013 10:22 AM (GMT -8)
I'm 23 and have become numb from whatever is attacking me, would you say you can pinch your skin and still feel pain?
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