SandyGirl
02-06-2004, 10:25 PM
:confused: Hi, I have already posted on the Lupus board, but as some of the symptoms seem to be similar, I am going to post here too. I guess my symptoms started about 2 years ago, but I never really took much notice, it was pins & needles in my feet & legs. I have a bad habit of sitting on my feet at work like a big kid, or when I am trying to act like an adult I cross my legs... Well my feet always fall asleep, my co workers would see me get up and say "feet asleep again?" thats how obvious it was, but anyway, I shluffed it off to the way I sit, or the fashionably uncomfortable shoes I wear! This past summer, my feet really bothered me for a while, they would get really numb at times, but again I blamed my shoes! Now to the present.. For the past 2 1/2 months I have been feeling just not well, I have had swollen lymph nodes in my neck & behind my ear, I went to my GP who gae me antibiotics, didn't work, went to an ENT and he told me to come back in 2 weeks if they were still there, went back 2 weeks later and they were still there, he was not very concerned, but he knew I was, so he sent me for a CT scan which came back normal. Now in past couple of months I have notice tingles in my arms too, I wake up and my arms would be asleep! but I have a habit of sleeping with my hands over my head sometimes (don't know why, I don't fall asleep that way) so I figured it was how I slept that caused it. But now i wake up with a foot or arm asleep, I will be sitting normally & they fall asleep, it is constant now, but now i am getting tingles in my face, around my mouth even my lips! I also had a muscle spasm in my lip this week which lasted half the day. Right now as I type this I am having the tingles in my right foot and my mouth, I have been very foggy headed, and dizzy, I bump into everything, and it is hard to focus sometimes when I am looking at my computer, I have to rub my eyes. The tingles are worse now, they feel like real needles now, like they are breaking the skin, they hurt, and I get the feeling like I can't grip, no strength in my left hand, I can't even use a fork properly. This has come on so bad so quick & I am so so scared. I was so sure it was Lupus, that I went to my GP and told him my thoughts, and asked for all the blood work for Lupus, so even though he thinks I am a bit of a nut, he took it, I never had told him about the tingles & numbness before this visit because I never thought of a connection, he had just done a CBC on me 2 weeks before & all was normal, so when I explained that I now have this tingling in my fingers, hands, arms from the shoulder down, both legs & feet, and my face, he does not know what to make of me, but it has really been happening so fast! Anyway, I get my results back on Monday, would an ANA come out positive for MS as well?
I am sorry this is so long, thanks for being patient, it anyone could please tell me if this sounds like MS I would appreciate it, Does anyone else have the tingling & numbness constantly? I am scared this is permanent~! :rolleyes:
I am sorry this is so long, thanks for being patient, it anyone could please tell me if this sounds like MS I would appreciate it, Does anyone else have the tingling & numbness constantly? I am scared this is permanent~! :rolleyes:
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jen0777
02-06-2004, 11:39 PM
hi, i have not been diagnosed yet, but i've been seeing a neurologist for 4 months now, going through testing. they are suspecting ms. one of my main symptoms are my arms, legs, hands and feet falling asleep. i too sit on my feet and with my legs crossed frequently so i never thought anything of it, until now they fall asleep when i'm not even sitting on them. i also wake up in the middle of the night with body parts alseep (especially my left hand, sometimes i can't feel it). i get frequent tingling all over that comes and goes, EXTREME fatigue, and bad aching pains in my legs (its like a deep ache down to my bones) and my legs get stiff when i wake in the morning or sit for a while and i walk like frankenstein, i have difficulty walking for a long time. do you have any other symptoms? as far as the ana it doesn't show any info about ms. mri, lumbar punctures, evoked potentials and nerve conduction tests are some of the standard tests to look for ms. hope i helped a little. oh and also, i've been going through testing for about 4 months now and still don't have a definitive dx yet, it can be a long process so try and hang in there, its very frustrating. good luck! -jen
SandyGirl
02-07-2004, 01:22 AM
Hi Jen. Thank you for answering me! My main symptom is the hands & feet, right now my left hand is practically dead, it is really weird how this happend all of a sudden everywhere! when did you realize there was a problem? Mine is so costant that I feel like there has to be some kind of damage.... I hope that is not the case, there is never a moment ever when something is not "asleep". I also have been feeling brain fogged, my vision gets blurry, swollen hands, weight loss, twitching. My hand is so bad right now that I want to go to the ER!!!! But what would they say? I look ok. What are your symptoms? are they as constant as mine?
-Sandy
-Sandy
bgdmoore
02-07-2004, 01:31 AM
SandyGirl
If you have lupus your ana test will be postive but in Ms it is not postive. In Ms the numbness and tingling is a common thing . Ask to go to a neurologist. It can be a long time to get a dx or it can be quick. It just depends. Hope you luck. It took me almost 2 years and numerous of doctors before I got my dx in Oct 03 of MS. Just hang in there
If you have lupus your ana test will be postive but in Ms it is not postive. In Ms the numbness and tingling is a common thing . Ask to go to a neurologist. It can be a long time to get a dx or it can be quick. It just depends. Hope you luck. It took me almost 2 years and numerous of doctors before I got my dx in Oct 03 of MS. Just hang in there
SandyGirl
02-07-2004, 01:59 AM
does anyone have this numbness constantly like me? I am about to go to the ER!! I have dead arm and dead legs!!! I can barely type.
jen0777
02-07-2004, 09:26 PM
i have some sort of symptom on a daily basis. i do have the tingling and "falling asleep" feeling everyday, but it's not throughout the whole day. it comes and goes and sometimes it's my feet or hands and arms. it happens in my arms and hands the most (especially my left hand, it feels like someone tied a rubber band around my arm just below the elbow-sometimes i can't feel my fingers). i too have twitching almost everyday, and achy legs and fatigue everyday. the blurry vision, headaches, come and go. its so hard to explain. i have diff. feelings everyday, sometimes for days at a time, sometimes for a few minutes. i lost about 20 pounds (but that could be contributed to loosing my baby weight), i also get swollen hands in the evenings and mornings (but i also have high blood pressure so that could be from that), i also get "foggy," forgetting phone numbers, where i'm going, what i was saying and things like that. have you had any testing yet? what made you think it was ms? there are a ton of things that could be going on, you should definately see a neurologist. i have had a nerve conduction, and a somatosensory evoked potential test that were both negative, which i was shocked about because the falling asleep thing happens ALL THE TIME, sometimes i wake my husband up in the middle of the night in tears and i am always asking him to rub my arms, hands, and legs and feet to "wake them up" of course it doesn't really help, but it helps distract me. well i know this post is a bit wishy washy so i'm just gonna go now! -jen
Hewie
02-08-2004, 06:50 PM
Hi there :wave: ,
If you have not gone to the ER by the time you read this post and are still having the same symptoms - YES, YES, YES is my advice - Go to the ER.
I have constant numbness and tingling too but although it is always there to some degree, it waxes and wanes. I have the (painful) pins & needles too and buzzing and left facial numbness (in fact, my lips, chin and lower cheek area on left have been permanently numb since last June but sometimes it buzzes there too.) My legs and arms fall asleep very easily and get stiffer with use rather than the other way around and I have lost a lot of the feeling in my fingers esp. I cut them without knowing til I feel wet blood. I have had extensive blood work done plus MRI, EEG and spinal tap.
I agree that a positive ANA test most often indicates an autoimmune disease (by the way which is what MS is also), but since a positive ana test is found in several conditions including just inflammation going on somewhere in your body. So it can mean something or nothing. It is a starter test from which doctors then go to further testing to determine cause of positive ANA. And it is found in MS sometimes also (usually a low positive).
As so rightly said, it can be a long time for a dx for MS, Lupus and several other things. Hang in there but my advice is to GO to the ER and don't wait. If nothing is urgently wrong, you will at least feel better to know that.! and they will refer you to see your doctor within a couple days who will then know there IS something going on that needs to be addressed - sooner and he may order some tests such as an MRI (with contrast the best!) and a complete blood work up to rule out Lyme disease, B12 deficiency (numbness/tingling in this too...), mono test, red & white blood counts, protein level, and much more... He/she may want to do the blood work first... if that's the case, and they come out normal, I would press he/she for an MRI as numbness and tingling is neurological. Whatever causing the extreme numbness and tingling and stuff in you, whether neurological or rheumatoid in nature, needs to be addressed... :confused:
I've asked the same question about going to the ER myself a number of times. I was given some good advice. If you talked with someone(s), you're not feeling better or reassured and especially if you're feeling worse of course, again the answer is yes... If you can, get someone to go with you for support but YES, YES, YES given what you posted about your legs feeling dead and the symptoms accelerating that fast... YES
HOPE THIS HELPS - KEEP US POSTED... ....k
Take care & hugs... let me know... hewie :angel:
PS - I am being tested again for MS now. (had and equivocal MRI and positive neuro exam 1st time) First docs thought possible MS, then a specialist did tests and said not so sure. THen because of a high ANA count, I got referred to a rheumatologist, who said most of your symptoms are neurological in nature. So it's back to the neurologist at OSU Medical Center this time. Aye, yi, yi.... :eek:
If you have not gone to the ER by the time you read this post and are still having the same symptoms - YES, YES, YES is my advice - Go to the ER.
I have constant numbness and tingling too but although it is always there to some degree, it waxes and wanes. I have the (painful) pins & needles too and buzzing and left facial numbness (in fact, my lips, chin and lower cheek area on left have been permanently numb since last June but sometimes it buzzes there too.) My legs and arms fall asleep very easily and get stiffer with use rather than the other way around and I have lost a lot of the feeling in my fingers esp. I cut them without knowing til I feel wet blood. I have had extensive blood work done plus MRI, EEG and spinal tap.
I agree that a positive ANA test most often indicates an autoimmune disease (by the way which is what MS is also), but since a positive ana test is found in several conditions including just inflammation going on somewhere in your body. So it can mean something or nothing. It is a starter test from which doctors then go to further testing to determine cause of positive ANA. And it is found in MS sometimes also (usually a low positive).
As so rightly said, it can be a long time for a dx for MS, Lupus and several other things. Hang in there but my advice is to GO to the ER and don't wait. If nothing is urgently wrong, you will at least feel better to know that.! and they will refer you to see your doctor within a couple days who will then know there IS something going on that needs to be addressed - sooner and he may order some tests such as an MRI (with contrast the best!) and a complete blood work up to rule out Lyme disease, B12 deficiency (numbness/tingling in this too...), mono test, red & white blood counts, protein level, and much more... He/she may want to do the blood work first... if that's the case, and they come out normal, I would press he/she for an MRI as numbness and tingling is neurological. Whatever causing the extreme numbness and tingling and stuff in you, whether neurological or rheumatoid in nature, needs to be addressed... :confused:
I've asked the same question about going to the ER myself a number of times. I was given some good advice. If you talked with someone(s), you're not feeling better or reassured and especially if you're feeling worse of course, again the answer is yes... If you can, get someone to go with you for support but YES, YES, YES given what you posted about your legs feeling dead and the symptoms accelerating that fast... YES
HOPE THIS HELPS - KEEP US POSTED... ....k
Take care & hugs... let me know... hewie :angel:
PS - I am being tested again for MS now. (had and equivocal MRI and positive neuro exam 1st time) First docs thought possible MS, then a specialist did tests and said not so sure. THen because of a high ANA count, I got referred to a rheumatologist, who said most of your symptoms are neurological in nature. So it's back to the neurologist at OSU Medical Center this time. Aye, yi, yi.... :eek:
Mom_of_two
02-08-2004, 09:41 PM
Sandy, it's different for all of us (symptoms), but yes...I have had the numbness and pins and needles off and on. The trunk of my body was completely numb for almost two months, this what before I got my MS diagnosis.
If you haven't been to a neurologist, get to one ASAP! You need the various tests to see if it's MS or something else. Please don't wait any longer, you need answers now. Good luck and please keep us posted. Take care and God bless!
If you haven't been to a neurologist, get to one ASAP! You need the various tests to see if it's MS or something else. Please don't wait any longer, you need answers now. Good luck and please keep us posted. Take care and God bless!
SandyGirl
02-08-2004, 10:19 PM
Hi All, and thank you for your replies. I did go to the ER, But nothing happend really, they basically told me that they are concerned with my symptoms, and that I should get a full Lupus blood work panel, but I already had that and will be getting the results tomorrow, they also gave me the name of a good Neurologist, but I think I may look for one on my own. They only did a urine sample which showed nothing other than a little blood, but they said that is because I have my period :)
Anyway, he did the whole check up.. walk on my heels, on my toes, follow the light stick (which bothered my eyes) checked my grip?? I told him I could grip you, but it feels weird in my left arm, like its was removed & re-attached the wrong way???? So I went home, feeling no better, limbs numb & all. Today my muscles are really sore, the back of my thighs hurt so bad, and my arms, as Jen said in her post, I walk like Frankenstein, and thats a shame, cause I normally have a really cute trot! The aching joints are at an all time high as well. I am nervous about my test results tomorrow, my head is constantly fogged, my eyes are not focusing normally, and aside of the tingles in my limbs & face, my left hand still feels spastic, like my thumb doesn't want to do its job! Again, these symptoms are not visible to anyone else but me, so my doctor thinks he is dealing with a 29 year old girl with major anxeity at this point. I wish he could feel what I feel for just 5 minutes! (but not longer!). Anyway, thanks everyone for writing to me, I hope you are all feeling good. oh, 1 more question if anyone wants to answer, is nausea a side effect of MS, this is also a chief complaint of mine, it lasts a long time when i get it :(
Bye! Sandy
Anyway, he did the whole check up.. walk on my heels, on my toes, follow the light stick (which bothered my eyes) checked my grip?? I told him I could grip you, but it feels weird in my left arm, like its was removed & re-attached the wrong way???? So I went home, feeling no better, limbs numb & all. Today my muscles are really sore, the back of my thighs hurt so bad, and my arms, as Jen said in her post, I walk like Frankenstein, and thats a shame, cause I normally have a really cute trot! The aching joints are at an all time high as well. I am nervous about my test results tomorrow, my head is constantly fogged, my eyes are not focusing normally, and aside of the tingles in my limbs & face, my left hand still feels spastic, like my thumb doesn't want to do its job! Again, these symptoms are not visible to anyone else but me, so my doctor thinks he is dealing with a 29 year old girl with major anxeity at this point. I wish he could feel what I feel for just 5 minutes! (but not longer!). Anyway, thanks everyone for writing to me, I hope you are all feeling good. oh, 1 more question if anyone wants to answer, is nausea a side effect of MS, this is also a chief complaint of mine, it lasts a long time when i get it :(
Bye! Sandy
jen0777
02-09-2004, 09:03 PM
hey, it's jen again. yes i am nauseous very freguently, i get really bad headaches and i get vertigo so i contribute the nausea to those feelings. they way i described it to my neuro and husband is that i either feel as though i just got off of a spinning ride (that dizzing, nauseous feeling) or like i did when i was in the first trimester of my pregnancies. i too am young (26) and i feel like sometimes the doctor looks at me like some young, dumb hypochondriac. i am also in school to become a registered nurse and my ob/gyn told me that people in the medical fields always think they have some sort of illness or another. that really irritated me since my symptoms started before my actual clinical rotations did, and i am one of the top students so i hate being perceived as an idiot! besides an er doc is the one who mentioned ms and referred me to my neuro. ok i'm rambling now, so i'll let you go. take care and good luck -jen
katlin
02-09-2004, 09:37 PM
what are the symptoms
Mara
02-13-2004, 11:57 AM
How are your blood sugar levels?