Tiggerredz
02-09-2006, 05:03 PM
Hi,
I have been posting on the Anxiety boards for sometime now, because I thought all of my symptoms were due to anxiety...after extensive testing, an abnormal MRI...I have been diagnosed with MS...by my nureo and my GP.
I am totally new to this...have no idea what it is...All I know is my sheet from my brain MRI states that my briain is not normal for a 28 year old due to white matter and lesions and is progresive with MS....I am getting married in like 13 weeks..told the Dr's I wanted to hault on everything sue to my wedding...I just want to have fun right now and relax...and get married...so I haven't done any research...can anyone help me with what I am looking forward to? Thanks!
I have been posting on the Anxiety boards for sometime now, because I thought all of my symptoms were due to anxiety...after extensive testing, an abnormal MRI...I have been diagnosed with MS...by my nureo and my GP.
I am totally new to this...have no idea what it is...All I know is my sheet from my brain MRI states that my briain is not normal for a 28 year old due to white matter and lesions and is progresive with MS....I am getting married in like 13 weeks..told the Dr's I wanted to hault on everything sue to my wedding...I just want to have fun right now and relax...and get married...so I haven't done any research...can anyone help me with what I am looking forward to? Thanks!
Sponsor
Punkdizzle
02-09-2006, 09:22 PM
hey welcome to the club.. you probably remember me from the anxiety board and i too was told my weird symptoms were from "just anxiety" for years.. now we know that was not the case..
you may not be looking forward to anything bad at all for a long time or maybe nothing at all.. in my case the my neuro said it looks as though i have had MS for quite a while but other then getting optic neuritis in my eye (which is what led to the MRI and then finally the Dx) i have had no set backs at all in my life yet.. and the optic neuritis is slowly clearing up..
if it were me id go ahead with any of the testing you feel comfortable with and maybe get started on one of the CRAB meds asap.. the sooner you get on top of MS the better it can be in the long run.. i wouldnt think it would cause you not to have fun or be a problem with your wedding coming up..
i still do everything i had been doing before the Dx and i have had it for a while but just didnt know i had it till Oct of 05 so i dont see a point in making a big life change just because you know you have MS.. just take it day by day and try not to let it get you down or stressed (easer said then done i know)..
you may not be looking forward to anything bad at all for a long time or maybe nothing at all.. in my case the my neuro said it looks as though i have had MS for quite a while but other then getting optic neuritis in my eye (which is what led to the MRI and then finally the Dx) i have had no set backs at all in my life yet.. and the optic neuritis is slowly clearing up..
if it were me id go ahead with any of the testing you feel comfortable with and maybe get started on one of the CRAB meds asap.. the sooner you get on top of MS the better it can be in the long run.. i wouldnt think it would cause you not to have fun or be a problem with your wedding coming up..
i still do everything i had been doing before the Dx and i have had it for a while but just didnt know i had it till Oct of 05 so i dont see a point in making a big life change just because you know you have MS.. just take it day by day and try not to let it get you down or stressed (easer said then done i know)..
Sharon Grace
02-10-2006, 01:33 AM
Welcome Tig! Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I, too, was told for years that stress and anxiety was my problem!!! I think many of us MSers went down that road before being diagnosed. Just so you know, I found out about it five months before my wedding. The wedding was great, no snags, no change in plans, just a perfect day. And your wedding will be perfect too :) As far as MS goes, my suggestion to you is to contact your local MS Society for info and search the web. The more info you get, the better equipped you will be to make decisions, decide on a drug therapy, and get on with your life. Yes, MS will affect some aspects of your life. Sometimes, you'll have to work around it. Sometimes, it can stop you for a bit. The course of this disease as well as the symptoms are different for every person who has MS, so at best, it is most unpredictable. That is the tough part to adjust to. The MS Society has great booklets on lots of subjects dealing with MS. They will gladly send them to you if you call. Also, this board is a great source of info, support and a place to yell and scream if you need to. Please keep in touch, and again, welcome to the MS board :wave: Sharon Grace
Tiggerredz
02-10-2006, 01:37 PM
Thanks PunkDizzle and Sharon Grace for your encouraging kind words...afetr getting back to work yesterday with the second opinion...I was kind of in a daze, numbing state I guess....I went home...and went to bed and today I am doing much better...The Dr. asked me yesterday if I was depressed....and I said no...I actually am happier now than before...she said that usually happens when people finally get an answer...So I guess the weird symptoms I have been getting have been from the MS...it is sooo a chicken or the egg thing with me.....
JulieDe
02-10-2006, 01:57 PM
Hey Tigger, my name is Julie and I was dx in Sept of 2004. I was stunned at first. My symptoms came at me really quickly, numbness in pelvic region and tingling in feet. They have since gone away, with slight tingling left in feet. I've been on Avonex since Oct 2004 and have been doing really well. You wouldn't even know I have MS. My follow up MRI showed "remarkable improvement." I would definitely do some online research and get in touch with local chapter of MS society. Visiting these boards has been really helpful for me too. Welcome!
Punkdizzle
02-10-2006, 04:30 PM
i am with you Tiggerredz on the feeling better now then before the Dx.. it was just so nice to finally have a reason to the madness.. and then be able to say to yourself "hey i am not crazy! i just have MS" not making light of MS because it does suck to have it.. but you guys/gals know what i mean..
can i ask you (and others) what type of anxiety symptoms you were feeling? i am just wondering since alot of us got tagged as having anxiety problems by our DRs before we found out the real cause..
can i ask you (and others) what type of anxiety symptoms you were feeling? i am just wondering since alot of us got tagged as having anxiety problems by our DRs before we found out the real cause..
Tiggerredz
02-10-2006, 05:02 PM
Well it all started with this "attack" that happened during a perticular stresssful time, my fiance and I were buying our first home, basically I was doing everything. I was having problems with swelling in one (sometimes both), mainly one ankle that started for no explainable reason. This one attack left me very weird feeling, I was numb, tingle, paralyzed almost and I just happened to be at the hospital for a doppler venus on my ankle...the lady I was checking in with had to put me in a wheelchair to get me to radiology, it was weird, fine one second, not the other and it has been that way since, I am sensitive to lights,my vision is a screwy, My body parts are always asleep & tingley, headaches, fatigue, body aches, & dizziness. Lots of things I never told anyone but knew myself...I wonder if it where these symptoms are what caused some of the anxiety symptoms of derealization, etc. My Dr. says the diagnoses explains alot of the symptoms....I still am like the chicken or the egg...kinda thing?
Tiggerredz
02-10-2006, 05:03 PM
Well it all started with this "attack" that happened during a perticular stresssful time, my fiance and I were buying our first home, basically I was doing everything. I was having problems with swelling in one (sometimes both), mainly one ankle that started for no explainable reason. This one attack left me very weird feeling, I was numb, tingle, paralyzed almost and I just happened to be at the hospital for a doppler venus on my ankle...the lady I was checking in with had to put me in a wheelchair to get me to radiology, it was weird, fine one second, not the other and it has been that way since, I am sensitive to lights,my vision is a screwy, My body parts are always asleep & tingley, headaches, fatigue, body aches, & dizziness. Lots of things I never told anyone but knew myself...I wonder if it where these symptoms are what caused some of the anxiety symptoms of derealization, etc. My Dr. says the diagnoses explains alot of the symptoms....I still am like the chicken or the egg...kinda thing? What about you?
lilc
02-10-2006, 06:14 PM
Hi, Tigger. I do understand the chicken/egg thing. My "first" sx started about a year ago, got a dx last Sept. Since then I've come to realize I've had sx for many years, just didn't mention them to anyone. Keeping it all inside (feeling like something MIGHT be wrong with me, but not wanting to mention it) cause horrendous anxiety! Some examples: Entire days where I could not get a deep breath. Afraid to fall asleep when I was exhausted because I was afraid I wouldn't wake up. Suddden dizzy spells. And on and on. I'm happy to report that much of my anxiety is now gone. There is an explanation for the strange way I feel! I did, however, get intensely depressed shortly before I started my CRAB med. Heard that's not uncommon with this dx. I'm taking a very low dose of Effexor now (2nd AD I've tried) and am doing quite well. The copaxone is going well, too, and 4 months into the shots I'm actually noticing IMPROVEMENTS!
Long "quick reply", sorry. Welcome, Tigger, I'm optimistic you'll do well! (Congrats on the approaching wedding.)
Long "quick reply", sorry. Welcome, Tigger, I'm optimistic you'll do well! (Congrats on the approaching wedding.)
Punkdizzle
02-10-2006, 07:51 PM
mine were more "classic" anxiety symptoms racing heart and racing thoughts blurry vision.. it just happend out of the blue, i was not under any stress or anything.. then i started having numbness in my ring and pinky finger that was passed off as another anxiety symptom.. this went on for years along with spells of blurry vision.. until i finally had the MRI.. and ever since i got on treatment for the MS (IV roids and rebif, though i am off rebif now and starting copaxone because the rebif was making me loopy).. my anxiety level has gone way down to what i would call a normal level.. i dont get anxious for no reason anymore but i would still have anxiety if i have to speak infront of a large group of ppl i dont know or something to that effect.. but it does not rule my daily life anymore.. so it is kind of chicken or egg for me also but i am thinking more so the MS was always the cause for my anxiety since i am fine now.. it just makes sense to me that if its hitting a part of my brain that controls my mood it could cause this.. but thats just my guess i have no proof of it...
maybe some day someone will figure it out for sure but for now i am just happy to know whats wrong and that i can be on treatment for it..
maybe some day someone will figure it out for sure but for now i am just happy to know whats wrong and that i can be on treatment for it..
lilc
02-11-2006, 08:18 AM
Punkdizzle, at one point I googled to find a map of the brain and which areas control which functions. Didn't have a lot of luck except that the frontal lobes control emotions. I have "several lesions in the right frontal lobe" (in addition to other areas). Who knows if that means anything with my sx...
By the way, I haven't tried any of the interferons but copaxone has not disrupted my life at all - NO side effects. Hope it is the same for you!
By the way, I haven't tried any of the interferons but copaxone has not disrupted my life at all - NO side effects. Hope it is the same for you!
abcwangfoo
02-11-2006, 07:52 PM
Punkdizzle,can,you write more,about your,pinky being numb?I,have that,tested&told ulanr nerve problem.MRI,says,normal.My last 2 right hand fingers,get half numb&hurt,when cold.Thanks for any help. :)
lilc
02-11-2006, 10:52 PM
You know, I keep reading posts where people have numbness in pinky and ring fingers. When my L'Hermitte's "morphed" into constant numbness it was those two fingers, undersides of my arms and back of tongue. (It is almost gone now, except for the tongue, but comes back when I'm stressed.) Wangfoo, have they confirmed a particular "ulnar nerve problem"? For years I had "sciatic nerve problem", but it was a medical assumption based solely on symptoms. Turns out there's absolutely nothing wrong with my spine or cord column, it has been MS all along.
abcwangfoo
02-12-2006, 09:00 AM
lilc;I had nerve test,it showed ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.So;I guess,that's why,I have the finger numbness.I,stayed off,this board,for months,because,I told myself,I dont have MS.But,then I check-in boards,again&see the pinky problem.Thanks for writting.Everyone take care&God Bless. Pat
Punkdizzle
02-12-2006, 02:08 PM
Punkdizzle,can,you write more,about your,pinky being numb?I,have that,tested&told ulanr nerve problem.MRI,says,normal.My last 2 right hand fingers,get half numb&hurt,when cold.Thanks for any help. :)
the feeling i get is more like my pinky and ring finger are asleep.. they tingle and are hard to move, i have a hard time feeling what i am touching with them when its happening.. thats about it though no pain or anything.. i very well could have a ulnar nerve problem also no one ever looked into it more since i do have MS and the DRs figure thats whats causing it for me... i get the same feeling in my leg sometimes also but it just happens for no reason as i was not sitting in a position that would cause my leg to fell asleep..
the feeling i get is more like my pinky and ring finger are asleep.. they tingle and are hard to move, i have a hard time feeling what i am touching with them when its happening.. thats about it though no pain or anything.. i very well could have a ulnar nerve problem also no one ever looked into it more since i do have MS and the DRs figure thats whats causing it for me... i get the same feeling in my leg sometimes also but it just happens for no reason as i was not sitting in a position that would cause my leg to fell asleep..
Dudz
02-13-2006, 02:46 AM
Hi everyone,
Wow. I'm glad I found this board. I figured this would be the appropriate thread to introduce myself. My name is Wendy and I am 34. Suspected MS for a while now (see black splotches- does that happen to anyone?, finger numbness- ring, pinky like a couple of you mentioned, numb legs and feet for no apparent reason, things fall out of my hand for no reason, past anxiety problems, etc....), had MRI and doc 'thinks' he saw a lesion, just had Spinal Tap last week, having eye tests done in a few weeks. I have been 'unoffically' diagnosed- waiting for other test results. This message board is awesome :) ....and it's nice to meet you all.
Wendy
Wow. I'm glad I found this board. I figured this would be the appropriate thread to introduce myself. My name is Wendy and I am 34. Suspected MS for a while now (see black splotches- does that happen to anyone?, finger numbness- ring, pinky like a couple of you mentioned, numb legs and feet for no apparent reason, things fall out of my hand for no reason, past anxiety problems, etc....), had MRI and doc 'thinks' he saw a lesion, just had Spinal Tap last week, having eye tests done in a few weeks. I have been 'unoffically' diagnosed- waiting for other test results. This message board is awesome :) ....and it's nice to meet you all.
Wendy
Tiggerredz
02-13-2006, 11:42 AM
Nice to meet you also Wendy...I see the black splotches floating around all of the time..have for years...put it off to a flook...My brain MRI showed several brain lesions and white spots indicative of MS....They are pushing me for a spinal tap...How was that? I am putting ot off for awhile....just wondering about the spinal tap though and what it shows..
curiousforever
02-13-2006, 03:31 PM
Punkdizzle,can,you write more,about your,pinky being numb?I,have that,tested&told ulanr nerve problem.MRI,says,normal.My last 2 right hand fingers,get half numb&hurt,when cold.Thanks for any help. :)
Did they say where it was impinged (or compressed)? Mine were in the elbow. They did a surgery on both my elbows (3 weeks apart) and the pain went away and the numbness took a little longer.
It was good till just a few months ago (6?) but they aren't impinged again.
Surgery can fix that - It's a really easy procedure and healing wasn't really a long time.No pain after a few days - but not havey lifting and stuff for a few months.
Did they say where it was impinged (or compressed)? Mine were in the elbow. They did a surgery on both my elbows (3 weeks apart) and the pain went away and the numbness took a little longer.
It was good till just a few months ago (6?) but they aren't impinged again.
Surgery can fix that - It's a really easy procedure and healing wasn't really a long time.No pain after a few days - but not havey lifting and stuff for a few months.
Dudz
02-13-2006, 07:12 PM
Nice to meet you also Wendy...I see the black splotches floating around all of the time..have for years...put it off to a flook...My brain MRI showed several brain lesions and white spots indicative of MS....They are pushing me for a spinal tap...How was that? I am putting ot off for awhile....just wondering about the spinal tap though and what it shows..
Thanks Tiggerredz. :)
I don't have the spinal tap results yet. I had it done last Wednesday....it went well except they hit a nerve when they were numbing the area. I felt okay until Friday and since then my lower back has been aching and I have had a headache that won't go away (it's not a spinal headache though). I guess it will probably take a few more days to feel better. I'm glad it's over. They compare protein levels from your CSF to protein levels of your blood. I'll let you know results when I get them.
Thanks Tiggerredz. :)
I don't have the spinal tap results yet. I had it done last Wednesday....it went well except they hit a nerve when they were numbing the area. I felt okay until Friday and since then my lower back has been aching and I have had a headache that won't go away (it's not a spinal headache though). I guess it will probably take a few more days to feel better. I'm glad it's over. They compare protein levels from your CSF to protein levels of your blood. I'll let you know results when I get them.
lilc
02-13-2006, 08:16 PM
Tigger, spinal tap (aka LP) itself can be no problem at all. Usually the after-effects are the problem. As I recall you've been diagnosed, right? Wait until after the wedding. (The procedure itself went perfectly for me, but I did end up needing to spend an entire day in bed afterwards - may be difficult while planning a wedding!)