About two weeks ago, I started to get some odd symptoms and since then, I've developed about 10 MS symptoms. Some of the earlier symptoms have gone (e.g. leg weakness and tingling) only to be replaced by others. My doctor said that my symptoms are being caused by extreme stress (I am very stressed out right now, and will be for the next few months). He said that MS never presents in so many different areas, i.e. an initial attack will not involve vision problems, balance problems, coordination problems, speech problems, tremor, tingling, warm feelings, sensitivity to cold, fatigue, limb weakness in both the upper and lower body, facial tightness, bladder problems, AND muscle tightness/pain all within a one or two week period. He also said that unfortunately, bad cases of anxiety cause symptoms just like those caused by MS...an unlucky coincidence.

Should I be reassured by this or should I seek the advice of a neurologist? Thanks for reading.

what were your vision problems? were all of your sensations on one side of your body or "all over"?

I am not a doctor or an MS expert, I'm just curious as to why a neuro would say that you can't experience all of these symptoms at once. When I had my attack, I felt like fireworks were going off in every part of my body.

I do not have a dx of MS, only probable MS suggested by my GP.

I experienced tingling in my hands and legs, twitching pretty much everywhere. I haven't experienced vision problems per se, but both my eyes have been twitching quite a bit.

My doctor was essentially saying that as far as he knows, when a person gets their initial attack, they do not experience the whole range of MS symptoms. I guess this makes sense...if a person were having problems with every single area of their body, this would indicate that they had damage all over their CNS. He said that the person may present a few symptoms, then over the years these symptoms may worsen and others may appear, etc. I'm no expert, I guess I'm just trying to reassure myself before I see the neurologist.

Oh.... you have not seen a neuro yet and it is only your GP who is telling you this info?

Has he ordered an MRI of the brain and spine yet? My doctor was completely baffled as to how I went from a fine healthy 43-year old female one week to a complete basket-case the next. I had a full blown wake me up in the middle night attack where I was sent to the ER (severe vomitting, double vision, high BP, severe vertigo... the works).

Stupid ER thought it was kidney stones. 3 days later when I could finally barely get out of bed I went to see my GP (almost had to crawl there) and my BP was still elevated. This is when she did her diagnostic testing of elimination. Blood draw, EEG, and CAT Scan were the initial tests. CAT scan showed some kind of "infarct", so I went for an MRI. MRI showed a problem in the occipital lobe. I was scheduled to see a neuro one month after my MRI. The wait was agnony, but during that time, I slowly recovered from the severity of my attack. By the time I got to see the neuro, he said "I don't think you have MS". I don't fit the McDonald Criteria, but my GP said it is probably MS, since the lesions are in the white matter and not the gray. If she never had said MS, I would still be baffled, as I had no idea what MS was or its symptoms.

Has your doctor started you on a process of elimination testing or did he just refer you to a neuro?

See aneuro, particularly if you're having vision problems.

i should also add that my first attack of ms presented with vision loss in one eye, that half of my face went numb (including half my tongue) and I was numb from the waist to the toes (and had a lot of pain in my legs). my left leg buckled when i walked.

i think this doc is more than mistaken about there being such a thing as too many symptoms. not that you want this to be MS, but this sounds like a plausible onset of the disease.

Well that's depressing. Unfortunately, my appointment with the neurologist is in 7 months! I really don't think I can wait that long to find out. Maybe I'll get a referral from a GP for an MRI and go down to Buffalo to get the test over with.

I have thought that I've had different conditions in the past and have been wrong...I'm really hoping that I'm mistaken about this as well.

Keep us posted on how things are going. My hopes are that you get answers soon and start feeling better sooner. :)

Many of the symptoms you have mentioned are what I went through in the first part of the year.My initial attack effected my right side and then slowly hit the left with the second attack.I have seen several DRs and was diagnosed on June first.You know your body,listen to it.Several of us has heard the words...stress,depression and anxiety...Keep trying to get the initial test done ...brain mri...Stress will make each of your symptoms worse.

The tingling, weakness and muscle tiwtching have pretty much affected all four limbs starting at about the same time. That's what's got the doctor thinking that it's not MS. I don't know anymore...I just find it hard to believe that anxiety alone can create these symptoms. Thanks for the advice guys and gals.

you definately need to see a neuro... I have dizzyness and banding (as I call it) around my torso... numbness in my hands and feet, I'm always weak and tired... I loose my balance constantly and I have terrible cognitive problems. I haven't had any eye problems lately, but have had several different varieties in the past... optic neuritis isn't the only MS problem with eyes, I've gone where one eye will just wander about aimlessly too (that really creeped my husband out, lol) In other words I think your GP is sort of a quack... I've always presented with multiple problems. It's not uncommon as far as I know... Yes stress will make your symtoms worse, but it's a scientific fact that stress is one of the worst things for MS symtoms. I went on disability from work two years ago and it's one of the best things I've done for myself, it cut my stress level dramatically, which helps the symptoms a lot, but they've never gone completely away, and last neuro appt. the doctor wrote progressive on my insurance forms he was filling out, and I about wanted to cry... but life goes on. I just take each day as they come.

The attack that made me see a doctor started the day after what I call an emotional meltdown. I would have assumed (as I had in the past) that my problem was stress if the symptoms had been anything I'd ever heard of before! I developed severe L'Hermitte's (electric shock/vibrating sensation down the spine when bending neck forward) and it was so utterly bizzare I couldn't imagine that a body could do that.
So here's the deal: You have sx that suggest your CNS is reacting to SOMEthing. If it is anxiety/stress, did your doctor recommend any help with that? (I'm not saying drugs, but maybe therapy to help you deal with the stress so it doesn't "attack" your body.) I don't understand why doctors think physical sx from stress aren't a medical issue...
If you can't eliminate the stress, find some ways to relax, de-stress your body. If things don't improve, push that neuro appt up.

In other words I think your GP is sort of a quack...

That's the thing..this GP has a very good reputation. Everyone I know goes to him because he's so good and usually doesn't miss a thing.

I do need to find out what's going on ASAP. I know that I would be extremely upset if I found out that I have MS, but frankly, I've been so miserable lately worrying about this that I actually think my mood might improve a bit if I at least found out what was going on. I could start on meds and start to deal with the condition instead of just worrying about whether or not I have the condition.

parrotsmuggler,

My GP is awesome and has been here for me through the whole diagnostic proceedure and made sure all the test were done,but like he said he's not a MS specialist.The numbness and tingling and twitches through the whole body is what made my GP start the testing for MS.Like you stated you need to find out whats going on and maybe your stress level will lesson.
It's terrifing not knowing whats going on and the neurological symptoms that are occuring.It scared the pants off of me.The idea of having MS still scares the pants off of me.Its so unpredictable.The idea of not knowing scared me the worse.
You can still keep your GP in the loop.With every test and DR I seen through the coarse of a diagnosis,I got copies of the results and the DRs notes and hand delivered each peice to my GP's office.This way if I have an appointment with my GP I don't have to explain everything and that way he's still involved in my care.Plus if there is something I don't understand he's real good on explaining it ,in terms I understand.

Prayers to you
Toni

I got the same response from my neuro, he said with all the syptoms he didnt think ms but still to have mri, which i did have and still waiting for results.. I think he just thought I was stressed or depressed, I tried to tell him Im not and I really think something else is wrong with me.... If the mri is neg. Then I think Im gonna see another nuero.. I have tingling in arms and legs and im beyond tired all the time! I get wierd feelings in my head and bad headaches, I've had feelings of something crawling up my leg and nothing was there,, I dont know if I have ms.. but i dont think too many syptoms at once means that it couldnt be that!! Just keep pushing the issue with your doc and if you dont think its going anywhere then look for a second opinion! Good Luck!