Could this be MS? - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

yellow rose · 02-03-2006, 08:12 PM

In December last year I developed numbness (no pins and needles), in my left hand side - face, foot and hand. This lasted on and off for approx 4 weeks. At the time I was under huge stress from a lot of different things, its probably the most stressed I've ever been. I went to the hospital where they did a number of different tests - brain scan, blood tests, ECG, and tested my reflexes. They could find nothing wrong.

My eyes sometimes do strange things, like seeing "floaters". I visited my eye doctor, but he could find nothing wrong.

I was referred to a neurologist, which I am seeing on Monday. I am getting really scared, as MS has been mentioned to me. Does this sound like it could be MS?

I haven't had the numbness since, so is it possible stress was just affecting me?

For all those out there who have been diagnosed with MS, I really feel for you. I guess I'm curious as to how it affects your daily life. like did you all have to give up work? I've got two small children, who really depend upon me, and I'm scared I won't be able to be there for them.

Webegi · 02-04-2006, 08:49 PM

I had my first symptoms last spring. I have two small children who depend on me, too, and I'm trying for a third soon. Having MS has affected only my outlook on life, the things that aren't guaranteed and the things I shouldn't take for granted. I'm living my life more now in a way that I think people should regardless of whether they have MS or not.

I'm certainly aware that scary things may come my way, but they haven't yet. I'll deal with them when and if they do. I'm not on meds yet, because of the pregnancy I'm planning first. So, I'm happy to say there are actually days now when I don't think about having MS (which wasn't the case in the beginning - I found it crossed my mind multiple times a day).

I know two people in my community who have ms for over 35 years. One is a grandmother of 7, very active lady, has only ever had two or three rather short periods of her life where she was symptomatic at all. The other uses a scooter and seems to have had every symptom, been on every medication including experimental ones. So, I can see that there is not just one course of this disease, and getting used to the unpredictability of it is probably one of the hardest things (for me at least) to accept when diagnosed.

MS is a scary diagnosis. But, when I think about it, there are so many worse things to get -things that really limit your life expectancy. For the newly diagnosed, I think the symptoms are often not as bad as just getting over the idea that there is actually going to be something wrong with your body. I hope you were just having too much stress, but if it turns out to be ms, chances are it will be something you (and your family) can work with. Good luck.