Too many symptoms to be MS? - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

Parrotsmuggler · 06-09-2006, 05:33 PM

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.

lestoby · 06-09-2006, 07:24 PM

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.

Parrotsmuggler · 06-09-2006, 08:16 PM

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.

lestoby · 06-09-2006, 08:35 PM

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?

sunshine149 · 06-09-2006, 08:42 PM

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