Hiya everyone, Sorry to gate crash but really need some advice.
For the past few years I have had symptoms which have increased in severity. My doctors have passed them off as a number of things - anxiety and depression being the main one. It was only recently I started to think all of these symptoms could be ms, and was concerned that when I googled a list of symptoms I literally had most of them.
The main symptom is complete and utter exhaustion. I am only 28, I do not work and should not be so exhausted. My whole body aches and I wake in the morning to feel as though I have been hit by a truck. I feel as though I almost in a daze, I seem to stumble around not really aware of what I am doing, constantly bump into things and am very clumsy with it.
Also I have numbness and tingling in my hands and feet. I was admitted to hospital last summer as my blood pressure plummeted and I was experiencing a great deal of pain in my hands, even though they felt completely numb. I was given a neurological examination before being told that it was probably anxiety causing the numbness - although this symptom has not gone and it is now in my feet at times too. I also get tingling in my scalp so bad that I cant even touch it, as though somebody is pulling every hair out of my scalp one by one.
I experience a lot of pain in my eyes, have had an eye test last year which did not show anything un-toward but I do have glasses for reading. Another thing that scared me is on the list of symptoms it said that difficulty in swallowing can be one? I often wake in the night choking as I cant swallow properly, and eating food is sometimes hard as I feel that I cant swallow like I could.
I have episodes where I feel dizzy on a daily basis which my doctor blamed on my blood pressure. Even when my blood pressure is at a normal level I am dizzy and unsteady on my feet though.
Theres a whole load of other things that shout at ms to me and yet I am terrified of going to the doctors and voicing my concerns. Because I DO have a history of depression and anxiety I dont feel they will take me serious, more a case of telling me these are all anxiety related and fob me off.
I am so tired of feeling tired, and just need to know once and for all what is wrong.
Sorry I can not give you any opinion about whether it's MS or not as I do not know if I have MS or not yet. But I have experienced the same symptoms as you as well as many others. I am starting now to lose the vision in my right eye, it deteriorates more and more everyday and last night my feet & ankles hurt so bad that I couldn't barely walk last, yet I am afriad to go to the hospital becaue of past treatment.
I have had the same problem with doctors pawning this problem off on depression and anxiety because I have a history of it. So, just to settle that I am going to get a psychological evaluation.. Maybe you should consider he same. Hopefully that will open the doors to other possibilities.
For the past few years I have had symptoms which have increased in severity. My doctors have passed them off as a number of things - anxiety and depression being the main one.
The main symptom is complete and utter exhaustion. I am only 28, I do not work and should not be so exhausted. My whole body aches and I wake in the morning to feel as though I have been hit by a truck. I feel as though I almost in a daze, I seem to stumble around not really aware of what I am doing, constantly bump into things and am very clumsy with it.
Also I have numbness and tingling in my hands and feet. I was admitted to hospital last summer as my blood pressure plummeted and I was experiencing a great deal of pain in my hands, even though they felt completely numb. I was given a neurological examination before being told that it was probably anxiety causing the numbness - although this symptom has not gone and it is now in my feet at times too. I also get tingling in my scalp so bad that I cant even touch it, as though somebody is pulling every hair out of my scalp one by one.
I experience a lot of pain in my eyes, have had an eye test last year which did not show anything un-toward but I do have glasses for reading. Another thing that scared me is on the list of symptoms it said that difficulty in swallowing can be one? I often wake in the night choking as I cant swallow properly, and eating food is sometimes hard as I feel that I cant swallow like I could.
I have episodes where I feel dizzy on a daily basis which my doctor blamed on my blood pressure. Even when my blood pressure is at a normal level I am dizzy and unsteady on my feet though.
Theres a whole load of other things that shout at ms to me and yet I am terrified of going to the doctors and voicing my concerns. Because I DO have a history of depression and anxiety I dont feel they will take me serious, more a case of telling me these are all anxiety related and fob me off.
I would suggest a neurologist who diagnoses and cares for MS patients. Total exhaustion can be attributed to MS as well as CFS. Depression often comes as MS's conjoined twin.
I have PPMS and "enjoyed" many of your symptoms early in my "MS Career". I have many of your symptoms on a daily basis.
You noted that you do not work. It does not matter. In my exhaustion phases I can sleep 14 hours, awake for 2 hours, and still need more sleep. Exhaustion requires no work as labor does not bring it on. BUT too much work or exercise can cause the body to react with muscle pain, fatigue, etc.
Swallowing an indeed be difficult. I have found that sleeping with my upper torso raised helps with nighttime choking. COLD- ICE COLD- water helps alleviate swallowing pains and problems for me. Others have noted that they have found that eating while standing helps.
Keep a journal of your info (symptoms, etc.) This journal can benefit your neurologist rendering a diagnosis. Many tests have to be run and a myriad of symptoms have to be eliminated before a final diagnosis can be rendered.
I also have MS, although I feel very lucky thus far. My advice is to write everything down in a journel. Food is a huge enemy, and I am not a health nut, but I have learned to take almost all flour and sugar out of my diet including artificial sweetners. I try to eat mostly vegetables, some fruit, some meat, nuts, breakfast bars that are good for you, not full of junk,water, orange juice, cranberry juice, or grape juice. I also have osteoporosis so I take Actonel, calcium with D, magensium, fish oil and multivitamin. My best friends took me to a fitness center in 2001. It was all I could do to walk into the fitness center. When I started that day I could only do 10 reps of each machine on the lightest weight. I went 6 days a week for a month before I could do 2 set of 10 reps on the lightest weight. I continued on and a friend asked me to walk a treadmilll. I fall occasionally, so I stated if I fall you have to laugh and pick me up at the same time. I tried it, I was amazed that the first day I walked for 20 minues and actually made one quarter of a mile. When I went home I actually was tired but not exhausted. I found the days that I was unable to be at the fitness center I was exhausted. The days I went I was a whole different person. I have had ups and downs, but nothing out weighs the benefits of any kind of exercise and being around people who watch you and encourage you. It is now 7 years later, I still can only walk a mile in 24 minutes, but I think that is outstanding, but I can also walk a 15% grade while doing it. I lift free weights just 3, 5, and 8 pounds and do 12 reps and 3 sets. I am stronger do doubt. I would try anything to beat exhaustion now, just don't let it win, if possible.
Thank you so much for your advice.
I went to see my doctor this morning and told him all of my symptoms and instead of making me feeling silly as I feared, he took me very seriously and agreed that my symptoms did sound very much like ms. I have to go back first thing monday morning for a 'nerve examination'. Can anyone please tell me what this involves? Thanks again xxx
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