Exascerbation??? - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

just1primate · 06-02-2009, 02:04 PM

Was in the hospital 3 or 4 years ago, had positive test for lesions, and CSF fluid. Never definatively diagnosed. Was on lexapro for about 5 years, and just went off 5-6 weeks ago. Past few days, had shortness of breath, chest pain. Went to ER, all tets negative for any lung/hert issues. But...been feeling very week, full feeling in head, anxiety.....dizziness. Relapse? Lexapro withdrawals? or both? Help....felling like crap!

-j1p

MSNik · 06-02-2009, 02:52 PM

Hi couple of questions..did you taper off Lexapro? It shouldnt be stopped abruptly and can take up to 3 months to taper off correctly...and side effects, exactly as you describe- almost always happen. Getting off Lexapro is not easy. Ive witnessed people thinking they are having heart attacks from stopping it too quickly....sound like something you can identify with?
Secondly, if you had lesions and had positive CNS fluid- why no dx??

Doesnt sound like a relapse..relapses with MS do not include shortness of breathe or chest pain....

Are you seeing a Neuro or a regular doctor and if you were so close to a dx, why did they put you on lexapro with so many MS like symtoms?

Talk to your doctor about the symtoms you are experiencing and hopefully, you are slowly weaning off this drug..
Nikki

just1primate · 06-02-2009, 02:54 PM

Yup, weened off Lex over about a year, had no real withdrawal sx since. but 5 weeks later..this mess. I was just wondering mostly abou thte sudden weakness, dizziness and fatigue being indicators of a relapse.

MSNik · 06-03-2009, 04:59 AM

Hi again. You hadnt said anything about those symtoms. Your original post said "Past few days, had shortness of breath, chest pain. Went to ER, all tets negative for any lung/hert issues. But...been feeling very week, full feeling in head, anxiety.....dizziness. Relapse? Lexapro withdrawals? or both?". You are now adding sudden weakness, and fatigue to the equation and those things COULD be a relapse, although they can just as easily be "just symtoms". Fatigue this time of year, with the weather changes is not uncommon. Weakness can go with it, due to the bodies trying to tell you something.

Again why no dx?? Sounds like you have had plenty of things to point you in the direction of one...what kind of doc are you seeing?

Glad to hear you weaned off the Lexapro slowly....if you didnt have any horrible side effects from doing so, then its highly likely this is just a symtom of a bigger problem and its time to get back to the problem and have it investigated further.
Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.
Nikki

just1primate · 06-03-2009, 09:41 AM

I think there was no definative DX, becasue my neuro at the time wanted me to see a neuro specializing in MS. Its one of those deals where they want to be 100% because of insurance issues. I currently dont have any insurance, at least for another month...so the waiting game til that happens. I hooked up with the local MS cociety for good advice on Doctors to use. Past few days have been rough, in the ER 2 times, had a lot of anxiety, strange headaches too...sorta feels like something is perculating in my skull lol. But its mild, and could well be my seasonal allergies reaking havoc. Still in denial I guess about the MS, and keep trying to attribute the symptoms to some other life-threatening disease lol...the panic and anxiety has turned me into a hypochondriac. Considering returning to the SSRI, since it seems that the panic/anxiety/depression is my MAIN MS symptom, and now, being off it for a while its coming back. *shrug* What happened to my normal life!