I'm a 23 year old with 3 beautiful little girls and I'm having alot of weird problems lately..so i get worried. (escuse my lack of puncuation and grammar!) 6 months ago i had and episode where all of my muscles were jumping..it was so bad that my SO and sister forced me to go to the ER. the dr only did a UA (she swore i was just on drugs) and a chest xray and told me it was probably Tourretes (im not a dr, but im posotive its not tourrettes). i havent had an attack like that lately, but since then i have been having problems with my muscles jerking that keeps getting worse as time goes on (along with my other problems). ive also been having trouble emptying my bladder, i just feel like im getting weaker and weaker ,the backs of my thighs are numb..well thats on and off, my memory and comprehension has pretty much gone out the door, i get dizzy spells, i am so tired i cant do anything anymore...even getting up to just clean up the living room is too much, and when i look to the side i get flashes of light in my eyes. i know there's something else..but i cant remember right now.
i guess the only other thing to add is that my great aunt has MS and she's alittle concerned.
i dont even know how im going to afford to be able to go to the dr. i dont have insurance and absolutely no money...but obviously something is going on and i want to be around for my girls
Hi there. First of all, dont panic. MS wont kill you...and secondly and more importantly, youre not describing MS symptoms exactly.....some of them are- but muscle jerking, isnt really.
MS is a disease of the central nervous system. It can affect the brain, eyes and spine....the only way to even begin to find out if you have it is by having a MRI, and even that isnt 100% for sure. Sometimes, lesions do not show up until they are "bigger" and they are missed on the MRI.
The eye issues could be related to MS, but they dont sound right....MS related eye issues are optical Neuritis, which is inflammation of the optic nerve, extremely painful and usually color blindness is associated with it.
The numbness you describe could be a MS symtom, however numbness in MS patients is almost always in the hands or feet- or face. Not usually in an area like you describe, although anything is possible.
Since you dont have insurance, and the tests are very expesnive, the only thing I would suggest is contacting your local MS society and talking to one of the counselors there- seeing if any testing is done in your area by MS specialists at reduced rates or sliding scale basis. Being that you are a mom with 3 kids, I really hope you are in the process of applying for some state aid, and insurance. That, more then anything, should be your first concern!
I dont mean to offend you in anyway, but Tourettes doesnt sound right, neither does MS. have you considered Lyme diease? That can cause some of the symtoms you describe...also, plain old infection can cause some of the symtoms. If you can get to a clinic and get some blood work done, you might consider doing so....You need to start somewhere, and unfortunately, we cant diagnos you here...but we can suggest where to get help.
I really hope you feel better soon. If worse came to worse and it was MS, you would absolutely positively need insurance, BEFORE THE DIAGNOSIS, because once you have a pre-existing condition, youre going to be having huge problems for the first year of a new policy (since you dont already have an existing one), and MS meds are close to 2500$ per month....
Feel better soon and remember anxiety can make you feel worse and bring on symtoms- so please start with a clinic and get some assistance!
Contact your local SRS office for state medicaid assistance. There are many hurdles to jump through, but there is funding out there. I am in my 32 year of MS. I am now on Medicare and SSDI and I go to the University of Kansas MS Clinic every 6 months. The only other MS location in Kansas I know about is in Wichita.
The hurdles you will have to go through can be stressful. Please do what you can to avoid the stress (I am sure being mom is stressful too!). The state also has a program that will place you in school to get your degree if your doctor feels you are a good candidate for retraining/rehabilitation. They pay room and board, books, tuition, and other assistance- including job placement.
Stay focused on maintaining your health. MS is not fatal and if you have it, the symptoms are manageable. MS does not need to control you!!
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MS diagnosed since October 3, 1982
MS onset circa 1977
Proud to be MED FREE!
Eternally blessed and eternally optimistic!<><
