IS THIS MS?

[horseylover]

Hi all. I visited my GP last week after just basically having enough of everything, he said "I think you have MS and need a neurologist, what do you think, shall I make an appoitment for you"? I have been "Moaning on" for years now (I am 45) My old GP (Retired now) sent me for lots of test and diagnosed fibromyalgia. Then I got, what they thought, Meningitis, last year. After the Lumbar Puncture they said that I had raised white blood cells, but they were doubtful of Meningitis. Ok. So they put me under a General Specialist, who has done all the same tests as my old GP....and nothing! So I gave him a list and off he went, then I received a letter saying that he has reviewed my notes and wants to see me again (April). Then yesterday...the pain (Again, usually a coupe of times a year this happens)...agony...Excruciating pain in my back and ribcage, cannot move and it feels like my back and ribcage are being crushed by a vice that keeps tightening and loosening off, a little, oh! and here we go again. I have had a horrific night, but it is now just starting to ease and hopefully will be alot better tomorrow!??? Is this part of MS???

Here is a copy of the list that I have made for the neurologist...... any comments..good or bad will be welcome....Thanks for reading

Symptoms.

Dizziness

 

Fuzzy head

 

Forgetful and memory find it difficult sometimes to remember words like :- Can someone put the....that thing that you put water in to make a drink!????? Or Names, places.

 

Cannot cope with two people talking to me at once, or the TV and conversation.

 

Have to ask people to repeat things several times and then still forget.

 

Spiders in my legs and sometimes feels like they bite me and my leg jerks

 

Numbness in my arms, sometimes only one sometimes both

 

Dropping things, clumsiness

 

Pins and needless

 

Headaches

 

Painful muscles

 

Feels like someone is squeezing/crushing me excruciating pain in back and around ribcage with crippling muscle spasms

 

stiff muscles

 

Unbelievable cramp in hands, legs, feet, thigh, stomach

 

Walking upstairs and I cannot move another step!

 

Walking on the pavement and it is as if my foot has stubbed a raised area

 

Need cold spaces in bed, wakeful and restless nights trying to find them and quilt sometimes makes me feel sore

 

Sore patches on my legs, but no rash or evidence of anything

 

cannot open jars sometimes or bottles....hands and arms go very weak

 

Total exhaustion and sleep does not help

 

Constipation

 

Eye muscles weakening and not working together Double vision

 

Right eye deteriorating

 

Feels like an electric shock sometimes in my head when I move my neck quickly

[Michelle]

Hi and Welcome to the forum,

 

The trouble with diagnosing symptoms like this, is that there are many diseases that can mimmic MS. I think the plan to send you to a neurologist is a good one,as they are the ones, who will hopefully diagnose you.

 

The symptoms that you have described are present in MS,but I can't say for certain, that what you have is actually MS. I am sure there will be others who will offer their opinion, as soon as they see your post...so watch this space.

 

 

Nice to have you on board

 

 

Regards

 

Michelle

Edited 21 Mar 2010, 5:52 pm by Michelle

[lisalisa]

Hi there,

 

Your symptoms can all be present in MS but as Michelle has said there are lots of diseases that mimic MS.

 

Your symptoms that stand out most as classic MS symptoms ( tho having these symptoms doesnt mean definate MS ) are :

 

Double vision, weak eye muscles - INO/ OPTIC NEURITIS

 

Squeezing/ crushing of ribcage - MS HUG

 

Electric shock feeling when moving neck - L'HERMITES SIGN ( might have spelt that wrong ! )

 

Its a good idea that you made a list of symptoms as its easy to forget symptoms when you are having your appointment. Might be a good idea to also write down if theres anything that makes your symptoms worse and if you have them all the time or they come and go.

 

You ought to stick around on this forum as well it is invaluable as a source of support, advice and friendship.

Wishing you lots of luck

 

Lisa x

[Gladys]

Have you had MRI yet?

Was told needed that and LP for diagnosis which to be fair I got because I bullied them into it as I work better with a 'label'.Think most folk do if they know whats wrong as sometimes the not knowings worse!!

Agree with lisalisa symtoms sound like MS but have found that MS symptoms can also be symtoms of lots of other things as well so best wait for dr to diagnose.

The L'HERMITES sign is weird when I put head foreward(chin on chest) get tingling but can also feel it in my toes(this time)last time it was fingers.

I also couldn't walk by puting one foot right in front of the other.Neuro had asked me to do that and I was totally suprised that I nearly fell over.

[horseylover]

Thanks everyone

I have not had a MRI yet, but did have a LP that showed raised White Blood Cells.....Doc is arranging MRI asap and a Neuro. I saw the optician, as my eyesight is getting worse and I have been needing a new prescription every year for the last 3 years...I spent 2 hours there! and saw 2 Optometrists! and they said that the muscles in my eyes are weakening and, also, that they don't want to work together either??? My ribcage and back still really hurts, usually, in the past, it has worn off by now, but it has been 3 days now? Go away I need to hoover the house and clean!

My children are 13 Girl (14 this year going on 30!) 16 Boy (who has had chronic asthma all his life, he did not respond to medication and was given a fatal prognosis last Jan, but I fought for a new drug from the US and hey presto! it has worked like magic. He now leads a full life) and another boy 20(at uni, studying medicinal chemistry).

 

People need Labels tho, not just the person who is suffering, but others too, they need to try to understand or relate in some way....

 

Your all great!

[Scully]

Hello !

 

Just wanted to say hello and welcome.

 

I have experienced the back and rib-cage pain too. Horrid isn't it? I couldn't work out, intially if it was severe indigestion or a heart attack ..LOL It was neither of course, indigestion remedies = zippo, and, as I hadn't turned blue after an hour or so, ruled that out as well.

 

It lasted about 4 days the last time, nothing would shift it, so not much sleep for a few days. Spent 4 days just dozing when I could really. This was back a few months ago. But it does go away eventually.

 

Hope you feel better soon

 

Scully

[horseylover]

Went back to the docs this morning and he has given me Diazepam for the pain in my chest, ribs,back. I can't take anti -inflams or codeine based drugs. Hopefully I will get a good nights sleep tonight! Yipee...can't wait!

[lisalisa]

Hi there,

 

Thats good that Doc gave you something for pain. Hope you get a good sleep tonight

 

Lisa x

[Michelle]

How did you sleep?

 

 

Michelle

[horseylover]

I woke only twice in the night!......But have not had any tablets today, due to the fact that one of the horses has gone to it's new home and I had to drive! At least I could get into the car today! Things improving now a little....I WILL be better tomorrow after another nights sleep

[Summer]

I woke only twice in the night!......

 

That sounds a lot better, soon you will be asking us for to keep you awake

[upallhours365]

im afraid to say it all seems to add up,one tip you should keep a day to day diary of what you do on the day and what happened to you on that day as its good to take with you when you see medics as i found i wish i had said that while i was there.

i also have noted when walking i side step for no reason and had to say to someone its ok im not drunk