MS, something else or Anxiety?

[OtherMe]

I have had a really tough year. I bottle everything up & suffer in complete silence which I know I shouldn't but I hate to worry my loved ones. I'm a 29 year old. Non/little drinker, non smoker. I'll go straight into it....Earlier in 2013 I started getting wobbly/jelly legs when I had been walking for a distance, it was like I was stumbling from foot to foot, I felt no pain, just like I had to sit down to gather myself. After sitting down (boosting my blood sugar levels with a snack or something) I was better but the more it happened the more anxious I got about going out. My mum witnessed it, she worried so I worried & felt even more anxious. I took myself to the do do doctors as I'd started feeling week too. My first thought was MS!!! I had a simple blood test - normal. I had blood test for thyroid (even tho doctors were insisting my symptoms didn't reflect thyroid probs) & also I asked to be tested for vit b12 (tho the nurse was a bit arsey about including this test) but I assume she included it & all I was told was "normal". So doctor referred me to a neurologist. The moment I went to see the neurologist I have gone into overdrive with worry & what I can only describe as utter self torture!! I started waking in the night, worrying sick about what was going to happen to me. I saw 2 neurologists, one who didn't see cause for concern, another who felt it was worth having an mri scan. As soon as I saw the neurologist I started to feel so many more symptoms. It's all just gone downhill from there. I started getting:
Tingling feet/cellphone/mobile phone sensations
Burning/aching legs (throughout pregnancy) when I walk
Sore knees towards end of pregnancy & after
Numbness in feet at times but feel normal when I touch them
Shakey at times
Unbalanced/uncoordinated

I get very very anxious walking in public, I feel like people are looking at me & consequently someone has asked if I'm ok coz I must look shakey.

Yesterday we went out with my family & I got nervous prior to going to feed the ducks coz i worried about getting jelly legged & having to explain it. I got jelly legged on a walk with my family months ago & had to laugh it off almost.

It may coincide with when I've not eaten much & I'm always dehydrated as I don't drink a lot at all, altho I'm really trying to now. So I don't know if this makes it worse. I also get little sleep, I go to bed late & wake up early.

I have had a really hard pregnancy, in discomfort & having mad symptoms & knowing I have to have an mri & potential diagnosis post birth. I have 2 beautiful children now, and this is a huge dark cloud hanging around. I am so afraid to go out with my children alone as I am worried how I will be, I feel symptoms everyday! When my legs hurt I have to sit down. t's all I've thought about for all that time, I'm terrified of having a disease. I just want to know I'll be ok, I want to know if I do have a disease, that medication will drastically ease my symptoms & help me. I wish I wasn't in this situation so much. I should be just enjoying my children! I am such a worrier & dh doesn't get it coz he is so black & white, I worry about everything. Altho now I just worry for my health!!

Any advice or reassurance that if I do have a disease, I'll be ok?

[OtherMe]

Thanks for posting. No I've not sought any help for my anxiety....I went to the doctor in my first trimester but she didn't want me to go on anxiety meds at that point, for baby's sake. She welcomed me back after 14 weeks preg but I never did. I am still experiencing neuro symptoms. I do feel my anxiety makes it worse but I just hope there is no clinical reason behind my symptoms! When you say terminal, I assume you are talking about people in general?

Thanks so much for commenting :-)

[nursegirl6572]

Hi there, sorry about the delayed response.

It sounds like most of your more "neuro"-like symptoms occurred during pregnancy.  Those symptoms are pretty common, as the excess blood volume and growth of the mother can cause nerves to be irritated or even pinched.  Various "nerve" symptoms are very common in pregnancy.  I myself had pretty bad sciatica when I was pregnant with my daughter.

I think the thing you have to stay focused on is that you've been evaluated medically, and have even seen a specialist.  It sounds like you're dealing with a good bit of health related anxiety.  When someone starts thinking catastrophically, worrying about a serious/terminal illness, it's usually anxiety fueled.  Hardly ever do those fears become reality.

Have you sought any kind of professional help for the anxiety?  I would recommend that you do, and of course, keep the lines of communication open with your doctor if you continue to have the symptoms you mentioned (which seem to be much better, correct?)

Good luck to you, let us know how you're doing!

[OtherMe]

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[OtherMe]

Bump

[OtherMe]

It's been really hard/miserable. It's the most emotionally/physically draining time of my life. I was hoping symptoms were somehow pregnancy related but obviously not. (I don't know how to edit initial post, hence the add ons).

[OtherMe]

Ps when I get any symptom, it comes & goes & doesn't stay for days. But symptoms are frequent :-(