Aa
Do I have MS
Hello,
So let me start off with the basics... I am an 18 year old male, I have lived everywhere and have lived with the feeling of a lump in my throat (More noticeable when I swallow) since I was about 12, since then I have developed so many odd symptoms, and I really want to get it sorted out, because the doctor is so inconclusive.
The symptoms I have developed, are extremely bad stomach pain and nausea... which is constant, legitimately, all day, everyday, and has been so for approximately a year and a half.
I feel really dizzy as well, and that tends to be persistent full time, all day, every day as well.
I faint if I stand in one place for too long, I would estimate two to three minutes and I am done, I literally just fall over (It is worse in a heated/unventilated/crowded vicinity).
Weird muscle spasms in say my head, or on my shoulder, or bicep, just generally anywhere... spontaneously occurs.
Started at the gym last January (2013) and began to get these massive headaches, and blacked out once or twice mid-exercize.
Lumps in my armpits appeared on occasion, say once or twice over the past year.
Some constipation.
Constant fatigue along with the nausea.
Very irritable.
Severe insomnia, takes me about an hour or longer to get to sleep.
I rub my eyes a lot, pain behind eyes.
Weird shudder/shake that ripples through my body when I go to the toilet, lasts about one to two seconds.
Recently had very severe numbing pain in my arms and legs, maybe due to inactivity, but not normal as far as the internet is concerned.
Recently also had jaw and ear pain, very sharp/severe.
I got so much bloodwork done (We are talking 5 bloodtests in a month) and nothing was conclusive.
Right, now when you tell me to go do a test, I do it, I literally needed to get this under control, I had ct scans for my head for those headaches, came out normal, had ultrasounds for my stomach, three different ones. I had all those blood tests, urine tests, I took a break from the gym (Now I feel like mega **** and can't get motivated again).
I am in desperate need of help, for any clues.
The things I was given:
Nexium to help with stomach ache, and it did, but treatment stopped as it was still there after a trial period.
Citalopram for "Depression and anxiety" but that still does not explain the numbing in my arms, the dizziness, the ear/jaw pain and bad headaches, I know it can cause nausea and chronic stomach pain.
Maxolon to help with nausea, did not help at all.
Was given some tablets in the ER when I was diagnozed with a "Virus" that helped loads but could not remember the name.
Things I was diagnozed with:
Depression, anxiety, vasovagal syncope (Fainting/blackouts), stomach ulcer (Nexium treatment did not help), possible appendicitis was ruled out.
I literally don't know what to do anymore.
I have not been back to the doctor since being diagnozed with depression and will not take the tablets because of side effects and online reviews.
I literally have no energy, at all.
I feel tired all the time, and restless.
I did some research and the only things I can think of are an auto immune disease to do with the thyroid or Multiple Sclerosis as the symptoms are very accurate and the recent pain in my legs/arms backs this up.
If anyone can help, please do.
So let me start off with the basics... I am an 18 year old male, I have lived everywhere and have lived with the feeling of a lump in my throat (More noticeable when I swallow) since I was about 12, since then I have developed so many odd symptoms, and I really want to get it sorted out, because the doctor is so inconclusive.
The symptoms I have developed, are extremely bad stomach pain and nausea... which is constant, legitimately, all day, everyday, and has been so for approximately a year and a half.
I feel really dizzy as well, and that tends to be persistent full time, all day, every day as well.
I faint if I stand in one place for too long, I would estimate two to three minutes and I am done, I literally just fall over (It is worse in a heated/unventilated/crowded vicinity).
Weird muscle spasms in say my head, or on my shoulder, or bicep, just generally anywhere... spontaneously occurs.
Started at the gym last January (2013) and began to get these massive headaches, and blacked out once or twice mid-exercize.
Lumps in my armpits appeared on occasion, say once or twice over the past year.
Some constipation.
Constant fatigue along with the nausea.
Very irritable.
Severe insomnia, takes me about an hour or longer to get to sleep.
I rub my eyes a lot, pain behind eyes.
Weird shudder/shake that ripples through my body when I go to the toilet, lasts about one to two seconds.
Recently had very severe numbing pain in my arms and legs, maybe due to inactivity, but not normal as far as the internet is concerned.
Recently also had jaw and ear pain, very sharp/severe.
I got so much bloodwork done (We are talking 5 bloodtests in a month) and nothing was conclusive.
Right, now when you tell me to go do a test, I do it, I literally needed to get this under control, I had ct scans for my head for those headaches, came out normal, had ultrasounds for my stomach, three different ones. I had all those blood tests, urine tests, I took a break from the gym (Now I feel like mega **** and can't get motivated again).
I am in desperate need of help, for any clues.
The things I was given:
Nexium to help with stomach ache, and it did, but treatment stopped as it was still there after a trial period.
Citalopram for "Depression and anxiety" but that still does not explain the numbing in my arms, the dizziness, the ear/jaw pain and bad headaches, I know it can cause nausea and chronic stomach pain.
Maxolon to help with nausea, did not help at all.
Was given some tablets in the ER when I was diagnozed with a "Virus" that helped loads but could not remember the name.
Things I was diagnozed with:
Depression, anxiety, vasovagal syncope (Fainting/blackouts), stomach ulcer (Nexium treatment did not help), possible appendicitis was ruled out.
I literally don't know what to do anymore.
I have not been back to the doctor since being diagnozed with depression and will not take the tablets because of side effects and online reviews.
I literally have no energy, at all.
I feel tired all the time, and restless.
I did some research and the only things I can think of are an auto immune disease to do with the thyroid or Multiple Sclerosis as the symptoms are very accurate and the recent pain in my legs/arms backs this up.
If anyone can help, please do.
I got lost with many comments but have you had a GI test, upper and lower? your stomach problems could be ulcers or just irritation. The blood should come from your stomach or kidney stones or hemmrods (I don't spell the best).
I don't see any reference to having an MRI done (with contrast if you can). It can tell your doctors a lot. Not to discourage you but you've gone thru a lot and I feel much more needs to be tested. Keep a notebook, try and go back and put your symptoms and occurrences in order by dates if you can and keep this up to date. It can help your doctors, keep the entries brief, they tend to "glaze" over if there is too much information. This log will also help you, more than you realize.
You mentioned that you take gabapentin for temporary relief. This is a drug that you have to sort of stay on, its not like aspirin and then not take it for another month. Just a thought.
As others have told you, research, research, research; find out what is available to you, whether paid or free. If someone gives you a diagnosis, research it to, learn what it does, what causes it, what the symptoms are, etc. This makes you have an advantage with the doctor you go to next…
Do not get discouraged. This is 2014, my current neuro figures from my "timeline" (like your log), that I had MS since 1981, and I've since gone back further than that, looking for symptoms and found them. I just got 2-3 lousy and lazy neuros in the first 10 yrs I was searching. Remember MRI was not available in 1981, they put me in hospital for 7 days and told I had hemaplegic migraines (silent ones)……..
So be prepared to see many doctors, and many more tests, but don't give up. Keep us posted, we all learn from each other and welcome to our forum.
Sarah
I don't see any reference to having an MRI done (with contrast if you can). It can tell your doctors a lot. Not to discourage you but you've gone thru a lot and I feel much more needs to be tested. Keep a notebook, try and go back and put your symptoms and occurrences in order by dates if you can and keep this up to date. It can help your doctors, keep the entries brief, they tend to "glaze" over if there is too much information. This log will also help you, more than you realize.
You mentioned that you take gabapentin for temporary relief. This is a drug that you have to sort of stay on, its not like aspirin and then not take it for another month. Just a thought.
As others have told you, research, research, research; find out what is available to you, whether paid or free. If someone gives you a diagnosis, research it to, learn what it does, what causes it, what the symptoms are, etc. This makes you have an advantage with the doctor you go to next…
Do not get discouraged. This is 2014, my current neuro figures from my "timeline" (like your log), that I had MS since 1981, and I've since gone back further than that, looking for symptoms and found them. I just got 2-3 lousy and lazy neuros in the first 10 yrs I was searching. Remember MRI was not available in 1981, they put me in hospital for 7 days and told I had hemaplegic migraines (silent ones)……..
So be prepared to see many doctors, and many more tests, but don't give up. Keep us posted, we all learn from each other and welcome to our forum.
Sarah
Hi, my other symptoms are
Tingling or crawling sensations mainly on face and scalp but also on thighs, legs,upper back.
I also have severe fatigue. Walking short distances make me feel so weak and exhausted.
I too drink very less water and am improving in that respect.
I have pains in both hands, arms and fingers. I donno if it's nerve pain or muscle pain.
I get vomiting whenever I get migraines. Also visual disturbances before I get severe headache. It gets yellow or i see some floaters.
I had work up of ms and my brain MRI is abnormal with 13 lesions. They don't know if it's ms or migraines causing lesions.
My lp is negative and spine MRI is normal. My b12 was low and also vit d.
My ferritin was also low at 15. I am taking supplements for them dint notice any difference after 4 months. I have a few protrusions in cervical spine and I was not told clearly if that's causing my hand pains.
My next step is another MRI of brain in a month or so to see wats happening..
Till then I take gabapentin for temporary relief. And my doc prescribed some triptans for migraines which seems to work I guess.
Hope you find wats wrong with you and be healthy asap.
Tingling or crawling sensations mainly on face and scalp but also on thighs, legs,upper back.
I also have severe fatigue. Walking short distances make me feel so weak and exhausted.
I too drink very less water and am improving in that respect.
I have pains in both hands, arms and fingers. I donno if it's nerve pain or muscle pain.
I get vomiting whenever I get migraines. Also visual disturbances before I get severe headache. It gets yellow or i see some floaters.
I had work up of ms and my brain MRI is abnormal with 13 lesions. They don't know if it's ms or migraines causing lesions.
My lp is negative and spine MRI is normal. My b12 was low and also vit d.
My ferritin was also low at 15. I am taking supplements for them dint notice any difference after 4 months. I have a few protrusions in cervical spine and I was not told clearly if that's causing my hand pains.
My next step is another MRI of brain in a month or so to see wats happening..
Till then I take gabapentin for temporary relief. And my doc prescribed some triptans for migraines which seems to work I guess.
Hope you find wats wrong with you and be healthy asap.
Hi again. I framed my answer as I did because it seems you have been tested for everything under the sun and no particular cause of your symptoms has emerged. If you'd had a slew of abnormal results that'd be a different story.
So with your history of anxiety and depression, which indeed can be real causes of lots of symptoms, it only seems wise to pursue that route. Even if you had these mood issues and no physical symptoms, they are misery-making in themselves. Who needs anxiety and depression? Not you!
If you really invest yourself in therapy and medication if needed, you will go through a process that helps you know and understand yourself much better, and you will be a wiser person in many ways. It's very possible that most if not all of your physical symptoms will drain away.
Some, though, may be real signals of some physical function gone wrong. So what then? With your newly forming judgment and attitude, you will come across to the medical community as a more centered and more mature individual who is communicating physical problems, and not as someone mired in emotions and possibly panicking.
That's bound to get a better response, don't you think? And as a bonus, you will have an ally in your psychiatrist/phsychologist/therapist, who may well be able to verify that you are now in good mental health. That often stops docs who want to attribute everything to mind stuff right in their tracks. So to me, in choosing this route, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
ess
So with your history of anxiety and depression, which indeed can be real causes of lots of symptoms, it only seems wise to pursue that route. Even if you had these mood issues and no physical symptoms, they are misery-making in themselves. Who needs anxiety and depression? Not you!
If you really invest yourself in therapy and medication if needed, you will go through a process that helps you know and understand yourself much better, and you will be a wiser person in many ways. It's very possible that most if not all of your physical symptoms will drain away.
Some, though, may be real signals of some physical function gone wrong. So what then? With your newly forming judgment and attitude, you will come across to the medical community as a more centered and more mature individual who is communicating physical problems, and not as someone mired in emotions and possibly panicking.
That's bound to get a better response, don't you think? And as a bonus, you will have an ally in your psychiatrist/phsychologist/therapist, who may well be able to verify that you are now in good mental health. That often stops docs who want to attribute everything to mind stuff right in their tracks. So to me, in choosing this route, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
ess
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hello fellow Ozzie,
I think you really need to keep in mind (as ess has already mentioned) nothing you've described sounds like MS at all and that was your concern.....
I'm going to highly recommend you take a step back and take a moment to think about the 'main issues' you've experienced in the last few months, not the few seconds, not the couple of times, not the times when you had swollen lymph nodes and or a virus, not the stuff of years ago but just the major things that have been happening most recently.
You also need to think about what you may be doing or not doing, behavioural choices that could be contributing to how you are feeling in general eg skipping or irregular meals, junk food diet, alcohol and or energy drink combo, rec drugs, medications, sleep habits, gaming hours, activity level etc and be 100% honest with your self about your life style choices and identify specific things that you are doing or not doing that need to change or you can improve.
As an 18yr old in Australia, you should be either in the education system or unemployed, now doing your final year of school or you've just started further education eg UNI, Tafe, apprenticeship etc or you are in the situation of looking for work, traineeship, tafe courses etc. There wouldn't be an Australian teen that wouldn't be dealing with the higher levels of stress due to doing their final years of schooling, being unemployment or starting further education.
You've got to remember that your still a teenager and probably in the most stressful period of your life so far and whilst your dealing with that, you're also dealing the normal hormonal changes, impulse maturity, peer pressures, alcohol (legal drinking age in OZ) your expectations and new adult responsibilities etc and if you were prescribed Roaccutane for acne, that definitely could of been a negative contributing factor.
I am recommending you think about anything that you could be doing or not doing right now, look at anything that is contributing to your main problems (depression/anxiety, dizzy/fainting spells, migraines, stomach pain) and identify what ever there is that you should or could focus on to make positive changes in your life. You have nothing to loose and everything to gain, if you take the steps to improve your physical and emotional health in what ever way you can!
Cheers............JJ
I think you really need to keep in mind (as ess has already mentioned) nothing you've described sounds like MS at all and that was your concern.....
I'm going to highly recommend you take a step back and take a moment to think about the 'main issues' you've experienced in the last few months, not the few seconds, not the couple of times, not the times when you had swollen lymph nodes and or a virus, not the stuff of years ago but just the major things that have been happening most recently.
You also need to think about what you may be doing or not doing, behavioural choices that could be contributing to how you are feeling in general eg skipping or irregular meals, junk food diet, alcohol and or energy drink combo, rec drugs, medications, sleep habits, gaming hours, activity level etc and be 100% honest with your self about your life style choices and identify specific things that you are doing or not doing that need to change or you can improve.
As an 18yr old in Australia, you should be either in the education system or unemployed, now doing your final year of school or you've just started further education eg UNI, Tafe, apprenticeship etc or you are in the situation of looking for work, traineeship, tafe courses etc. There wouldn't be an Australian teen that wouldn't be dealing with the higher levels of stress due to doing their final years of schooling, being unemployment or starting further education.
You've got to remember that your still a teenager and probably in the most stressful period of your life so far and whilst your dealing with that, you're also dealing the normal hormonal changes, impulse maturity, peer pressures, alcohol (legal drinking age in OZ) your expectations and new adult responsibilities etc and if you were prescribed Roaccutane for acne, that definitely could of been a negative contributing factor.
I am recommending you think about anything that you could be doing or not doing right now, look at anything that is contributing to your main problems (depression/anxiety, dizzy/fainting spells, migraines, stomach pain) and identify what ever there is that you should or could focus on to make positive changes in your life. You have nothing to loose and everything to gain, if you take the steps to improve your physical and emotional health in what ever way you can!
Cheers............JJ
OMG, yes!
How irritating is it?
Especially if I am standing, if I am sitting, I feel so dizzy as well.
Recently have had bad migraines as well, apparently I need to keep my fluids up, I usually only drink a cup of water a day, so that's no good.
Are there any other symptoms you experience?
Hope you are well!
How irritating is it?
Especially if I am standing, if I am sitting, I feel so dizzy as well.
Recently have had bad migraines as well, apparently I need to keep my fluids up, I usually only drink a cup of water a day, so that's no good.
Are there any other symptoms you experience?
Hope you are well!
Do you have migraines?i have one of the symptoms that you stated
I literally just fall over (It is worse in a heated/unventilated/crowded vicinity
It is exactly same for me. Especially in these 3 situations. I faint in all 3 situations and get yawning/headaches after that.
Hot showers and other kinds of heat is ok for me but going in above situations triggers fainting for me. I have migraines with aura.
I literally just fall over (It is worse in a heated/unventilated/crowded vicinity
It is exactly same for me. Especially in these 3 situations. I faint in all 3 situations and get yawning/headaches after that.
Hot showers and other kinds of heat is ok for me but going in above situations triggers fainting for me. I have migraines with aura.
Physical problem like thyroid issue or an Auto immune disorder or something else, like sleeping too late, not getting enough sleep, lifestyle?
I will say that I had been on prescription Nexxium, and had to come off it because I had the rarely documented side effect of very freqent heart palpitations and faintness. I do better with over the counter Prevacid, or even Prilosec (which is what the doc has me on now). If one does not work, it does not mean that they all won't work.
The various lumps you describe are not anything I've seen written about with MS at all. Those lumps, along with the head/neck/ear pains, I would think could be more the lymphatic system ("lymph nodes"), rather than nervous system.
As much as depression anxiety can cause various pains, various problems can also cause depression/anxiety. A vicious cycle. So you may actually have a real physical problem going on, as well as stress.
The various lumps you describe are not anything I've seen written about with MS at all. Those lumps, along with the head/neck/ear pains, I would think could be more the lymphatic system ("lymph nodes"), rather than nervous system.
As much as depression anxiety can cause various pains, various problems can also cause depression/anxiety. A vicious cycle. So you may actually have a real physical problem going on, as well as stress.
Oh wow!
I don't know how to thank you!
I appreciate everything you have said, maybe I worry too much as well.
My doctor did contact a psychiatrist/therapist for me, and now I will definitely see her.
You are so kind, and oh dear, I have had so many restless nights, I understand you are only trying to help.
You have relaxed me so much!
THANK YOU!
I don't know how to thank you!
I appreciate everything you have said, maybe I worry too much as well.
My doctor did contact a psychiatrist/therapist for me, and now I will definitely see her.
You are so kind, and oh dear, I have had so many restless nights, I understand you are only trying to help.
You have relaxed me so much!
THANK YOU!
Hi there. I'm sorry you're going through all this. It must be very difficult.
I have to say that nothing you've described sounds like MS at all. Don't let the internet be your diagnostician. So many people Google various symptoms and MS comes up as a match. That's because there are a great many possible symptoms for MS, but not in the manner you've described.
Also, don't let the possible side effects of some medications keep you from giving them a good trial. All meds have side effects, including those for MS. They wouldn't be allowed on the market if their potential benefits didn't outweigh the negative effects that only a few get, relatively speaking. (Read the total profiles that manufacturers are required to list, noting the percentages of each effect. Remember that patients in the trials must report 'anything' that happens while on the drug trial, even if it clearly has nothing to do with the med.)
And by all means stay away from many patient forums where anonymous people make wild claims about medications. You need scientific facts. Even if a given person does experience a bad effect, that's just one in thousands or millions. And human nature dictates that people who are quite satisfied seldom get on the internet to say so.
I know you don't want to be told this, but a great deal of what you report can indeed be caused by depression and anxiety. Lump in throat, dizziness, stomach symptoms, fatigue, insomnia, odd sensations that move around, etc. My advice to you is to try one or more of those meds for several months and see what happens. Also see a therapist on an on-going basis, with a willingness to investigate thoroughly what may be happening to you inwardly.
Remember, the mind and the body are the same thing, and influences go back and forth constantly. Just something we all deal with to one extent or other. You are only 18 and should be enjoying this part of your life while getting ready for the rest of it. Wouldn't it be good if you could actually do that?
If you can get some of these symptoms under control, it should be much clearer what else could be organically wrong, and then that part can be examined and managed. This way, with all the things you report, doctors either tell you something to pacify you (you have a virus) or they pretty much dismiss you, so you wind up spinning your wheels and getting nowhere.
I hope you know that my advice is meant to help you, not criticize you. Please give it some thought.
ess
I have to say that nothing you've described sounds like MS at all. Don't let the internet be your diagnostician. So many people Google various symptoms and MS comes up as a match. That's because there are a great many possible symptoms for MS, but not in the manner you've described.
Also, don't let the possible side effects of some medications keep you from giving them a good trial. All meds have side effects, including those for MS. They wouldn't be allowed on the market if their potential benefits didn't outweigh the negative effects that only a few get, relatively speaking. (Read the total profiles that manufacturers are required to list, noting the percentages of each effect. Remember that patients in the trials must report 'anything' that happens while on the drug trial, even if it clearly has nothing to do with the med.)
And by all means stay away from many patient forums where anonymous people make wild claims about medications. You need scientific facts. Even if a given person does experience a bad effect, that's just one in thousands or millions. And human nature dictates that people who are quite satisfied seldom get on the internet to say so.
I know you don't want to be told this, but a great deal of what you report can indeed be caused by depression and anxiety. Lump in throat, dizziness, stomach symptoms, fatigue, insomnia, odd sensations that move around, etc. My advice to you is to try one or more of those meds for several months and see what happens. Also see a therapist on an on-going basis, with a willingness to investigate thoroughly what may be happening to you inwardly.
Remember, the mind and the body are the same thing, and influences go back and forth constantly. Just something we all deal with to one extent or other. You are only 18 and should be enjoying this part of your life while getting ready for the rest of it. Wouldn't it be good if you could actually do that?
If you can get some of these symptoms under control, it should be much clearer what else could be organically wrong, and then that part can be examined and managed. This way, with all the things you report, doctors either tell you something to pacify you (you have a virus) or they pretty much dismiss you, so you wind up spinning your wheels and getting nowhere.
I hope you know that my advice is meant to help you, not criticize you. Please give it some thought.
ess
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