My symptoms/story - SCARED

[cmp55]

Hi Everyone, I am new here. I do not have not been diagnosed yet, I had an MRI yesterday and will be seeing my neuo in 2 weeks.
It started about 5 months ago with my only symptom being twitching. I didnt tell anyone for a couple of months, however finally went to my GP. She did the blood work/general neuro exame and everything was fine. Due to my high anxiety she referred me to a neuro. Had the neuro consultation, and neuro exam. He did not even want to send me for an MRI as he did not suspect anything, said if anything it was beinign twitches. I convinced him that i needed it as it was taking over my life. He agreed, however said my worries of MS were not necessary as twitching isnt really alone a sign, things like twitching or weakness are more of a cause for concern.
SINCE then (~3-4 months) i have had all of the following symptoms, pretty much all the time:
- twitching
- tingling
- pins and needles in my hands and feet a few times a day
- buzzing in my R leg and L arm/hand from time to time
- eye pain
- flashes in my eyes (usually green lights)
- lots of floaters
- periods for ~1min of almost cloudy vision
- constant feeling of having to pop my ears and let pressure out.
- random sharp pains
- feeling of chest pain sometimes
- heartburn

I am a 21 year old female currently working towards my Chartered Accountant designation - so have a pretty hectic lifestyle. I have not been tired or dizzy, hard trouble walking, felt any weakness etc (yet)! It seems that as soon as I am comfortable with one symptom i develop another one. I am so scared and it is ruining my life. I have a great support system, but I can tell they all think i am crazy. I guess thats what brings me here, for some moral support.

I am so worried i have MS. How can all of these symptoms be nothing..2 weeks to go until I get my MRI results and it doesnt seem time is going by at all. Do you guys think this sounds like MS? Any advice/moral support/similar experiences is appreciated.

[gbucio1]

what are the clinical signs?  My neuro has gotten an MRI because I am experiencing hot water sensations runing down my legs.   Slight dizziness and shooting pains in my muscles and joints as well as twitching.  He seems to believe because I am not losing my balance, no numbness of half my body and because my MRI came back normal that I am in the clear.  Do people w/ MS start off losing their balance and getting optic neuritis?  Please help

[rendean]

Hi and welcome!

I have to agree with JJ and Guitar_girl about your symptoms and MS. It doesn't fit the normal pattern and may indeed be health anxiety which is a real entity shared by many. It can be treated (if that's your diagnosis) and either way you will have answers.

I agree with a psychiatrist  appointment if offered to help put this problem to rest.

I wish you luck and let us know how the MRI turns out,
Ren

[cmp55]

Thanks so much for your replies. Its amazing to think there are actually people out there that care. I am taking it one day at a time until my neuro appointment...Although great, Canadian healthcare is a slow process. I will keep you updated on my neuro appt. Thanks again!

[Guitar_grrrl]

Hey, good for you - going for your Chartered Accountant designation.  My grandfather was a chartered Accountant from Toronto.  

I agree with JJ, here.  Please don't let MS anxiety take over your life - you have much bigger fish to fry, now, with exams, etc.

If your neuro hands you a referral to a psychiatrist, take him/her up on it.  The psych will either clear you, or treat you.  Both options are good.

It doesn't sound like MS is the issue here.  Breath. Best of luck!!

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome to our little corner of the web.

IMHO from what you've written, i think your going to find your neuro still doesn't think you have MS and he/she will probably advice you get assessed for a psychological condition eg health anxiety. It is a possibility that that is what you might be dealing with, based from your high anxiety and the majority of your sx arriving only after you saw a neurological and was assessed for MS.

It is unusual for MS to present on both sides of the body and in all 4 limbs, damage to your CNS doesn't usually work that way, sx that cross over are usually an indicator that the sx are not caused by MS.  

Keep in mind that both your GP and neurologist didn't find any clinical signs, none of their neurological tests found anything abnormal to indicate the issue was a phsysiological problem. Your language indicates your high anxiety state eg "I am so scared and its ruining my life" and i'm sure you recognise how anxious you are but regardless of any finding or lack of findings, it is in your best interest to seek help in getting your anxiety under control.

Even people with MS commonly have anxiety issues, its quite common in todays world and people from all walks of life are actively seeking help so they are better equiped to deal with life, health etc so please dont be put off if the next step is to find out if this is the problem or not. I'd honestly say that over half of us here have been assessed for mental health, at some stage during the dx process.

Good luck and I really hope it turns out that you dont have MS!

Cheers...........JJ