Possible early symptoms, anxiety, or what?

[seahors]

Hi all,

I'm a 24 year old female attending grad school (so I am stressed, haha). Anyway, to start: about 3 months ago I quit smoking (about a 6 year long habit) and a little more than a week later I had very intense symptoms that I attributed to nicotine withdrawal. I had severe vertigo, tingling sensations in my right hand and forearm, and a milder tingling sensation in my right cheek. I also experienced dizziness. I had blood taken to see if any of my vitamins were low, they were fine. These symptoms subsided, besides the dizziness would come back mildly from time to time. I've also noticed while driving I feel like I have a hard time moving through space, almost like my eyes are not working correctly. Which gives me great anxiety because I've never feared driving before. Since last week, the tingling began again in my right hand and forearm (BTW I have a minor ganglion cyst in this wrist) and in my cheek. The dizziness came back full blown with very mild vertigo for a few days. I had trouble concentrating and my tensor tympani muscle (the one in your ear) went off a few times too. It freaked me out so I went to the doctor again and he put me on steroids, Naproxen, and dizziness meds (I haven't taken the dizziness pills yet, because he said to only take them as needed). He did some informal neuro tests like having me press against him in various ways, he said all of that was fine. I've been taking the steroid and naproxen since Tuesday, and the dizziness seems to be a lot better, but I don't know if it's necessarily from the medications. I also now feel a tingling sensation in my left scalp area. All of this is really freaking me out. I don't really have any fatigue, can exercise fine, and have decent coordination. Should I get a referral for a neurologist or wait this out? Any ideas? I've also always been healthy my entire life, so no other issues there.

Thanks,
Chelsea

[Udkas]

Hi there,
and welcome to the MS Forum,

I think that because your symptoms have not resolved you should probably get a referral to a neurologist just so that you can be evaluated properly by an expert.

I am not suggesting for a minute that your symptoms are MS, but I think that if you can see a neuro you can have the appropriate tests and chat to an expert and if they then feel you need further investigation they will do this.

Many things can cause sensory symptoms like you describe, not just things like MS, migraine headache springs to mind, migraine can cause symptoms that can come and go with the migraine aura, you don't actually have to experience a headache to get the aura symptoms.  What you are describing could fit the migraine tag, but I do know people with MS who have similar symptoms but without knowing how long your symptoms last for, how they have presented etc. etc. I don't think anyone could make a judgement on a forum.

I would make an appointment for a neurologist and get it all checked out for your peace of mind.

Cheers,
Udkas.

[COBOB]

I'd say waiting is a bad idea.  Best to see a Neuro and get a baseline exam.  The Neuro may do an MRI.  Start the documentation.  If may or may not be MS or another neurologic condition, but it would be best to get it looked at and treated early, no matter what it is.

Bob