diagnosing MS

[mich59]

please can anyone help im desperate.i was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 2 years ago...i asked about
MS at time but was told unlikely i have it...i know a lot about it as my first cousin has it and i have been
through a lot with her, she is more like a sister to me.
anyway last year my symptoms were really getting me down, i was referered to a neurologist, who
i explained i get vertigo, cloudy head, really bad pain in my neck and shoulders, i get really bad bouts
of incontinence, my fingers burn and ache and feel strange, im often dropping things, i have fallen
over a few time, last one in a shop about 3 days ago, also my eyesight is bad, and i cant do intricate
things my fingers just feel clumsey and awkward.i often feel sick, and i just start crying with the pain.
anyway, the neurologist seemed more interested in asking me about my past marriage, then got me
to do breathing excerises and i started to hyperventilate, my head started to hurt so much i started to cry, now this is early morning about 9.30am, early for me, i take amitripline at night only 10mg so all this happening
really made me upset, with this she started to say i need counciling etc for stress....i expect lots of you
are now saying that similar happened to you, consultants blaming stress etc.
well i never got my MRI scan, i wonder if they just dont want to pay out for these examinations...
my doctor is lovey who sent me, but i went home feeling deflated and it really knocked my confidence.
i wasnt happy with being questioned about my past marriage that ended over 12 years ago, i married again
and very happy....
anyway im now back to the same thing..all the same symtoms...also my skin burns at night oftne
and i cant sleep...when i do sleep for ages, after a few hours mid afterenoon im so tired and achey...
i actually took a pregablin today but it didnt help much...they forced my self to do yoga pilates...
my body feels more supple now...but its getting so hard to cope
im going back to doctor getting referall for brain MRI and going to pay private if i have to
im going to a different hospital and i want another opinion....
please please any suggestions...........i just want to get better and stronger
cant keep this up as coping with work etc is wearing me out so much,
sorry to moan im really a posative person, im just lucky to have a great husband but
because he had major heart attack last year, i dont want to be a burden
hugs Mich

[sllowe]

Hi there,

Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry for these problems you are having. The doc may have good reason to say not likely MS, I sure don't know. But, it's up to the doc to find the cause then. And, it doesn't sound like you received any clue into what could be causing yoiu these problems.

I'm not familiar with your health care system, but I do feel that you are correct in your next step for another opinion.

Keep yourself a handy timeline of symptoms, and keep it short and to the point. For example, when you say   "have fallen
over a few time, last one in a shop about 3 days ago, also my eyesight is bad, and i cant do intricate
things my fingers just feel clumsey and awkward.i often feel sick, and i just start crying with the pain. "

Your list/timeline should look like this:

* fingers feel clumbsy and awkward
* eyesight changed (describe the change)
* skin burns (state specifically where)

The doc may be right - this may not be MS, but more importantly you need to know what's causing it so you can be treated.

Thank you for trusting us for support and help.
~Shell

[Sumanadevii]

Well, something is not right.  The doctor doesn't seem to be taking  your symptoms very seriously.  We hear often on this board that it is depression, stress, conversion disorder or anxiety.  It seems to happen more often if you are a female and young.

My advice is to continue to search until a dx makes sense to you.  The medical professionals are good at making us feel like we are crazy.  I don't know if I would approach any hinting at MS but just give them a short time line and show how the symptoms are interfering with your life.

Keep us posted.