Could it really be stress / anxiety ?

[FLNatalie]

I began having symptoms in early February which at first alarmed me, but which I quickly dismissed as being something benign. I was having trouble seeing in a vague sort of way and I had two days of numbness in my extremities and face. Then a month later, while the vision had deteriorated into double vision and an extreme sensitivity to light, the numbness returned. Since that time, I have experienced heat intolerance, confusion, random muscle weakness and fatigue, more and more numbness and other paresthesia symptoms (burning, tingling, electric-shock type feelings, etc.), and dizziness.

All of my vision and paresthesia symptoms generally get worse in the evenings.

My PCP referred me to a neurologist (an MS specialist), but I wasn't having any symptoms other than the vision issues at the time of the appointment. The neuro did all of the usual tests and said his level of suspicion for MS was low, but he could see that I was clearly concerned so he ordered an MRI and an SSEP. My PCP ordered bloodwork and referred me to an opthalmologist.

The bloodwork apparently came back "within normal limits, and the ophthalmologist said my optic nerves looked healthy, my vision was fine, and that she couldn't see anything that would explain why I have double vision. She even did a visual field test and an OCT scan with no negative results.

I had an MRI and an SSEP and saw my neurologist today to review the results. He said he saw *nothing* on the MRI and the SSEP was normal. He believes I am suffering from stress and anxiety and asked if I would like to take an antidepressant. I didn't answer right away, so he suggested a psychologist and to follow up again with him (the neuro) in a month if symptoms persist.

Do any of you know someone for whom all these kinds of symptoms have really turned out to be "just" stress. As surprised as I was to hear that from the doctor, it would be a big relief, if it were true.

[Pantx]

MS is not going to show up in bloodwork typically but the bloodwork is good overall picture of your organ function and chemical balance. If your parasthesia and neurological symptoms persist you may want to redo your mRI in 6 months to see if there are any changes. Hope you feel better soon.

[FLNatalie]

I didn't fell insulted, Pantx, just surprised. I am really hoping that it could be true that all of this could be caused by anxiety, because that's not a chronic illness and should be manageable.

The PCP did order labwork and all came back "within normal limits," whatever that means!

[Pantx]

I'm assuming your PCP did labwork just to rule out imbalances, thyroid etc?

[Pantx]

Stress and anxiety can cause a whole host of physical manifestations. They're not trying to put you down by saying that. If your symptoms don't improve you do need to go back. In the mean time try to reduce your stress level