Hi I’m writing under anon for personal reasons but I think some people know who I am by now. Since I’ve been experiencing my symptoms which is about 11 weeks now I have also had to put up with my family turning against me amongst having to try and prove myself to various doctors. I’m finding this so hard as I am just poorly but finding I’m constantly having to fight. I’ve been really upset with the things going on in my body, the whole thing including not being believed has made me very depressed and anxious. I can barely eat and every day is just awful for me as at the moment I don’t have much support. I’ve gone from being a very active busy person to being in my own shell. I’ve even ended up having to spend Christmas alone (first time in my life) with just a microwave burger for Christmas dinner. My question is has anyone else gone through this? Any tips on how I cope? Never thought being unwell could cause this many problems for me. Merry Xmas xx
Hello anon
Sorry your family have turned against you, that must be really upsetting.
Do you have a good relationship with your gp anon, just wondering what he/she is doing for you.
What about asking your gp to arrange some counselling sessions. It would give you chance to talk about your feelings to someone who is impartial.
Are you on medication at the moment for symptom control. Its a bit difficult to offer advice without much information.
Hope things improve for you in the new year.
Take care, xxx
Hi thanks for the reply. I’m on gabapentin at the moment. It’s just my hands keep going numb whenever I lie down and my feet get bad pins and needles. This all started with the gp saying my symptoms were anxiety then later the neuro saying the same. Had a brain scan that showed nothing but the neuro is now taking me a bit more serious and I’m having a spinal MRI soon. The gabapentin helps with the electric shock feelings etc and with my anxiety. I will go and ask for some counselling though. The whole thing came on as a shock to me and when I first went to the doctors I didn’t realise I wouldn’t be believed. My family now just think I’m an attention seeker which I don’t understand as they know my behaviour etc is completely out of character for me. I’m guessing this is because what is happening in my body is invisible to others x
Hello jojow.
I’m glad the gabapentin is helping. The problems you mention when lying down could have something to do with your spine. If this is the case then the spinal scan will show this.
I have ms but also have cervical spondylosis ( worn out neck lol ) this causes me a lot of similar problems you mention.
Your life sounds very stressful at the moment jojow, counselling would really help you. Whatever is causing your symptoms, you need support in handling the whole situation.
I hope eventually you can resolve things with your family. In the meantime, see friends if you feel up to it…don’t isolate yourself.
xxx
Hi and thanks blossom. I have been looking at cervical spondosis and praying that is what is causing my problems, however I still have ms at the top of my brain. I haven’t experienced many problems in my face so far so I’m hoping it will be that. I will make sure I get some counselling and I have completely isolated myself since this started which I know is making it worse. I feel like I have to come to terms with something I don’t know I have yet. I’m worrying about the future and everything at present and it’s all got me so depressed. It’s like this came a long and burst my bubble. I don’t know how I would even cope if I found out it was ms as I’m not coping as it is. Hopefully I will get some answers in the new year x
You know your imagination is working overtime. I was only diagnosed in august and yes it was a big shock but I promise you if it turned out to be ms then you would cope.
Before all these symptoms started happening did you have anxiety problems? I’m just trying to get an idea of how you handle life in general. You haven’t got a diagnosis of anything yet jojow but you are having a scan which is good.
Was there something else going wrong in your life jojow before this query over ms? or would you rather not say.
xxx
Hi sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I hadn’t suffered anxiety leading up to this. I had a month of chest pain which when I went to a chiropractor he found a trapped nerve in my neck then I went straight on to having an inner ear infection that lasted 8 weeks then all this started. I was a bit worried with the inner ear infection as a doctor had mentioned seeing a neurologist if it didn’t go then once it did and all this started with my body I immediately grew full of anxiety, to the point where I couldn’t control it. I’ve been asked my doctors and the neurologist if I had a problem in my life before all this but as far as I know I was perfectly happy. This all started with the electric shock feeling and spasms and twitches in my legs. I have convinced myself it’s ms but I know I shouldn’t as it’s only been a while and a diagnosis hasn’t even been mentioned yet x
Thats fine…I just wondered if you had any other issues. I felt quite stressed going through all the test and waiting for answers. You said earlier you are worried about the future and everything…do you mean if it turns out to be ms?
Do you think it would help to try and make peace with your family, I don’t know how close you are to them. Sometimes being on your own too much gives one too much thinking and worrying time.
Try looking outwards jojow. What interest you, how do you like to keep busy?
At the end of the day you may not have ms but all this anxiety can lead to you making yourself ill. Find ways that help you relax. Take it one day at a time
xxx
Yes I meant if it turns out to be ms as I’m a single parent and worrying how it will affect my children etc and that I want to look after them and not have them look after me. I was such a busy person before all this, working, going to the gym, taking my kids places and all I can focus on now is what’s happening to my body. I have spoken to my dad tonight and explained the things that are happening to me and he was quite understanding so hopefully everyone else will be more so. I know that whatever life still goes on but for some reason it has really got to me. I’m going to make the effort to be more out going in between all my tests. You’re right it is a very stressful time having all these tests. My friends daughter has ms and I see that she lives a normal life and is quite happy. Think it’s cos it’s all just come on at once for me and taken me by surprise x
I’m glad you’ve spoke to your father, I hope that helped you…keep talking to him.
I can understand as a single parent why you are worrying but at the same time you have to remember that your symptoms could be due to some other problem. Getting a diagnosis one way or another can take a long time so I’m afraid somehow you have to find some coping strategies.
Don’t bury your feelings…thats not the answer. Just be proactive in dealing with them, like the counselling for example that we mentioned.
xxx
Thanks a lot for the advice, you have made me feel much better. I think at this moment in time I really have to find ways of coping. I think the fact that I hadn’t been believed has made things a whole lot worse for me x
Hi Jo. Sorry you’re having a rough time. Limbo can be very stressful. I have had symptoms for some time now and was told it could be ms but after a clear mri told it definitely can’t be and I can have other tests but pointless, the neuro also suggested to me I see a counsellor about issues I may have despite the fact that I had told him I was very happy in general except for the symptoms that concerned/affected me. I try to get on with it and distract myself with work, kids etc but it is hard when I can’t do stuff I used to do eg I can’t go on a shopping trip as I get exhausted and my bad leg really hurts after about 300m continuous walking, means I get left home as regular breaks weren’t enough to help. Housework has to be done slowly again lots of rest or same problem with leg and tight band sensation to it is worse. This does upset me as I have run marathons and done back to back exercise classes before classes. I only have a few people who know what is going on and they are great for listening or mainly distracting me everyone else thinks I’m clumsy and talk nonsense sometimes lol. Anyhow I guess my point was people here understand how hard it is so use here for support, try and distract yourself and enjoy what you can and take care Axx
Hello Jojow
Your welcome. Keep coming on here for support and help, to get you through this.
Take care, Noreen
Thanks for the replies arwin and blossom. It’s reassuring to know that I’m not the only person in the world to be going through this although I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I haven’t yet experienced too much weekness, just my left arm seems to have played up a bit since this all started, so I sympathise with you for the weekends in your leg. Glad I posted on here now. I never realised chatting to people on the internet could make you feel so much better. I really appreciate everyone’s advice a lot x
See it as a bit of informal counselling jojow lol. Writing things down will have helped you to get things off your chest. Plus the fact that you don’t know us personally or can see us, meaning your free to say what you like…within reason lol
Yeah defo feels like a bit of counselling, really appreciate it xx