Hi there, I am Richard and I created a thread last week. My symptoms began just over a week ago annoyingly as I arrived for a 5 week trip to Australia. Two trips to A&E later revealed no abnormalities. I am undiagnosed, infact not even braced the subject with a doctor really. I am aware that my symptoms could be something else given I havent had them checked, but i do have a hunch. I feel i am having a relapse, all the symptoms i am having (tingling, electric shocks, funny sensations, increased frequency, headaches and dizziness) i have had before but in an isolation, not together. I also believe i am having the MS hug, infact on four occassions this last week. Its a worrying and frightening symptom. Makes me feel really poorly, well first two led to A&E visits. Feel like its hard to breathe. Had last one couple of hours ago, though it has come and then eased all evening. I ate for the first time with tbus last one and vomited almost immediately. Like the tightness prevented the food from fully reaching the stomach. Does MS have this constrictive effect on the chest and abdomen? So far my holiday to Australia has been dominated by this!! Bit of a miserable first week!, Have contemplated going home early but dont feel well enough for the long flight back to the UK at the moment. Not sure whether to try and get some tests here in oz, maybe an Mri, or see a local GP for advice. All a bit complicated with time frames and cost etc but I feel I need to do something! Healthcare here is not free!! Just wondered what people think, and if anyone has had the chest tightness or hug, and if so, what they have done to ease it!? Thankyou something!
I never get the hug badly so I can’t advise on that, but what I would suggest is that you read your travel insurance policy very carefully and see if you are covered. I think most policies would cover an acute neurological attack, but I’m not sure, especially if you’ve had symptoms before that you didn’t disclose to the insurer.
If you are covered, then it might be best to get some tests done now rather than wait till you’re home. Two main reasons: massive waiting lists in the UK and the symptoms may resolve before you get to see someone but it’s best for a neuro to see them “in action”.
Karen x
Hi Richard,
I live in Australia and may be able to help you out depending on where you are staying. I am sending you a Private Message.
But more generally what ever you do do NOT tell any doctors here that you may have experienced these symptoms in the UK because you won’t then be able to claim for a GP visit or hospital care under our Medicare system with the reciprocal agreement we have with the UK for a pre-existing condition. Keep any medical invoices/receipts and take them to a Medicare office to get reimbursed the money you are entitled to get back.
But presumably you have taken out Travel Insurance as well, haven’t you?
As far as your symptoms go it may or may not be MS. MS has so many non-specific symptoms that it can be hard to say definitely and from what you are describing the symptoms would also fit a number of conditions such as anxiety, migraine or even the local gastro that is going around if you are in Victoria (don’t remind me ) The gastro definitely caused a feeling of constriction around the upper tummy, lower chest and vomiting, headaches and severe dizziness!
I wouldn’t bother trying to chase up an MRI here. Unless you were seriously ill enough to be admitted to hospital you have zero chance of getting one before you would be due to fly back. Only a neuro can refer for an MRI here and the waiting period for a non-urgent consult could be 6-8 weeks and then another few weeks for the MRI appointment.
I would see a GP though if for no other reason to rule out any obvious neuro problems. And for reassurance… To help put things in perspective a bit, Richard, I have definite and severe MS, use a scooter full time, struggle constantly with significant pain, have to use a catheter etc etc and am planning on travelling to the UK and France for a holiday in a years time and taking my child with me. I am a single mum. In other words, even of you do have MS and are having a minor relapse there is no medical emergency about it and absolutley no reason for it to spoil a holiday of a life time.
I took my kid up to Far North Queensland in June and we went snorkelling our on the Barrier Reef and had a fantastic time. Having MS (if you do) won’t stop you having fun here and it is very rare indeed that someone would ever need to be medi-vacced home because of it.
Try and ignore it after seeing a GP and enjoy yourself
Belinda
Hi Richard, I also suffer with hug (though yours sounds worse than mine) so I’m copy and pasting a list of tips below. They are uni-sex so excuse bra comment!.. but a woman with hug may also read your post.
They may help a bit. As you will see, stress makes hug worse and a holiday is extremely stressful (even though we do it to relax it actually can have opposite effect). Anyway hope they help but really I think you are going to need med’s to help also.
Pat x
It’s a spasm of the small muscles between the ribs. Here are some tips that might help:
· Much worse in heat
· Much worse when fatigued or stressed
· Don’t wear a bra (it irritates the muscles)
· Don’t wear tight clothing… the looser the better
· Avoid large meals… little and often is better
· Lie down in/on bed if you can… and lying completely flat often helps
· Take 2 Paracetamol… if you are not on other pain med’s
· Try controlling your breathing… deep in through the nose and slowly blow out of mouth… and try and relax whole body while doing it
· Stay as cool as you can but don’t have cold shower… luke warm is better
· Rest, rest, rest and then get some more rest (if at all possible)
· Gently rub the affected area. It might feel like it’s bruised… don’t worry, that’s normal
…just incase you were tempted
Hi Deb Promise i won’t be donning my brassiere this side of 2013!! Lol Thanks for the tips Deb, I will definately try them out. Seeing the GP today, could be a difficult conversation seeing as i know how weird it might sound going in and saying i think i get the ms hug but i have never been to the doctors before about having ms! Let me guess the dr won’t have heard it. I have today as well though its not central chest today, its bit lower, still uncomfortable but more bearable. Can’t eat though. Trying to have a relaxing time here in beautiful Australia, not that i have seen much staying out of the heat! Rather be housebound at home! Thanks again, appreciate your post
Sorry Pat, the above message was mean’t for you, deb your contribution didn’t go unappreciated either! Lol
tell the gp that you have what feels like a muscular pain in your chest. it comes and goes and affects your eating.
you are seeing the gp with a symptom NOT WITH MS
good luck
i hope that you can enjoy the rest of your holiday
carole x
I am diagnosed, I have had a tightness around left rib cage that restricted breathing and made me feel sick. Have had it several times, at worst it feels like that side is made of wood. Hope your holiday can continue with you feeling better. Good luck.
Un diagnosed…sorry for above mistake.
Hi Richard, others have provided a lot of fantastic detail but I just want to share the fact altering my diet slightly has, by coincidence or otherwise, removed the symptoms of hug for me. Find out if you have an intolerance to something and if you do, remove it. MS and celiac often go hand-in-hand, and whether I have that myself I don’t know yet. I do still get a tight chest on occasion though. I’m not an expert [gasp] but I got hug often right after eating and removing gluten seemed to get rid of it as well as other things like mouth ulcers. Heat often makes MS symptoms/neuritis worse also, so I’d stay in the shade myself, but I hope you recover soon as there’s still every chance it could be a nervous hangover from a virus or something. All the best mate…