Hi all, new here. Brief history I’m 49 female - was in RAF, police, prison service and a postwoman……now can’t work, have to do everything involving loads of rest.
8yrs ago went from being fit and well to having major cramps in my arm like a lorry ran over it, was crying in pain and could hardly drive home from work….then ached like after cramp. Then happened in knee, feet shoulders, it would make me unable to use that body part, after about a week it would move to another part and do same. Had real extreme fatigue in bed. Had a rash come up. Felt like skin was red raw and creepy spiders on my face. 6 months I was off work feeling very scared that I was dying. Rheumatologist said reactive arthritis. Completely healed carried on as normal. But scared would happen again every time I got a pain or ache. Was on steroids and hydroxychloraquine. All blood tests come back ok
Fast forward to 2021 to present…another bout, but different symptoms. Extremely tired all the time, no matter how I rest, body aches, vision seems to of got a lot worse especially at longer distances. Can’t read my alarm clock for a delayed amount of time now which is about a 150cm away. Sharp shooting pains everywhere like shocks. Tingling fingers and feet. Red flushed face, have a hip bum area pain which when weight bearing is painful to walk on. Feel like my balance is off, drop things I pick up, memory is bad I forget why I walked into a room. I have found a lump in back of neck which could be a lymph node?
Seen rheumatologist who diagnosed me last year with psoriatic arthritis (I don’t have psoriasis but brother does) put me on methotrexate.
Slight improvement, back to work, downhill again with fatigue and aches/pains. Off sick from work (never returned-got Ill health retired)
Rheumatology say fibromyalgia as no swelling visible. Referred occupational therapist.
2 weeks ago last appointment rheumatologist. When mentioned memory issues, got an mri head scan which I had 3 days ago.
Having looked at ms, I think I have quite a lot of similarities. You know when something inside is not right and you don’t feel like what they are saying is what you have? I feel like that, plus I’m getting fed up of being in limbo.
I’d be so relieved now to have an accurate diagnosis, even if it’s a really bad one, just for some clarification and moving forward.
If I had ms, would that defo show on my mri? And wondered if you guys could assess from my symptoms if I’m clutching at straws.
God bless xxx
