I haven’t been diagnosed with anything, but from the reading I’ve done, I’m staring to think MS is the most likely diagnosis. And I’m a bit scared.
Looking back, this has actually been going on for a while.
About two and a half years ago, I had a bad cough / cold, and I stared to get pressure on my sternum that was not quite pain, but definitely uncomfortable. After a couple of weeks, I went to a doctor who said it was a side effect of the cold. It didn’t go away though, so I went back to my GP a couple of times, who eventually said it was all in my head. It ended up going away after about six months, so I went on with my life.
About 14 months ago, I was trying to get back into shape so I started going for short runs. On the third run, I got pain in my chest that was bad enough that I had to stop running. Back to the GP, but this time I got to see a cardiologist. Six months of waiting, four months of beta blockers, and a lot of fear that I was going to have a heart attack later, and my stress echo was clear. The problem’s not my heart, which should have been reassuring, but I don’t have a diagnosis.
During this time, I started to get some numbness in my left fingers, but my GP dismissed it when I mentioned it to her.
I have since changed GPs. When I went to visit my new GP, he did some tests to check for carpal tunnel, and gave me some anti-inflammatories. After a second visit, he has sent me for a nerve conduction study.
My symptoms now include regular numbness in my left hand, regular pins and needles in my left hand, somewhat regular weakness in my left arm, occasional numbness / pins in the my right hand, and occasional numbness in lower legs / feet. My walking and running are unaffected, and eyesight is fine. I also infrequently get numbness in lips and throat (that is what made me switch GPs). The chest pressure still comes and goes, but does not appear to be exercise-induced. Seems like the symptoms are worse when I’m stressed.
I’ve done some research online using reputable web sites, and the only neuropathy that fits my symptoms seems to be MS. I know I should wait for a doctor, but I’m using sites like NIH and Macy Clinic. I’m scared. I know MS can be progressive, and that it affects different people different ways. I don’t want to be a burden to my husband and young kids.
Part of me thought that there wasn’t much point in discussing this until I had a diagnosis, but I don’t have much of a support network and I need to talk to someone.
For those that got this far, thanks for reading.
Jill