Possible MS?

New diagnosis and before diagnosis
1

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all well.

I am worried that I may have the start of MS - it is probably nothing but I just wanted to get your opinions.

So 3 weeks ago, my right eye became totally blurry and could not see anything out of it although had no pain so with the advice of specsavers I went to A&E (who were not very helpful!), the vision came back the next day but then the day after that I had intermittent bluriness in my left eye and excruciating pain in both eyes that came and went (not with eye movement). I went back to A&E and was referred to a specialist, who said the left eye was not optic neuritis and diagnosed it as a silent migraine? although everything I have read about this says there is no pain associated with it.

However, other than this, I have been meaning to go to the doctors for a long time due to lots of little things that are adding up e.g.

  1. For the last two years I have suffered massively with constipation - Im talking I can go 2-3weeks without a single natural movement and still have to take strong laxatives - i have had this investigated but no abnormalities were found in my bowels - it was put down to a slow transit.

  2. I am SO tired, abnormally so. I literally am struggling with everyday tasks and feel as though I have no energy to go out with friends etc.

  3. I have been experiencing tingling in the tips of my fingers every now and again. Also, a couple of times, my hand has gone bright red and is agony to touch. Im not sure if this is circulation.

  4. My legs sometimes go very weak. Sometimes in bed, I feel as though I am partially paralysed and as though it would take a tonne of effort to move my legs or if im walking sometimes I feel as though they wont hold me up much longer.

  5. I have been with my partner for 4 years and in the last year my sex drive has DISAPPEARED! I mean its gone from being supercharged to absolutely nothing. And when it does happen, I need a lot of help from lubrication - again this is the polar opposite of 1 year ago. Nothing to do with how im feeling in my relationship.

  6. Dizziness. I sometimes go quite dizzy and am finding that when I get up from sitting I am frequently having to hold on to something and am blacking out for a split second with limbs going very weak…although this could be ‘just getting up too quickly’ it happens even when I have got up slowly.

  7. I am also finding it very hard to concentrate on anything and my memory is recently very bad. I am not trusting myself to do basic tasks - I came home the other day to find I had left my back door, not only unlocked but wide open - this is not like me at all. I feel as though I am away with the fairies.

I am 22 years old and have a mother with MS (however, she never talks about it - so would like opinions from you guys rather than stress her out as I know when she becomes stressed she relapses).

I have had many blood tests that have all come back fine so Im not deficient in anything. I am booked for an appointment with my GP on Monday so I was wondering although it was not optic neuritis, would it be worth asking for a referral for a scan?

thank you so much for your time

Isabelle

2

Oh dear - bless you, no wonder you want some answers!

I would summarise your main symptoms worries into bullet points & ask your GP for a referral to neurology. I don’t think that would be unreasonable with a family history of MS.

There’s lots of good advice on this site/forum about preparing for appointments so do have a read around.

Good luck on Monday & keep us posted please!

Take care

C xx

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3

Hi Isabelle,

I think you have enough symptoms to ask your GP for an MRI. This will explain the procedure that can take many years http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/diagnosingms.html

G

4

Thank you for your replies! I am pleased to say that after mentioning my symptoms my doctor has red flagged a referral to see a neurologist! Hopefully will get some answers soon! X

5

I was struggling with walking,and my hands became useless in December.I couldn’t write,use keys or do anything that required small hand movements. I felt painfully numb all over, with bad tingling in my hands. One of the most weird things were that I could only carry small items in my hands if I kept looking at them! I am tired all the time, but am able to sleep for the first time in months.

I had an MRI in Jan - and phoned my doctors for the results. I was told nothing unusual was found.I then received appointments for another two MRI scans.I haven’t had these yet. I was still feeling tingly with numbness in my hands, so booked another appointment with the doctor. He then told me the brain scan showed quite a lot of white platelets which is very likely to be MS.

This was two weeks ago. I am feeling very confused, as apart from being told this, I not been offered any advice or help.