Dear All,
I wondered if anyone has any advice on pregnancy and the time pre-diagnosis?
To keep the story short, I am 33 and thinking of having a baby. However, just under two years ago I started having neurological symptoms which led to me being investigated for MS. I had my first ‘attack’ with symptoms such as: waking up with numb hands and legs, double vision, eye pain, leg weakness ( my legs literally broke under me when I was in a shop…) and smaller symptoms such us pins and needles, shooting pain in hands and legs, my fingers going all white in my hands ( I would attach a picture of this, but don’t seem to be able to see the button for attachments) and also sensitivity to heat and getting very tired. Also my right hand felt very week and I kept dropping things all the time.
These symptoms lasted for couple a of months . They referred me to ophthalmologist who suspected MS and then to neurologist. But my tests came back ‘within the norm’ . MRI clear ( small white spot there but dismissed by my MS neurologist) , LP negative. Blood tests all good, except chronic white low white cell count. Vitamin levels all ok, HIV and other illnesses negative. So generally clear bill of health, and I’ve been told it is probably nothing or something functional like FND and that it will go away. I received a patronising lecture from my MS neurologist and was sent home with an advice to look at neurosymptoms website. However when I got the letter back from my appointment it stated diagnosis: unclear/likely functional.
And while this is good news that my scans are clear the problem is that I keep having my symptoms. They never came back as strong as when I had my initial episode but they linger in the background. I still get numbness and tingling, muscle spasms in my legs and hands,I get very tired, especially when its hot and humid, I get problems with my eyes and essentially all the same symptoms but not as intense as they were when they referred me to neurologist.
I haven’t been to a GP since as I do not want to be treated as a hipochondriac so I am really waiting for another ‘attack’ or for things to get worse till I ask for another referral to Neurologist to have this reviewed.
I live a very healthy lifestyle, I follow Paleo diet, exercise and don’t have any health issues except depression in the past which I take medication for and they help.
But since I am thinking of getting pregnant now, I would like to make sure that there is nothing worse going on with my body, like potentially MS so as I know where I stand.
Anyone other woman out there that has been in a similar situation?
Just to add - my grandfather had Parkinson’s and my sister has chronic migraines. Other than that only cancer in the family.