I am new here but wanted some advice as i am scared i have MS. I have had the following symptoms on and off over the last maybe 5 years:
Twitching eye lid
Twitching lower lip
Other facial twitching
Eye worms (got worse recently)
Numbness in last two fingers (only once waking from sleep and with elbow in a bent position)
Muscular squeezing between ribs but only very occasionally and only when stretching
Tingling across bridge of nose
Feeling of very slight vibration in my left arm
I dont have any issues in my legs or feet or spint. No pins and needles. Im doing amazing at work and im fit and healthier than ever. Im 40 just about to turn 41. The only thing wrong with me is the impending fear i have something wrong with me and googlimg all those symptoms brings up MS which has lead me here. Ive seen a doc before aboit numb hands but they said its the position i sleep in. All of these things come and go, the only thing thats really consistent is the twitching. Also saw the doc about that and they said its a vit deficiency.
Anyway shed any light on whether i shojld be worried or am worrying for nothing?
Thanks
Go to your GP and get a proper investigation. Chances are it’s not MS but go through it properly. GP can’t diagnose MS but can refer you to Neurology dept at your local NHS Trust. They won’t move particularly fast but MS is a very slow-burner, so relax
Thanks Graeme. One other thing i get is bouts of frequent urination. Mostly when ive been drinking a lot of liquids but from time to time ill wake up 3 or 4 times a night. Having said that i do get between 8 and 9 hours sleep. Ive read some of the other posts and many people refer to burning and numbness over large areas of the body coming on quite suddenly but i dont get that. I know it can be different for everyone which is what makes it all the more worrying. It can be different for everyone, it can come and go, you ca have it years and not know about it. I mean…if thats not enough to make you anxious i dont know what it is. I go on holiday in 2 weeks and noy sure if seeing a GP before i go will help or not because it may just heighten the anxiety knowing im waiting for a result. I have private healthcare but even that would take more than 2 weeks for doc app to get referred, then neuro, then tests, then results.
The GP won’t diagnose, only suggest a range of possibilities. They will then refer you, so no reason why you shouldn’t start the ball rolling now. When contacting your GP practice, ask if there is a Doctor there who has experience of MS - it’s surprising how many have little or no knowledge of it and will either refer blindly or not refer, to mask their own lack of knowledge. Some enlightened GP’s even order the MRI, so that when you actually see a Neurologist, they can already see the MRI rather than have to order one and kick it down the road for a few more months. Some GP’s cannot order MRI’s directly because of local Trust policy.
Thanks Graeme. Non of the things i am experiencing are debilitating. More annoying and anxiety inducing. I get up at 5am every day, i do a hardcore gym session then work all day, take the dog out, cook dinner etc…! I do go to bed by about 9pm but after a day like that its no wonder. I dont have any brain problems, memory loss or whatever. Ive just passed my probation in work so am smashing that, got a really high powered job thats well paid. I have just bought a lovely house with ny beautiful fiance. Life in general is very good. So why oh why am i burdened with these thought loops of convincing myself that every time i have any sort of pain or sensation it must be MS. My Nan had Parkinsons and i watched her deteriorate which i think scarred me for life. Now i live in fear of that or something similar. I flip flop between believing i have parkinsons and MS. But lets face it, whatever i have will be diagnosed and become part of my identity which ill be told to take drugs for, but i dont live in pain and i dont live in constant turmoil due to persistent symptoms. Who knows, i may one day, but why spend my time ruining my healthy days by living in fear of something i may or may not have.
The thing that gets me is how apparently vast and subtle the symptoms can be. We all at some point experience some if not all of the symptoms sporadically in our lives. Who hasnt had a dizzy spell, who isnt sometimes forgetful, who doesnt have the odd twitch, who doesnt sometimes feel fatigued. The list goes on. Im sure if everyone who ever experienced these things assumed or suspected they had MS then there would be queues out of the door at the doctors. So just how bad do those symptoms need to get before you think ‘enough is enough, this doesnt seem right’? Couple that with the fact that people can walk around with it for years without even knowing, is it likely people live with it all their lives without even being diagnosed? and does a diagnosis make that much difference? its such a random and worrying disease
Dear Mark, I hate to say this but yes some MS symptoms are subtle and yes you can have it for a long time without knowing. However many diseases, cancers in particular, give subtle symptoms and you can be carrying them for years. Apologies if I appear to be dismissive of you anxiety but everyone gets eye and facial twitching- esp when tired or a little stressed. In the case of urination then if you are really worried get your prostate checked or at least talk with your Dr.
I am wondering why have you picked on MS? From a totally lay persons point of view but a someone who has had MS for 16-17 years, it wouldn’t have occurred to me that your ‘symptoms’ had any connection with MS .
I hope you don’t mind me asking, but is it possible that something in your life has brought on a period of general anxiety which for some reason has anchored itself on ‘hidden diseases’. Maybe have a chat ( if such things are still possible) with your Dr about your symptoms and anxieties ?
Thank you for this message. I ‘picked’ MS because of good old doctor google. The symptoms i have encountered have lead me down the path of parkinsons and then MS. Just because the sensations i have are listed under those diseases.
I almost certainly have health anxiety. I show classic signs. Constantly in a thought loop about having something wrong with me, checking google, asking people around me if im ok, coming on to forums to share my story to hope someone tells me its nothing (or confirm it is…like anyone is able to do that).
I think i try to but fail with dealing with stress and anxiety in a way in which it feels like its not even happening. But it rumbles on underneath inducing symptoms that manifest as something far more serious.
This is the 2nd time ive joined this forum and the 2nd time ive had the same response. Which is classic health anxiety. Maybe i need to wise up and stop wasting everyones time.
Don’t know if this will help but from time to time and when I go though anxious periods I take myself off to a counsellor. It really does help - just talking out loud and reflecting on my worries and anxieties somehow puts them into perspective and they sort of fade away
I don’t think they would diagnose ms from those symptoms. I was difficult to diagnose and only happened after an mri and a bout of optical neuritis. Dont stress about it but leave Google alone. Go and get checked or referred
