Waiting for MRI...new symptoms

New diagnosis and before diagnosis
1

Hi,

New to all this and would love to hear any opinions on my situation…

I started having symptoms of tingling/pins and needles back in October. It started almost immediately after returning to work after maternity leave, which the Drs are now saying makes them think it’s stress-related. I’ve had so many other symptoms since I could write a book! But in short the ‘main’ ones have been pins and needles, numbness and constant headaches. I also had an episode of chest pain which I feel may be unrelated but Drs are saying again points to stress/anxiety rather than ms.

In January my eyes began feeling uncomfortable but it came on so gradually I wondered if I was imagining it or creating the symptom for myself after so much googling and scaring myself! But then I had some flashes of light so got checked out at opticians and eye hospital. Both said they could see nothing wrong with the eyes or optic nerve so they didn’t think it would be ON.

Finally saw neurologist last month and he’s ordered brain MRI but said I didn’t have ms, I have anxiety and that could explain all my symptoms. He’s seen it lots of times before and he didn’t think I really hit the ms criteria. I can’t really understand his opinion and think maybe he’s just trying to be nice - if they’re allowed to do that?! It seems to me I have all the classic signs and being female in my 30s would make it highly probable?

Last couple of weeks I have developed horrible eye pain, worse than it was before and sensitivity to light. It’s both eyes and no vision changes.its worse after driving or reading, anything that involves a lot of eye movement. I wondered if anyone else has had ON without vision changes, just pain. It really has been excruciating, definitely not something I’m imagining. I also wondered whether I should go back to the eye hospital or just wait for the mri now.

Any advice/opinions would be very welcome. I feel like I’m going mad with the worry of it all and it’s very hard to explain these bizarre symptoms to anyone else xxx

…nearly forgot to add. Four years ago I had pins and needles in my feet on and off for a few weeks. Mentioned it to GP when being seen about something else and it was brushed off as nothing.

2

Hi Char.

One thing I have heard many times, is that MS seems to go away during pregnancy. Dont know if that will help at all. But then it can bounce back big time.

How old is your little one? And is it your first?

I ask because as I`m sure you know, becoming a parent brings all sorts of stress!

So could this be the cause of your headaches…little sleep…rushing around trying to fit everything in?

I`ve never had ON in my 22 years of having MS…so cant really be of any help there.

It`s good that you are having an MRI. If the eye pain is so bad, ask GP for a good painkiller…just make sure it is safe to drive if on something.

Hang in there chick and enjoy that little person.

Granny Bouds xx

3

Hi Bouds,

Thanks for posting here. I’ve read the same thing about pregnancy. It’s strange because the symptoms started at pretty much exactly the same time after having my second, when he was a year old, as the first symptoms I had a few years ago started after I had my daughter. She had just turned one at the time. So there could definitely be a clue there. She is now 5 and at school and my son is 1 1/2. So I’m definitely kept busy at the moment! Trying to juggle a part time job too has been really challenging so whatever happens next health-wise I’m looking to change things up at work a bit into hopefully a less demanding role.

Do you mind me asking if you were working when you received your diagnoses and if you were able to/chose to continue? I do love my job (I’m a teacher) but I do wonder if it’s just one thing too much to deal with at the moment. X