Waiting for MS diagnosis - feeling sick

Hi people. Im writing because since august i´ve had headaches like non stop - pain wise 3/10 and i thought i will get it checked out in a private mri place. Before that whole summer i had tingling in my lower back and lhermite sign (thats where i get the idea for MS). I chalked the back problems down to my powerlifting because i lift heavy weights (250+ kg up until today still). But then i went for the MRI and the radiologist suggested contrast because she saw something. Then when i get the results there is a writing that i have multiple 30+ lessions in my brain and they are at places which is similiar to MS. Also i read that i have two lessions with a diameter of 18mm which seems to be tumefactiv lession and active and also have a few black holes. So the radiologist suggested that i see a neurologist. Im going this friday but since i read the paper my whole body is shaking, im afraid like i have a feeling that every MS symptom came to me after that day. I have been diagnosed with panick attacks for 10 years with also medication prescribed. Is it possible that i had this disease for years ? Because these numb tingli symptoms did happen to me even in teen years but nobody really found nothing and that its a panic attack. Im really afraid now…im lost for words…Could someone please help me with some positive encouragment ?

THANK YOU

Hi Kevin

Do you have a date to see the Neurologist yet? They are the ones who can give you a definitive answer whether or not it is MS.

It is possible to have MS for a very long time before the symptoms become obvious enough to warrant MRIs etc. looking for a neurological cause - I’ve had MS since I was a teenager but it wasn’t diagnosed until I was 54! All the odd symptoms over the years were chalked up to bad eyesight, too many late nights, stress etc. because the symptoms came and went. It was only when a symptom arrived and never went away that neurologists became involved, and even then it took 9 years for the lesions in my spine to become big enough to show up on the MRI. The lesions in my brain are apparently nothing to do with my MS but most likely the result of a past concussion - I was (still am) a tomboy falling out of trees, off my pushbike, motorbike accident, acrobatic tumbles, Taekon-do sparring etc.

For now, take a deep breath - I would recommend trying meditation, it can help with the stress and anxiety of life and a potential diagnosis of MS. It might help to consider that whilst MS can cause a lot of unpleasant symptoms, it is very rare to have all of them and many people live close to normal lives with MS. I have active secondary progressive MS and have just earned my 2nd Dan Black Belt in Taekwon-do - OK I can’t perform a technical turning kick at head height - but then again, how many 56 year olds could?

Even if you do have MS, you will be able to adapt, make use of aids like walking sticks or grab rails, or getting the groceries delivered.

Having MS isn’t a death sentence, its unpleasant and annoying as heck, but there are lots of medications now that can help with the symptoms and the disease itself. Speak to your GP about pain relief for the headache, if normal analgesics do not work then ask about pain relief for neuropathic pain, there are medications like Gabapentin and Amitriptyline that can be prescribed before an MS or other diagnosis is confirmed.

1 Like

Nothing for it, but to wait to see what the neurologist says. Of course your body’s alarm systems will be going off like a firework display at the moment – whose wouldn’t? You have had a very unpleasant shock reading that report and anybody would be feeling a bit queasy. I hope that you get some clarity soon. Good luck with it all.

Thank you so much Alison. I hope so yes and i hope youre doing well too

I’m not a doctor so I can’t give you the answers you need - I wish I could. But no matter what happens, we are here for you! You are not alone

Thank you theresa. Im going this friday to my neuro and tommorow to my eye doctor to check if my optic nerve is inflamed because i heard thats also a sign of ms. I really hope everything works out. This got to me very much. I needed to speak to my psychologist also because i was so afraid that im gonna die in a few weeks that i started to write letters for my friends family and girlfriend. Bare in mind nobody knows what up woth me i didnt tell no one.I read online that there is a marburg variant that is fast acting and im just the biggest hypochonder when it comes to those things. But thanks for your reply i did help me to calm a bit down

Hi Kevin. I had never heard of the Marburg variant but see that it is very rare. A very rare variant of the pretty rare condition of MS ! Best not to get over anxious about very rare conditions.

Tend to think that you can’t do better than follow the advice of @TheresaB ( and her mighty impressive Black Belt!)

1 Like