What is a flare like?

New diagnosis and before diagnosis
1

Hi guys,

I just want to ask a few questions before I see my Dr. (Been to the gp he’s referred me privately for investigations).

I’m experiencing an ms type flare (thinking back I’ve had a couple of small episodes) and am seeing a private doc next week as I’ve been feeling terrible with unusual symptoms for about a year and a half. I’m not asking about the symptoms themselves, but I know there are other conditions that mimic it.

So I just wanted to check. This would be my first big flare (if it is ms) but it’s not just one symptom really. Nor one part of the body being affected (however it does seem to be mainly my left side and this is the side that feels weak and is causing balance problems). Honestly, for the last three weeks it feels like my brain is going through my major nerves and testing them.

so… Sometimes it’s just my leg burning and tingling and twitching, sometimes it’s my arm, sometimes it’s the whole left side and sometimes it’s Just electric shock type pains in random places etc. And the symptoms come and go. But they seem to take it in turns all day and a lot in bed. But there is always something going on all the time. There’s more symptoms that stay day to day even without a flare but it’s the flare symptoms I’m confused about.

Does anyone with ms experience symptoms coming and going during a flare? I can’t seem to find any info on what the day to day is like during a flare. They are the same symptoms, just seems like they’re on a random rotation!

Thanks in advance. X

2

hi kate

well although i’ve had ms for 8 years i still don’t know how to describe a relapse.

that is a good way to describe it (my brain is going through my major nerves and testing them).

glad that you are seeing a private doctor next week.

is it a private neuro?

i get the same kind of exacerbation if i have a urinary tract infection (UTI).

well good luck with the appointment.

carole x

3

Hi Carole,

Thanks for the reply. It’s not a Neuro it’s rheumatology as I wasn’t having these symptoms at the time. Just joint pain, fatigue, headaches etc. So I’ll let him do his thing and ask for a Neuro consult too.

I’ve written all the symptoms in a timeline with descriptions of how long and what I was doing etc. So he can’t not send me really.

Dead left leg today though… :confused:

Thanks again. X

4

good luck kate

and happy new year too.

carole x