When do you go to the GP?

Everyday living
1

Hello everyone, my name is Tara and I’ve just joined the forum to ask a question - I hope you don’t mind.

A bit of background info - my mum was diagnosed with primary progressive ms around Christmas 2009. It took a long time to get a diagnosis, but there’s another story there with regard to her GP. Eventually, on Boxing Day 2014, she passed away from complications arising from her ms, but not as a direct result (iyswim).

fast forward to today, and I’m experiencing what I think may be symptoms(!). This is the reason for my post to you guys today. The question I’d like to ask is, at what point do you go to your GP and tell him/her your concerns. I’m very aware that symptoms of any neurological disease can vary wildly from person to person, but based on my mum’s experience, I do t want to be laughed out of the door or accused of wasting their time.

I hope I’m allowed to ask this question here, I hope I don’t offend anyone by asking. I’m very genuinely worried and I don’t want to burden any of my family.

Thanking you in advance, and take care of yourselves.

Love,

Tara x

2

Hello Tara

This forum exists for people like you to ask questions. Don’t apologise.

You have my sincere sympathy both for having lost your mother and for having symptoms that probably have you going quietly crazy with fear and dread.

If you have symptoms that are worrying you, then a) start keeping a diary of what is happening to you and when (note when symptoms begin, how long they last and whether they completely or partially resolve), and b) talk to your GP. Note that I’m not saying ‘see’ your GP as if your surgery is like mine, nowadays they operate a telephone triage system.

Be honest with your GP. Talk about the most worrying things that are affecting you. Mention that your mother had MS, but be realistic; having a parent with MS increases your risk, but only a little. Have a look at https://www.mstrust.org.uk/a-z/risk-developing-ms Your risk of developing MS when your parent has it is about 1in 67 as opposed to 1 in 330 in the general population.

Once you have discussed it with your GP, it may put your mind at rest. Hopefully though, what a sensible doctor would do (and what I’d be aiming for in your shoes) is to refer you to a neurologist so you can get a specialist view of your symptoms.

Best of luck.

Sue

3

Hi Tara.

So sorry for your loss. It has only been 6 years for you.

I think the time is now that you should go and start an investigation with the local GP and this is why. My wife started getting strange feelings in her legs back way back in '94. Three years later she was diagnosed with MS. It took many appointments and misdiagnosis (brain tumour being one of them) but the sad news did come in, eventually.

I hope for your sake the investigation proves negative, I really do, Sue has good advice with the note book. Nice one Sue!

And one more little thing, you cant possibly offend people like us. We have a thick skin!

M.

4

Hi, I believe you are well within you rights to ask your GP to refer you to a neuro. I really doubt he/she will think you are wasting their time.

Take care chick.

Boudsx

5

Hi Tara,

Sorry about your Mum and your worry about yourself. This is the right place to ask - or the ‘before diagnosis/newly diagnosed’

Agree with everyone - write a diary of symptoms, give your GP a ring and ask to be referred to a neurologist.

Although you didn’t mention any of your symptoms I presume they could be neurological.

Take care and let us know how you get on. Fingers crossed it isn’t MS.

Jen

6

Hi Tara, if it was me, I’d go now, don’t hang about, you need answers, keep a diary of your symptoms, good luck love.

Jean x x

7

Oh my gosh thank you so much for your lovely replies! You’re all so kind xx

I was wondering; if I were to list my symptoms here, could anyone who’s reading this tell me if they think I have good grounds for my concerns? If you think I’m worried over nothing I’d really appreciate your honesty. I will list them here:

Pins and needles in left hand. Sometimes spreading up arm and sometimes feeling numb or itchy. Started about 2 weeks ago, still happening.

Muscle twitching in eyes and right arm. That lasted 2 weeks. End of May.

Pain in right eye socket when moving eye. Lasted a few days. Moved to left eye and lasted a few days again. Early July time.

I do get fatigued and have had iron and folate levels tested. Have been prescribed folic acid which I don’t think helps.

Lights in vision. Little coloured dots that appear in vision with no other symptoms. Have had this for about 2 years. Happens on and off.

I get a “pop” sound in my head. Not a sensation, but the sound of a loud pop. Sometimes a hear more of a loud buzzing noise, like a bee trapped in my head.

I get a shooting pain going up my leg from what feels like the dead centre of the ball of my foot. Definitely nerve pain, not skeletal.

I get a tight pain around my rib cage that prevents me from being able to breathe properly. It can last between 10mins to an hour.

Not a symptom, but I’ve had my dna tested and I have 7 genetic markers for multiple sclerosis. Not sure how relevant this is as I’m no geneticist. Also mum had MS.

These are rough notes that I’ve been making on my phone. There are other symptoms but they’re of a more personal nature!

again, thank you in advance, I really appreciate your help!

Love, Tara x