Worrying symptoms (?MS) or is it 'just stress'?

New diagnosis and before diagnosis
1

Hi all

I’m a new forum user, Jane (mid 40’s), and I’ve been signposted here through a recommendation from another forum I am on.

I’m the first to admit I’ve been under a lot of stress over the last few years (for various reasons) and have been struggling with my health for the last few months (following some MH issues due to work and an infection) which has left me fatigued and exhausted after minimal physical exertion.

However, I have been also experiencing some worrying symptoms which my GP puts down to the ‘stress’ I’ve been under.

For example, I’ve had numbness in my left fingers for about 12 months now (they feel ‘dead’ or ache much of the time), this is now in my right hand/arm too and I also have pins and needles intermittently in my feet.

I also feel really ‘woolly’ in my head (just not with it), muddle my words (which is worrying particularly when at work as I work clinically in the NHS), and at times very clumsy/off balance when I walk.

My sight (I’m short sighted and wear corrective lenses) has recently deteriorated and I see ‘double’ on and off.

Also, about 2-3 years ago I had some physio for leg weakness (felt as though my leg was about to ‘give way’), this has now resolved though but there was some concern at the time with my physio as to why this was happening. Needless to say, I had no other investigations.

I have completely lost my libido over the past 2-3 years, have urinary incontinence symptoms and am really intolerant of heat - cannot bare hot baths/sitting in the sun these days.

I am worried these may be symptoms of MS - I had glandular fever in my teens and believe there is an anecdotal link due to the Epstein Barr virus.

Because I’ve also had a rash on my face which seems to flare on and off, GP has tested for SLE (Lupus) but results were normal, as well as other bloods for more routine stuff (thyroid function, CRP, FBC, etc) which, again, were reassuring.

GP has suggested some nerve studies, even though he maintains its all stress-related which makes me feel like I’ve got an uphill struggle on my hands and exhausts me even further. I wonder whether I should be pushing for a neuro referral as none of this feels ‘right’ and my husband is also concerned too that I’ve not been myself for a while now.

Any thoughts/advice or would you say my GP is just doing what is required in order to rule out other possible diagnoses?

Thank you for reading.

Jane x

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hi jane

did your gp have your blood tested for vit B12 anfd vit D3?

low levels can mimic ms symptoms.

yes you should request a referral to neurology, although the neuro will test to rule out other conditions.

as for your bladder, you should see the bladder and bowel foundation, you can self refer.

the nurses there are brilliant and work hard to make it not embarassing.

carole x

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Thank you for replying Carole.

I’m not certain if he ran any of those bloods but will check.

I will get another GP appointment, perhaps with husband in tow for back-up/support, and ask for a referral as my stress and anxiety is heightened because of this. If it is stress rather than MS then I can work on managing that.

4

Just wanted to update. Saw GP earlier - wrote a list of my symptoms plus pertinent information from past. He agree I need to see a neurologist/have a scan. Thinks a recent infection may have exacerbated symptoms too.

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