Please help - worried about ms!!

[r1911]

Hi everyone!!

Im driving myself mad and would really appreciate some help or advice.

So long story short i have just had a baby who is now almost 5 months and ive been experiencing some strange symptoms and its giving my such awful anxiety 

Ive had a twitching thumb, pins and needles when resting on legs and hands, electric buzz sensations, blurry vision on phone and tv, weakness in legs when holding baby, weird sensations on different patches of skin, my knee feels odd, muscle twitches and ive had this bitter taste on one side of my tongue which doesnt go and is only on one side.

Im due to have a phone appt with my gp but i dont know when and how il even get tested and i cant live like this - i want to enjoy my baby but im going out of my mind!!

Please can someone help or offer advice - anyone have these symptoms and turn out okay? Anyone with ms?

Had all this and more years ago. All down to anxiety. The moment I had the MRI results that said it 2as clear, the symptoms just disappeared.

Did you have the bitter taste? This one is really worrying me a lot as ots just on one side.

I had it all a few years ago and was seen by a neuro who requested an mri which came back normal but im worried if i have it done now that now it wont be and im also worried that he didnt check the spine at the time.

Im worried that they missed something and this is a 'relapse'

Years ago I had travelling pins & needles, would move around my legs,feet hands etc as well as other symptoms and I got myself in a right state over MS. Managed to persuade my doctor after multiple visits to refer me to neurologist and I was told it's anxiety, MS doesn't normally present itself like that. All calmed down shortly after that but I still get a tingly nose that pops up a couple days after particularly stressful/busy times. Sleep deprivation can do crazy things to you as well xx

To be clear, there are many, many things this could be that are not MS. But, I thought I'd give you a positive MS story in case that helps to put your mind at rest. My mother has MS and has done for about 23 years now. She has been lucky but also remained very positive. During that time, she raised two children, carried on working part time, trained as a yoga teacher and still cycles miles and miles every day. It's been a struggle at times and I wouldn't wish it on anybody, but I just wanted to say that even in the unlikely event that this is that, she is living a wonderful life regardless of her diagnosis. It's not always as bleak as the worst case scenario.

Her symptoms started out as her thinking she had the flu (completely wiped out) and pins and needles in one thumb, so very different to yours.

Thank you for the replies! Im new to mums net so dont know how to reply to each individually.

Its good to know it could be nothing serious and its good to know a positive story about ms!

Im so anxious and need to work on focussing on the here and now and what i can and cant control

Got myself in a right state last year re MS. Whole side of body was numb, totally freaking out. Read the entire Internet on the subject. Had gone through a hideous divorce. MRI and neurologist later, it was thankfully clear. Possibly trapped nerves (deffo carpal tunnel issues) and stress. You've just been through a huge life change too. Get checked, but anxiety and stress do extraordinary things to bodies x

Thankyou iris3456

I have been very anxious and stressed lately and cant help but question whether its stress or something more serious going on.

Im just very scared and keep imagining the worst

Have you seen GP for exam OP? If your GP has concerns he will refer you to a Neurologist.

I have MS, dx 2012, after an acute attack of Transverse Myelitis, which turn out to be my first attack of MS. It took me a while to see my GP, as google searches of my symptoms kept coming up with TM/MS,but there are lots of other conditions that may mimic MS symptoms, so try not to worry, seek advice from HCP rather than public forums would be my advice.

Good luck OP.

Thankyou @roselily36

I will definetly speak to my gp -ive booked a phone appt, so difficult with everything going in.

Do you mind me asking what your symptoms were and how you were diagnosed?

In my (albeit limited) experience, MS often presents with one clear symptom as opposed to the more generalised symptoms in your OP. Stress and anxiety can present with physical, neurological type symptoms and this is the most likely outcome given what you say. A GP review is however a good idea. They can do some neuro observations on you and refer you on if necessary. I mean this kindly, please be wary of asking of others for their symptoms, the mind is very powerful and open to suggestions.

This could be cashed by something as simple as a vitamin deficiency OP so don’t worry too much about MS that’s highly unlikely. I had a lot of problems after my first DD was born, ended up seeing a neurologist for pain, pins and needles, headaches etc. Turned out it was a vitamin D deficiency. They put me on crazy high pils and it all went away, it caused me SO much anxiety though. My legs were killing me! I’ve been getting spasms lately so started magnesium supplements before bed around Xmas and it’s cleared up. Worth trying these. Simple things can cause nightmarish symptoms too x GL

Thankyou @slidingdrawers for the advice and for saying that your meant it kindly. I know, sometimes it just can be hard to seperate what real and what im imagining after having read about it. I do have really bad anxiety which might be obvious from my post - hopefully the gp can help.

Thankyou @Ladydowntheroad it could be something like a vitamin deficiency - although i do take vitamins regularly so thats why i worry that its something else - i just have to wait and see.

I had left sided numbness and pins and needles. Had brain and spine scans and turned out to be stress and is now gone

@r1911 of course I will pm u.

A lot of your symptoms could be due to anxiety op. I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS 22 years ago. Early symptoms were visual disturbance, loss of balance and numbness. MS is probably the last on a list of things that specialists will consider as your symptoms could be due to all manner of things.
On a positive note, an MS diagnosis doesn't have to signal the end of the world. 22 years on, my MS is described as 'behaving benignly', I have never been prescribed any medication for it, work full time and am fit and active. To look at me, you'd never know.
Wishing you all the best

Thankyou for replying @Eloisedublin123 - stress can sure do some strange things

Thankyou @Bluesheep8 ive always seen you post and reassure on this page so thankyou for replying.

Im counting down to the gp appt

Let us know how you get on, if you can op. Very best wishes

@Bluesheep8 i will do

Well the gp wasnt helpful and said it all sounds non-specific and has referred me to physio for muscle pain? No idea what im supposed to say or do - i asked for blood test and was told only once covid settles so thats that for now 😔

Physios are able to pick up many neurological problems so this might be a good option. They will do a thorough assessment. I hope you aren't waiting too long to be seen.

Well that's very frustrating op. I would have thought a physiotherapist would be highly unlikely to detect and diagnose a specific neurological issue, plus you haven't mentioned muscle pain as far as I can see. The only definitive way to diagnose MS as far as I'm aware, is an MRI scan and a lumbar puncture. I think I might be tempted to request another appointment with a different GP.

And I'm surprised they won't do a blood test as that would show a vitamin deficiency which is something that should be ruled out early.

I had similar op. Spoke to the GP and had a blood test which showed high inflammation markers and signs of a viral infection. The GP asked me more specific questions like trouble walking or incontinence which I didn't have. I did a private Thriva blood test which showed very low vit D which I was then treated for. I know I feel better when I rest or do something de-stressing like yoga which sort of confirms to me that a lot of it is stress and anxiety.

@slidingdrawers it will most liklely be over the phone because of covid so they wont really be able to assess much im guessing.

@Bluesheep8 im going to try and call again and push for referral - i think she wrote it off as me being a worrier and anxious but surely it cant all just be that - i know covid doesnt help and makes things more difficult in terms of appointments and referrals. She did say they will do the blood test but when - i dont know as covid seems to be here for the long term.

@blackcat86 thank you for replying. I do agree that stress and worrying can cause bodies to do strange things. I might look in to the thriva blood test if i cnt do one at the gp.

Im just really worried and also scared.

Your symptoms sound very like the problems i had (down to the twitchy thumb!) when my B12 levels were very low. They developed slowly over maybe a couple of years but my B12 levels weren't checked until i was in quite a bad way - it's a specific test that isn't usually included in a general health check.
Low B12 causes nerve damage in the same way MS does, hence symptoms are very similar. If left for too long the damage can be irreversible so it's really worth pushing for a test - if it shows low levels the usual treatment is 5 or so injections of B12 over a week or fortnight, then maintenance 'top ups' every 3 months if your levels drop again (though i know some health authorities have phased these out and replaced with supplements).
If your GP flat out refuses you could try oral supplements, but of the kind that can dissolve under your tongue & get into your system that way (low B12 can mean you're unable to absorb it through your stomach).
I've found the Solgar sublingual 1000ug tabs are doing the trick for me.