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Posted 2/6/2009 3:17 PM (GMT 0)

i am a 31 years old and have three children ,about 3 months after i had my third child i had a real big problem with dizzyness i felt very unbalanced which in turn made me feel sick i saw a  ENT specialist who done all sorts of tests and said he could not find a problem,went back to doctor he said i needed to chill out its anxiety..came back feeling a bit silly problems got worst with pins and needles in lower back and pains in legs felt like i could not move had numbness in arms,doctor still said anxiety ,so i changed doctors after explaining my symptoms,my new doctor refered me to a nerologist he checked me over and said what do i think is wrong,i replied i did not know that is why i am here....he said he cant find any nerve damage and sent me to pysio thought ok i will accept that .

I chose to talk to my heath vistor as everyone said i had post natal deppression she reffered me to a mental health worker who i have been seeing for the last 6 months she said my symtoms are not anxiety which i am glad of as i thought i was going mad as did everyone else.

so in a year and a half

dizzyness trouble consentrating and explaing myself to others

blurred vision in left eye

numbness and pins and needles is arms and legs not at the same time

had about two weeks with nothing but felt a little dizzy.

now i have squezzing and pins and needles lower back and ribs feel like i am not all there and feel like i and going crossed eyes.

pains in both legs musles and joints find it hard to walk sometimes these pains are constant

has anyone got any ideas of what to do next!!!!!!

and does this sound like ms to you

Posted 2/6/2009 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hey

Welcome to the board. I'm so sorry to hear of all u've been going thru. I can feel u'r frustration and have to say i've been there to some extent. Try to stay calm about this and keep clear minded. If u feel u are getting no where with these docs, give it some time maybe and try a second neuro for a second opinion. Have any of the docs given u any anxiety meds to try?? My feeling on this was always to try the meds they give and if it's not what they're proclaiming it to be, then the meds won't work and u can get them to move forward and past that easier. I had to do this with one doc early on and it did help. I think there are a lot of people who have these vague'ish symptoms and are thought to be dealing with anxiety or depression at least at first. MS is VERY difficult to dx in some and the symptoms u'r describing are easily felt, but not easily seen by the doc...so they are hard to prove for him/her in an exam. Try not to get too frustrated with the docs. They must be able to show certain things in their findings before they can proceed to the next steps. Have u discussed an MRI with u'r neuro? That is a very expensive proceedure, so if u'r doc isn't seeing a clear need for it yet, he prob won't bring it up. U may want to investigate and see if that's a step u'd like to take and then discuss it with ur' doc. No one here will be able to tell u if u have or seem to have ms, but we will tell u to trust in u'r docs and when u feel u'r not being taken seriously, move on! Don't allow u'r healthcare to stagnate while someone sits idle. Take care and again, welcome to the board.
Posted 2/6/2009 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

Gosh...what a tough time you've been having. I am obviously not a dr., but after our daughter was born, my MS went into a huge upheaval that sounds similar to what your are experiencing -- minus the burning back. I would ask for an MRI to investigate the possibility of MS. MS is tricky to diagnose because of all the weird, different symptoms we all get. Everyone is different. But I was poo-pooed for a while too before my diagnosis in 2001.

Good luck to you and keep us updated.

Andrea
Posted 2/6/2009 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
I am sorry a doctor is not taking you seriously about your health problems. I say keep bugging the doctors, make a diary of your problems everyday, even when you are feeling well. make sure to include how it affects the family.

A change of doctor might be order, if possible. Just about 3 weeks ago I felt incredible pain and went to a family doctor I never seen before, he said it was nothing just a virus. I thought he was out to lunch how can that much pain be a virus, at least it should have been a infection in my opinion. Then it went away, so I thought he was right. And I only found out by going to a ms society support group and my ms doctor was there and said it was actually pain cause by nerve damage in the inner ear, which ms patients do get sometimes. She said to call her when it happened again, and it happened a week ago, which then I was given medication. Anyways to make my story short, all doctors are different and try another one. Try maybe a pain specialist instead a neurologist.
Posted 2/6/2009 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
thank you so much for all of your suggestions i was given prosac by my first doctor and it really made me feel worse so i stopped taking it ,i am now taking amitriptyline in a small dose which is for anxiety,but just i seem to be going in circles i only got anxious because i felt so disorenated and ill i felt i could not go out,that has all passed now and have have made alot of progress with the anxiety but am still left with these leg pains and numb and squeezing back,not forgeting the dizzy spells, but at least that is not constant.,i keep thinking ill be ok tommorow,but wake up with pains,i have also been given gabapentin for pain too try but made me fell even more dizzy and it is hard to manage the children when i am so dizzy.
i am going to make another appointment next week with a different doctor and ask about an mri as i think that is my only way of knowing for sure but as you say it is expensive so will probley have to fight for it.
i will also try and keep a diary as you said as when you try to explain things it all seems a bit of a muddle.
thanks once again really appreciate all comments will keep you posted
Posted 2/6/2009 11:53 PM (GMT 0)

Hi there,

If you have not been diagnosed, you definitely want to go to a neurologist and not a pain specialist.  A pain specialist will help you manage pain but you probably won't get a diagnosis from one.  Good luck and keep us posted.

Posted 2/10/2009 5:53 PM (GMT 0)

Its the same old story every time, isn't it - how many of us during our journey of getting an MS dx were told that it was just anxiety - it seems to be a universal answer by doctors no matter where you are at. I spent the better part of two years trying to convince the medical profession that I was not suffering from anxiety, that it was something else that was going on....

Yes, I had a doctor put me on Prozac as well, and it too, made me feel even worst.  Under doctor's advise, I went to see a therapist. On my first vist, she asked me if I started to get anxious and then the symptoms came after, or did I get the symptoms and then started to feel anxious.....I told her it was the later, as when ever my head started to cloud up and feel funny, I became worried, as no one seemed to know what was going on.

On my second visit to this therapist, she told me that I did not have anxiety, well I did, but it was as a result of being worried about what was wrong with me. She wrote a rather scathing letter to my doctor, advising him that before sending patients to see her, he should eliminate all medical conditions first, before resigning to the fact that it was just anxiety..

So the testing started again, and thankfully, and I mean thankfully, the tingling and the numbness and the L'Hermitte's sign showed up, which then took me to a neurologist, and finally a dx -

So yes, you do have to keep on plugging away, cause no one knows you better than you, and if in your gut you just know that there is something not right, ya gotta keep fighting......

Theres just gotta be a better way then having to spend most of your time trying to convince the medical world that you are not going coo - coo!!!!  One of the biggest pet peeves of my life right now....

Gary

Posted 2/11/2009 2:20 AM (GMT 0)

Hi,

I have not been DX with MS but I can understand what your going through, I had a baby 10 1/2 months ago and have been terribly sick with many many symptoms and have been through the doctors revolving door. I'm on my" say (16 th) doctor " and no answer yet!!! But I can suggest some tests I've already had just to start ruling things out because once you get the ANXIETY label you start to see they stop taking you seriously. First find a doctor Internal Medicine they can give you all the referrals to the specialist and they're alittle more serious and urgent compared to a family doc .

And start narrowing down possible causes for your illness get in your mind your, your own health advocate and sometimes you have to do research . Delivering a baby usually brings up hidden illness because pregnancy slows down everything and right after delivery everything jump starts I mean all your systems:) endocrine, immune, all that confusing stuff.

So I'd say start with the most simple vitamin deficiencies, immune disease, endocrine disorders,  as in : thyroid, b12, adrenals,lupus, and don't forget the heart they're are a few conditions that affect the  heart after delivery so an echo would be good, an MRI is helpful and if you've ever hemorrhaged during labor or after with any of your children make sure to mention that so they can check your pituitary gland .Best wishes and just to let you know someone is going threw the exact thing .

Maebae

Posted 2/11/2009 10:06 AM (GMT 0)
hi
yes i agree as soon as i say to doctor or anyone about anxiety you do get labelled with it ,so it puts me off going back to see doctors. but i do know this in not anxiety and there is something wrong my body just does not feel right,there is something more but is so hard to explain even family dont seem to understand which makes it so difficult and i try an pretend im ok when really i am not. i am just so feed up of not feeling like my old self.

i have made another appointment for next monday,see where i can go with this one.
will let you know.
elaine
Posted 2/11/2009 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
Elaine,

Stick with that.  You know your body better than anyone.  Just try to tell them your symptoms with as little emotion as possible and try not to diagnose yourself in front of the doctor.  They seem to hate that.  Good luck.  Keep trying.......don't give up. 

I know it is horrible to have your symptoms ignored or blamed on anxiety or depression.  That has happened to many many of us. Hang in there and let us know what the doc says at your appointment. 

Posted 2/11/2009 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Elaine,
It took me numerous doctor visits to get one to finally listen to what I was saying and he sent me to a Neurologist who diagnosed me with MS. It was a relief to finally know what was wrong with me but my Neuro told me that he thinks I have had MS for a while (Gee, isn't that a brilliant statemet?). If only the other 5 doctors that I went to see with my problem would have actually listened to me instead of blowing me off! Oh well, guess I will just live with what God gave me and do my best from day to day. Just continue to do your best and take good care of those 3 young children you have, remember it is hard for them to understand that their mother might have an uncurable disease like MS.

God Bless you and Good Luck to you my new friend.

Posted 3/10/2009 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
hi
sorry it has been so long have been waiting for blood tests...again...this time something has come up and i am being sent to another specialist to see a rheumatologist which may or may not explain all the pain i have been getting??is it true that ms only effects one side of the body at a time??
I explained all my symtoms and did mention ms and she said that it does not ring any alarm bells,which is what i was told before and that if one side of the brain is not working it effects the oppisite side of the body???
she thinks i may possible have rhemothod athirits ,but that does not explain the dizzy feelings i have,anyway at least it is not just anxiety (wish that it was) as i have been forced into believing,although i was upset with the blood test as i was not expecting anything to come up ,they may now take me a bit more seriously and stop saying i need anti depresants.
still finding it hard with the children as i would so like to do more with them, that is the most upsetting thing.
my appointment is on the 26 this month so i will let you know what has happened.
wish you all well and will keep in touch.
Elaine
Posted 3/10/2009 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
I have never heard the "ms effects one side of the body" theory.  I have pain and spasicity in BOTH legs.  It is worse in one but they both have it.  That is weird.  Well anyway, I am glad they are taking you seriously.  I wish you the best of luck.  Keep us posted.

Posted 3/11/2009 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Elaine-

I too got sick right after my daughter's birth; I have four kids.  Try not to feel so guilty about not doing everything with them, it is not your fault you are sick, and they will survive, I promise.  Just do the best you can. My kids have been dealing with my sickness for four years, and they do not have any permanent emotional damage. :-)

As far as the doctor business goes, you have to be persistent.  If you find a doctor is not helping you, then move on to someone else.  Eventually you will find someone who can figure out what is going on with you.  Do not buy into the stress diagnosis, you are not crazy, you are just sick, and it may take awhile to get the correct diagnosis.  I hope you get things resolved soon.

Posted 3/11/2009 2:38 AM (GMT 0)

p.s.

I forgot to tell you-I also have symptoms on both sides.  The doctors thought I did not have MS because my brain showed no lesions.  I finally got a spinal MRI, which showed a very large lesion starting in the middle of my neck.  If someone does check for MS, make sure they check your brain and your spine.

Posted 3/12/2009 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
hi
will mention to the dr next time i see her that it can effect both sides,thought it sounded like a brush off.have started a diary of all my symptoms day by day ,so can remember what to say as i seem to have a mind block when i see the doctors,and will get my spine checked as i seem to get alot of numbness and tingling in my spine area.
so helpful to speak to you all.
thanks
elaine
Posted 3/26/2009 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
hi

have be to see the specialist he THINKS i may have fibromyalgia and have been giving a booklet on it ,and some pain killers .when i requested a possible scan he said it just costs to much money to do tests like that,so he sent me off to have some more blood tests and a chest xray although i dont have any problems there???

ahhh it is so hard to find an answer and i dont think i ever will it is so frustrating.

anyway got to go back in four weeks see what he comes up with but at the moment i am feeling numb and in pain.......

all the best elaine confused

Posted 3/26/2009 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Elaine

I"m sorry for the frustration u'r feeling, but glad to see u'r doc has given u some meds to maybe help with the pain. If u'r feeling unsure of this dx, don't hesitate to get a second opinion. I'm also not sure what the chest xray would be for, but do be sure to be proactive in getting the results and copies of the xray report for u'r records. Hang in there friend. It can take some time, but eventually u should get some answers.
Posted 3/27/2009 1:19 AM (GMT 0)

Elaine,

What do you mean by a scan?  I hope you mean MRI.  Why do doctors say it is too expensive.......it is not like the doctor is paying for the test!!  I will never understand that.  Keep asking for that MRI.  That can tell you so much.

Posted 3/27/2009 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
Elaine,

Keep trying different doctors, they have tunnel vision so if they specialise in something that is all they see and they keep trying to fit you in their box. My mother was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis then polymialgia rheunatica, when she did not respond to their meds they dismissed her and said she was a hypochondriac. Poor lady, took her a lifetime to be diagnosed with MS then, finally everything fitted.

I do think a MRI is your best bet & yes, do head & spine.

I believe you are sane so hang in there. turn
Posted 3/27/2009 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
hi
thanks for the support guys really appreciate it,yes i did mean an MRI ,will keep cracking on as i feel this will be a long term thing...and all the time they keep pushing me around to see other people it can be very draining explaining symptoms when they are so random...i dont know why they cant just do it if i have requested one.
would put my mind at rest cant keep pretending i feel ok when i dont,and also had the cheek to say well you husband has still got his job and is not having to come home to look after you so things cant be that bad,but it is a struggle everyday to keep the kids and the house running i dont think they understand how difficult things can be.

anyway life goes on so will keep trying to find an answer.
all the best to all
elaine
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