Opinions please
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 7:22 pm
I wonder if you might offer your opinions on my description of symptoms. I realize no one can diagnose anything here as it requires professional help but I just want to know if you feel that these symptoms are close enough to the symptoms of MS to warrant a serious look at it. I think they do but my doctor thinks that they don't because I don't have any eye sight issues and my symptoms don't come and go, they just come and stay. Also I'm 55 and she thinks that I'm too old for the onset of MS.
Some of my symptoms have been:
Memory loss: this started about 15 years ago and quite serious at the time. A neurologist said it was PTSD based on a discussion we had. It improved considerably over several years but has recently started becoming a problem again. I even find that words sometimes come out incorrectly but I know they do and correct myself right away or part way through the word. Also when I'm typing now I have to correct quite a bit because when I read what I write I see that entire words are missing or incorrect. This was not an issue in the past. I have trouble remembering things quite frequently to the point of interfering in normal daily life. I find that the processing of information is VERY slow and I can't follow sequences until I process each item at a slow pace. There are some short term and long term memory loss issues. When learning new things I must write down the information and practice the instructions over and over until it's ingrained.
Libido loss: About 5 years ago I began to loss interest and I experienced a loss of sensation but there was no issue of dryness. I was prescribed several female enhancement drugs which did not work and then finally given a synthetic testosterone drug which helped somewhat but not really. I don't take anything now and I still have the same issue.
Frozen left arm: About a year ago I suddenly had a frozen left hand starting at the fingers and which very quickly moved up the top of the arm. It feels extremely cold like it's frozen although if you stick a pin in my arm or hand I can still feel it. I have not lost strength in the arm or hand. It continues to this day.
Involuntary contractions in my right arm: About 6 months ago a muscle in my right arm suddenly began to contract inside pulling the arm out from the body several inches and holding it in that position for a few seconds until it decided to release it. It often happens when I pick something up or when I lay down to go to sleep at night. It only takes something as light as a cup sometimes. I cannot make the arm release from that position until it's ready. If I try it starts shaking and resisting until I stop. This continues until this day.
Numbness and pins and needles in right foot: About 3 weeks ago I experienced numbness in my right toes and foot. It's very uncomfortable and feels awful and is the worst on the pads just below the toes but is everywhere on the toes and foot. It continues to this day.
Frequent urination: I have always been a person who only urinated in the morning when I got up and then at night when I went to bed. Recently I have been urinating 5 -7 times a day and it's very unusual for me. I also can't hold it for long which is also unusual.
Hot periods: Hot periods with sweating that last from one hour to three or four hours at a time in both day and night. Other people report that they are cold while I am burning up. Started about a month ago and worsen to the present.
Dizziness: only once about 3 weeks ago I had severe dizziness and I chocked that up to not exercising enough or coming down with the flu although the flu never happened.
Shakiness: The last few days I have been feeling shaky and I don't know why because I'm eating right and I'm not under undue stress. My hands are a little shaky. Enough to be noticeable.
I have had no eyesight issues that I can remember.
The doctor has tested me for Diabetes and Thyroid issues but the tests came back negative. Now she wants to send me for nerve testing as there is definitely damage especially in the left arm that is frozen.
Do you think this warrants a serious look into MS or not?
Some of my symptoms have been:
Memory loss: this started about 15 years ago and quite serious at the time. A neurologist said it was PTSD based on a discussion we had. It improved considerably over several years but has recently started becoming a problem again. I even find that words sometimes come out incorrectly but I know they do and correct myself right away or part way through the word. Also when I'm typing now I have to correct quite a bit because when I read what I write I see that entire words are missing or incorrect. This was not an issue in the past. I have trouble remembering things quite frequently to the point of interfering in normal daily life. I find that the processing of information is VERY slow and I can't follow sequences until I process each item at a slow pace. There are some short term and long term memory loss issues. When learning new things I must write down the information and practice the instructions over and over until it's ingrained.
Libido loss: About 5 years ago I began to loss interest and I experienced a loss of sensation but there was no issue of dryness. I was prescribed several female enhancement drugs which did not work and then finally given a synthetic testosterone drug which helped somewhat but not really. I don't take anything now and I still have the same issue.
Frozen left arm: About a year ago I suddenly had a frozen left hand starting at the fingers and which very quickly moved up the top of the arm. It feels extremely cold like it's frozen although if you stick a pin in my arm or hand I can still feel it. I have not lost strength in the arm or hand. It continues to this day.
Involuntary contractions in my right arm: About 6 months ago a muscle in my right arm suddenly began to contract inside pulling the arm out from the body several inches and holding it in that position for a few seconds until it decided to release it. It often happens when I pick something up or when I lay down to go to sleep at night. It only takes something as light as a cup sometimes. I cannot make the arm release from that position until it's ready. If I try it starts shaking and resisting until I stop. This continues until this day.
Numbness and pins and needles in right foot: About 3 weeks ago I experienced numbness in my right toes and foot. It's very uncomfortable and feels awful and is the worst on the pads just below the toes but is everywhere on the toes and foot. It continues to this day.
Frequent urination: I have always been a person who only urinated in the morning when I got up and then at night when I went to bed. Recently I have been urinating 5 -7 times a day and it's very unusual for me. I also can't hold it for long which is also unusual.
Hot periods: Hot periods with sweating that last from one hour to three or four hours at a time in both day and night. Other people report that they are cold while I am burning up. Started about a month ago and worsen to the present.
Dizziness: only once about 3 weeks ago I had severe dizziness and I chocked that up to not exercising enough or coming down with the flu although the flu never happened.
Shakiness: The last few days I have been feeling shaky and I don't know why because I'm eating right and I'm not under undue stress. My hands are a little shaky. Enough to be noticeable.
I have had no eyesight issues that I can remember.
The doctor has tested me for Diabetes and Thyroid issues but the tests came back negative. Now she wants to send me for nerve testing as there is definitely damage especially in the left arm that is frozen.
Do you think this warrants a serious look into MS or not?