Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:34 am
Hi peaches,
Sorry you're having to deal with all this, but the problem with MS is that, so far, they haven't identified a single symptom that is exclusive to MS. And, in fact, there are no definite "MS facts" at all that I know of - only educated guesses (CCSVI may end up turning even those upside down, or not...).
So anyway, I generally date my most likely first symptom to the day when I was 22 (36 years ago). I suddenly couldn't walk at work, and was literally carried to the ER. Or...maybe that was the HNPP.
Or that blind spot in my eye 30 years ago. Or...maybe that was only macular edema like they said.
It's interesting to hear so many mention panic attacks, although I agree with Lyon that it never shows up on the official MS list. My "panic attack" was about 25 years ago and coincided with that weeklong vertigo attack, which, coincidentally, appeared along with my reaction to a strong antibiotic. Or...maybe it was just another of my med sensitivites instead.
And I always feel obligated to remind people that, "It's Not Always MS!" I've also accumulated so many medical conditions over the years that I often wonder what would happen if my MS disappeared one day - would I even notice?
I regularly experience numbness in whichever body part I use the most - most recently fingertips while I was taking yoga in spring & summer (it's called peripheral neuropathy - HNPP). It finally left after about 6 weeks of no yoga, like I knew it would.
The popcorn twitches that have covered my left leg 24/7 for 6 years are due to the day full of electric shocks during MS tests (more HNPP?). The RLS comes & goes with food, med, and vitamin/supplement changes.
My body has presented me with so many weird episodes over the years, however, that my husband at the time of the panic/vertigo just stepped over me as I crawled through the house unable to stand. It's very telling that, after such a severe event, my family and friends suggested I go to a psychologist instead of rushing me to the emergency room. He dx'ed me officially with hypochondria, of course, since it had mostly gone away by then.
There's another good question - how many have been told by a medical professional that their problem was hypochondria or "stress?" Probably most of us.
And peaches, I'm still very, very grateful that no one ever diagnosed me with MS & HNPP until I was almost 52 and had already figured out dozens of ways to improve my health so much without meds (like healthy diet & exercise).
Sending healing thoughts to all.
Sorry you're having to deal with all this, but the problem with MS is that, so far, they haven't identified a single symptom that is exclusive to MS. And, in fact, there are no definite "MS facts" at all that I know of - only educated guesses (CCSVI may end up turning even those upside down, or not...).
So anyway, I generally date my most likely first symptom to the day when I was 22 (36 years ago). I suddenly couldn't walk at work, and was literally carried to the ER. Or...maybe that was the HNPP.
Or that blind spot in my eye 30 years ago. Or...maybe that was only macular edema like they said.
It's interesting to hear so many mention panic attacks, although I agree with Lyon that it never shows up on the official MS list. My "panic attack" was about 25 years ago and coincided with that weeklong vertigo attack, which, coincidentally, appeared along with my reaction to a strong antibiotic. Or...maybe it was just another of my med sensitivites instead.
And I always feel obligated to remind people that, "It's Not Always MS!" I've also accumulated so many medical conditions over the years that I often wonder what would happen if my MS disappeared one day - would I even notice?
I regularly experience numbness in whichever body part I use the most - most recently fingertips while I was taking yoga in spring & summer (it's called peripheral neuropathy - HNPP). It finally left after about 6 weeks of no yoga, like I knew it would.
The popcorn twitches that have covered my left leg 24/7 for 6 years are due to the day full of electric shocks during MS tests (more HNPP?). The RLS comes & goes with food, med, and vitamin/supplement changes.
My body has presented me with so many weird episodes over the years, however, that my husband at the time of the panic/vertigo just stepped over me as I crawled through the house unable to stand. It's very telling that, after such a severe event, my family and friends suggested I go to a psychologist instead of rushing me to the emergency room. He dx'ed me officially with hypochondria, of course, since it had mostly gone away by then.
There's another good question - how many have been told by a medical professional that their problem was hypochondria or "stress?" Probably most of us.
And peaches, I'm still very, very grateful that no one ever diagnosed me with MS & HNPP until I was almost 52 and had already figured out dozens of ways to improve my health so much without meds (like healthy diet & exercise).
Sending healing thoughts to all.