Symptoms... diagnoses... insurance... help :-(

[ConcernedMan]

Hi guys...

I am a 29 year old white male and it's come to my attention that for the past 6 years I've had some symptoms of early MS.

-The first event was in the summer of 2005 my bottom lip and right finger tips would feel a numbing sensation off and on.

-That seemed to mostly disappear, but would come back for a short time once every few months, if even less than that.

-I've had 3 or 4 instances in the past 6 years of random attacks of extreme tunnel vision in eye. The first ever occurred while I was on a road trip and I had to pull over because it was unsafe to continue driving. It happened to be very hot, so I wrote this event off as dehydration, which it still may be.

-I've noticed a strange weakness from time to time in my right arm. The sensation is almost like you forget how to move it. I still can move it, it just feels very "intentional" if that makes sense. I had this occur yesterday which got me to googling...

Here is the catch:

I know I should go talk to a doctor about this... but I'm also literally weeks, maybe days away from leaving my current job (with group insurance) and joining my old boss to partner his small company. I would have to buy private insurance. I am now scared as hell about the potential consequences. I don't want to get a diagnosis right now and leave my current plan. On top of this, my wife will be out of school and working for the state at the end of the Spring. As a social worker, she is pretty much guaranteed a state job that will have good benefits for both of us.

Any advice...

First things first I guess... does this sound like MS?

Any insurance advice??

[euphoniaa]

First things first I guess... does this sound like MS?

Any insurance advice??

Hi Concerned,

I'm sorry you're having these symptoms! First things first, however...the minor numbness and weakness you've been experiencing could be due to a gazillion other things besides MS, so I wouldn't consider them particularly urgent right now. Keep in mind that MS is unique to each of us - symptoms, presentation, and progression - different for all.

I am concerned, however about the sudden "tunnel vision," which I've never heard to be an MS symptom at all. I do think eye issues should be addressed immediately. Here's a link to Mayo Clinic which gives you an eye symptom checker and offers possible answers. I don't think any of the listed causes for tunnel vision are MS, but some of them are potentially dangerous.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sympto ... 20problems

As for insurance, I've read recommendations from other posters that even being tested specifically for MS may affect your insurance options, but the eye thing may be too important to ignore. It's reassuring that your wife will have comprehensive insurance in the spring.

As I mentioned to another poster a few days ago on the thread below:
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-d ... 17995.html

There's no simple, effective treatment for MS anyway, so "I suggest that you take a deep breath , and concentrate on optimizing your health through diet, exercise, sleep, etc." I had MS for at least 30 years before anyone even tested me for it (see my thread link) and I'm grateful for that.

Best of luck to you! And please get your vision checked!