This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hello All,

This is my first post here; I would really welcome some advice and feedback on my situation.

At the outset, let me say I don't necessarily suspect MS. All I know is that something is definitely 'not right' and I am seeing my Neurologist later today (I'm in England). I want to make sure that I get a diagnosis and don't simply get stuck in the system being passed around.

My situation is as follows:

Around 4 months ago the index finger on my right hand started 'twitching'. I'm very careful to call it a twitch rather than a spasm: there's no rigidity, just an uncontrollable little twitch that makes using a computer mouse or holding an iPhone difficult. Some days the twitching isn't there...and occasionally I'll go up to 5 days without a physical twitch, but then it will start again, on and off throughout the day, getting worse towards the evening and progressively getting more 'twitchy' over time.

Even when it's not twitching, the finger feels tingly like it's trying to twitch. It's sufficiently noticable that people comment; I shake slightly when holding a knife/fork, but it's just on my right-hand.

I have noticed a few twitches elsewhere, but everyone has twitches and I doubt they are connected.

What I have really noticed though is that the twitches get worse when I am either tired, or hot. Recently I went on holiday to a hot country and the twitches were fairly constant. Whenever I go for a run I'll also finger my finger twitching uncontrollably on-and-off for the few hours afterwards, while my body cools down.

I'm not stressed and I am well-hydrated; I'm sure it's nothing to do with a lack of electrolytes. But I am incredibly tired.

I'm used to being tired as we have two young children (the younger 5 months) but this is tiredness on another level. In the past I've run four marathons, but when I get on a treadmill these days I barely feel like I can run for 45 minutes. By about midday I just want to crawl back into bed. I'm falling asleep on the sofa in the evenings, which just isn't me.

After seeing my GP he referred me to a neurologist and since then I've been reading up to make sure I ask the right questions and to ensure I don't miss any symptoms which might seem unimportant to me. I do hope that it is nothing significant, but the fact it's been going on for close to 4 months is concerning me.

I read on another forum that an interesting 'test' you can do (though not for MS) is to 'drum' the fingers on your hands separately. What I find when I do this is that I'm able to drum the fingers on my left (normal) hand fine, but that I struggle to do it with my right hand. It feels really weak and I can't move the 3rd and 4th digits independently. This might be nothing and I am probably diagnosing-by-Google.

Separately, 4 years ago I lost my sense of smell completely, for the best part of 2 years. My wife and I had been to Eurodisney for a mini-break during very cold weather. After a brief runny nose I lost all sense of smell completely, which directed me into various GP appointments, consultants and hospitals...all without diagnosis. My sense of smell has recovered slightly since then, but is still not good. Again, it's probably completely unconnected and nothing.

Finally, I do have longstanding bowel problems. Again, probably nothing.

I don't expect a diagnosis via the internet, but I just want to make sure my neurologist takes me seriously as the twitching is getting very frequent, uncomfortable and...well, just 'there' most of the time. It's really offputting and distracting. I want to know what's causing it at least, in the hope that something can do done to stop it. Most of all, I want to understand what's causing it and I'm worried that I may be lost in the NHS system for several months or perhaps years, without diagnosis.

For others reading this or who have been in my situation, what should I do? Or be thinking? Should I be concerned?

You should read as much as you can concerning health and understand that you are responsible for your health. Your health is the result of everything you have done to your body. Once you understand this and incorporate the principals of health you can get better. Most people with autoimmune disease have gut issues. You may want to consider probiotics which repair the digestive tract. This is very important for your immune system. Consider the foods which destroy the digestive tract which are dairy and gluten. These foods are usually a problem for people with autoimmune disease. Here are a couple good videos explaining autoimmune disease and how to heal the body.