Symptoms?? Possible MS?

[Teddybear92]

I have had a throbbing headache 24/7 for nearly a month now. The throbbing is all over. It burns and stings as well. No pain killer helps. I had this last year for two months but it suddenly stopped and returned last month,
A pressure feeling in my head like my head is like putty. You know when you squeeze it, it goes out the sides? That's what it feels like like it all of a sudden gets strong in a certain spot.
Feeling the pressure "move" when I move. Which I can literally feel as if I have water in my head. I have taken doxycycline in the past which seems to help a little. Almost like you tipped a ball fall of water on its side.
Stinging pain over my cheeks.
Tiredness earlier than usual. Literally been tired at 7-8oclock
Depression. It lasted several days. It was unusual.
OCD. Was driving me insane. Still kind of there but just stopped in intensity.
Vivid dreams. (Nightmares)
Random tinnitus
Tingling arms, fingers
Stomach pain
Sneezing/sniffling could be weather related
Nausea
The pounding in my head is worse if I move or exercise
"Insect like feeling" over my skin. I've had this for YEARS and have no clue about it..just worth mentioning. Sometimes it feels exactly like a ant or fly and I an distinguish what insect it is. I do get bitten a lot however. Sometimes the feeling drives me crazy as I'm so itchy.
Easily bruised.
Very very sensitive to light touch I feel the "ghost" imprint of it ages later as if the person had still touched me.
Very sensitive to cold temperatures than what I should be for a temperature shown for no apparent reason. I get chilblains as well. Like today it's 18 degrees and I'm wearing just a nightie, the day I has this happen it was 16degrees and I needed more than one layer. I feel thecold more than other people I think

Now the most scary thing....
A weird "dizzy" feeling without actually being like dizziness.. almost like I go completely spaced out for a second? I'm aware but it's a really scary sensation and hurts when it does so. This is my most concerning symptom. I feel like I'm losing touch of reality and about to black out. I feel it more if I'm standing but doesn't seem related to sudden movement as it happens any time. I feel like all my brain functions "die". I'm sorry if it sounds like nonsense it's hard to describe this sensation. I have had quick "blackouts" before and feeling like the blackness was "caving in around my head". I have no idea how to describe these sensations. I even feel as if half my brain is dead. I'll have this weird sensation over half my head lasting briefly and I feel like I cant "use that side".
Once again I know it sounds like nonsense.

Trouble speaking, finding words at times. Memory terrible.
Tense-like feeling and pain down my arms. Feels like nerves. I've felt it in my legs too.
A few times last year and thus year I had a random terrible pain shoot up my back. I've haven't had it since it was almost as if I had shivers back going up my back and like an electric shock mixed with a trapped nerve? I never had it again. I admit my posture is terrible however.
Sudden hand or arm movements like a finger going up or my arm suddenly moving.
Chest throbbing in time to head
Sharp chest pain
PVC's (could be stress or anxiety think it is)
Brain fog? (Dream like state walking at times)

Family history:
My auntie had epileptic fits, my mum has shaking, my other auntie has something like it and my father's side his sister has some mental condition where mum says she is "crazy" (not depression, she will fly off the handle and things like that. Never met her, I don't know)

I do have depression and anxiety which my doctor thinks is all what this is. But I'm very concerned about the dizzy like feeling where I'm losing touch of the world. I feel the blacking out when I walk and can't reason much at times. Like in the supermarket I lost sensation in my brain and felt as if I was a walking zombie. I had no idea what something was. Not like a brain fog, it was literally like I wasn't there at all..... I can't explain it but I felt like my brain function died.
All my life I haven't felt "right" in my head, weird thinking patterns, weird behavior, learning difficulties, not being able to click with people.

I've had a non contrast ct and a spinal tap but they were good. Also had many blood tests over the past year

Does this sound like MS or epilepsy? (no fits ever though)I have thought about getting an EEG but he thinks it's just tension headaches and anxiety. People think I'm a hyperchondriac and its "all in my head" (well it is though lol ) and kind of make it out as these symptoms aren't real. I admit I have hyperchndria

Ideas? This can't be simply anxiety or depression.

[Scott1]

Hi,

That must be very difficult for you. It doesn't sound like typical MS.

Have you been checked for Allodynia? - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allodynia

What ever it is I think you need find a better level of advice. I suspect you need a very specialised set of advisors. Definitely not a GP and probably not a standard neurologist. Can you find your way to the preeminent pain management center in your part of the world as I think that is where you will be taken seriously.

Regards,

[lyndacarol]

Ideas? This can't be simply anxiety or depression.

Welcome to ThisIsMS, Teddybear92.

Your symptoms are consistent with many conditions (MS is just one of the possible causes). But since there is no definitive test to identify MS, the other more likely conditions must be tested and ruled out first before the MS diagnosis can be considered.

Since you asked for "Ideas," I assume you are open to a few questions:

In your first line, you describe your month-long throbbing headache… As I understand this, your headache started in March this year. You go on to say that you also had this last year and that "it suddenly stopped." – I wonder if it came at the same time of year both times. Did it suddenly stop last year in summer?

For that matter, I wonder where you live (just generally – hemisphere?), where it is 18° today – is that °F or °C (Fahrenheit or Celsius?)?

In the "many blood tests over the past year," have you had a vitamin D test (the "25-hydroxyvitamin D test")? If so, would you share the actual number result with us? I wonder if you had nutrient testing: vitamin B12, magnesium, zinc. I wonder if your doctor has tested for possible gluten sensitivity (celiac disease).

In my opinion (I have no medical background), you're NOT a hypochondriac. Your symptoms are very real. I agree with your last statement, "this can't be simply anxiety or depression." You need a good "disease detective" – to me, it seems logical to begin your investigation with your GP. Have you discussed your written list of symptoms with him?

[Teddybear92]

Ideas? This can't be simply anxiety or depression.

Welcome to ThisIsMS, Teddybear92.

Your symptoms are consistent with many conditions (MS is just one of the possible causes). But since there is no definitive test to identify MS, the other more likely conditions must be tested and ruled out first before the MS diagnosis can be considered.

Since you asked for "Ideas," I assume you are open to a few questions:

In your first line, you describe your month-long throbbing headache… As I understand this, your headache started in March this year. You go on to say that you also had this last year and that "it suddenly stopped." – I wonder if it came at the same time of year both times. Did it suddenly stop last year in summer?

For that matter, I wonder where you live (just generally – hemisphere?), where it is 18° today – is that °F or °C (Fahrenheit or Celsius?)?

In the "many blood tests over the past year," have you had a vitamin D test (the "25-hydroxyvitamin D test")? If so, would you share the actual number result with us? I wonder if you had nutrient testing: vitamin B12, magnesium, zinc. I wonder if your doctor has tested for possible gluten sensitivity (celiac disease).

In my opinion (I have no medical background), you're NOT a hypochondriac. Your symptoms are very real. I agree with your last statement, "this can't be simply anxiety or depression." You need a good "disease detective" – to me, it seems logical to begin your investigation with your GP. Have you discussed your written list of symptoms with him?

I'm in the southern hemisphere 18 degrees is Celsius.
The headache started November (Spring) and ended about early January this year (Summer) and started again this March (Autumn).
I haven't been tested for vitamin D but was thinking of trying b12 tablets. I have had severe chest and stomach pain and have been to the ED for that but hasn't been severe like that again. I do get daily stomach pain and some very mild nausea some days. I'm awaiting a gastroscopy which will take up to 4 months. So could be related. It (headaches) seemed to start after i last went to hospital for the stomach issues. I think my diet changed but I'm not positive since I wasn't eating certain things (sweets,fatty stuff etc) anyway. I no longer drink milk that's all I know (odd time I do once every two weeks in a cup of tea and I do eat yoghurt every day and cheese every few days). I can't think of anything else I've changed. I eat healthy now. Not a single fatty or sugary food or drink apart from juice sometimes.
The blood tests I've had this year in January are FBC, UEC, coagscreen, LFT, amylase. They never say anything so presume normal. I've had other blood tests but I'm not sure what they all were (last year).
The lumbar puncture was 16cm pressure. Normal level. The doctor said I had one red blood cell in the results but that's all I know.

couldnt sleep last night. No idea why. My head hurt I just felt so..restless? It's hard to explain. My sleeping has been terrible since the headache returned. Nerve pain over me. Feel nauseated this morning and I don't know why.

[lyndacarol]

I'm in the southern hemisphere 18 degrees is Celsius.
The headache started November (Spring) and ended about early January this year (Summer) and started again this March (Autumn).
I haven't been tested for vitamin D but was thinking of trying b12 tablets. I have had severe chest and stomach pain and have been to the ED for that but hasn't been severe like that again. I do get daily stomach pain and some very mild nausea some days. I'm awaiting a gastroscopy which will take up to 4 months. So could be related. It (headaches) seemed to start after i last went to hospital for the stomach issues. I think my diet changed but I'm not positive since I wasn't eating certain things (sweets,fatty stuff etc) anyway. I no longer drink milk that's all I know (odd time I do once every two weeks in a cup of tea and I do eat yoghurt every day and cheese every few days). I can't think of anything else I've changed. I eat healthy now. Not a single fatty or sugary food or drink apart from juice sometimes.
The blood tests I've had this year in January are FBC, UEC, coagscreen, LFT, amylase. They never say anything so presume normal. I've had other blood tests but I'm not sure what they all were (last year).
The lumbar puncture was 16cm pressure. Normal level. The doctor said I had one red blood cell in the results but that's all I know.

couldnt sleep last night. No idea why. My head hurt I just felt so..restless? It's hard to explain. My sleeping has been terrible since the headache returned. Nerve pain over me. Feel nauseated this morning and I don't know why.

I was interested to know how your headache might fit with the calendar in your location.

In the northern hemisphere (above 32° north latitude), vitamin D levels are usually lowest in the early spring (because the UVB rays needed to make vitamin D have not been available in the winter). Sun exposure in the summer usually results in the highest levels. This seemed to hold true for your previous headache.

But your current headache (starting in autumn) would not fit the pattern… unless you work indoors and use sunscreen when outdoors. In that case, it is not possible for you to have 10-15 minutes of sun exposure on bare skin between 10 AM and 3 PM (this is the recommendation for a person to make adequate vitamin D in the skin).

Since up to 63% of the population worldwide is deficient or insufficient in vitamin D, I still think it is a good idea for you to request a vitamin D blood test (the 25-hydroxyvitamin D test). If possible, request your own copy of your test results so that you have the actual number. (It is possible to do this here in the US; I realize that it may not be possible everywhere.)

Your symptoms are also consistent with a vitamin B12 deficiency (which any person at age can develop) – in fact, your daily stomach pain may be a sign that your stomach cannot produce the Intrinsic Factor, which is necessary for vitamin B12 absorption. It is a good idea to ask for vitamin B12 testing (By the way, do not begin taking B12 tablets before testing because these supplements will skew your test results.).

In my opinion, it makes sense to start in these areas. Either Vitamin D deficiency or Vitamin B12 deficiency can have neurological symptoms, such as yours.

[Teddybear92]

Past few days I've stsrted getting pretty bad formication. I have no idea what is causing this?
I have it if I go into a dusty room or once I had it so severely in my bed but this has come from nowhere.
I've looked it up and it can come from nerve damage. Last night I went to my mum's room and had it then suddenly got I think bed bug bites. The formication is worse at night but I'm not grtting bitten. It's all over. I've stared at my skin when I have it and nothing is there. I've had these sensations for years but never lasting more than a night or just finding a piece of hair on my skin or a real insect etc.
it feels so awful it's all over me right now.

Currently:
Head still pounding 24/7 and stinging and aching.
Dizzy
Heart pounding 24/7 woke up to that bad this morning for some reason
Unrestful sleep
Tired go to bed at 7-9 pm. Been taking lorazepam to help me sleep it works.
Pain of nerves up and down arms
Formication don't think from lorazepam. Urgh I hate this feeling

Looking at vitamin d tablets I don't get enough of that. I'm worried I havw CFS