Convinced I've got MS - please share your thoughts on this, worried sick!

Hello everyone. I’m seeking some advice and thoughts really. I’m making an appointment with my GP tomorrow but I’d be grateful to hear the thoughts of those who have had a diagnosis of MS. I am a 25 year old female and for a couple of years now I’ve wondered if MS is what I have. As a Support Worker I’ve also formed great relationships with a few people who have had an aggressive form of MS and we’re considerably advanced with the disease so I’m very familiar with ‘characteristic’ symptoms the accompany MS. I’ve always suffered from migraines but back in 2010 towards the end of the year the because incredibly awful, to the point where I had so much time off work and had to stay in bed, much of it crying due to the pain. At this time I also noticed strange things going on with my vision, almost like auras, halo effects and an almost ‘negative-photo’ effect when focuses on objects and then looking away. This eventually was accompanied by a “whooshing” noise in my ears in sync with my pulse which was worse when lying down and also lead to enlarged blind spots in both eyes which are still present today but hardly noticeable unless I’m focused on it. Naturally I involved my GP as this was new to me and very frightening at the time, on doctor put it down to ‘ocular’ migraines which I’ve never had before and I just didn’t feel like that was the right diagnosis so I kept persisting until I was eventually referred to a neuro-ophthalmologist. At my first check up it was noted that I had slightly swollen optic discs, more so on one side and that it was possibly optic neuritis which was never confirmed and later dismissed as being that at all. On further investigation with all sorts of eye tests and investigations I was then referred for an MRI and a lumbar puncture. There was a suggestion of ‘benign intracranial hypertension’ which is fairly uncommon but is an increase in the fluid around the brain and spinal cord and could be determined by a lumbar puncture and although it was never said I know that given my age, gender and symptoms that MS was also a possibility that they were ruling out/investigating. Whilst waiting for these tests my symptoms really seemed to fluctuate and by the time my lumbar puncture came around the pressure/whooshing noise seemed to have stopped. Anyway, I was told that the lumbar puncture gave a normal reading and there was no evidence of protein or whatnot (which I think is what they look for when investigating MS?) and my MRI was clear. I was told they couldn’t find a reason for my symptoms and it was just something that I would have to live with. I then fell pregnant shortly after this and my migraines practically disappeared. That was over 3 years ago now - just recently I’ve started to have different symptoms which have resurfaced my thoughts about whether I have MS or not. Over the last month or so I’ve been getting more headaches and slight halo effects with my eyesight although nothing like before. The new symptoms I’ve been having are a tingling sensation across my back (where my bra fastens) and the same sort of sensation on the left side of my tongue. This comes and goes and I notice it more in the evening time and it’s always in the same place. It doesn’t hurt or burn or itch, just an odd, mild, tingling sort of sensation. I also feel more tired and lethargic just lately too and also a little anxious at times. I’ve recently been told by my GP that I’m suffering from stress & exhaustion - I’m a mum to a 1 & 2 year old, up until the last few weeks I’ve been working 3-4 10 hours night shifts a week with no sleep before or after where my partner goes to work as I get in, we’re getting married in a few months time, my aunt who I’m very close to is in the late stages of cancer and we suffered a miscarriage a couple of months ago so I know I’m stressed and exhausted but I’m wondering if whether these new symptoms are an indication of MS or just stress related. 3 years ago I had a clear lumbar puncture, blood tests and MRI so I’m unsure what it could be? Your thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated x

Hiya,

This is just a possibility but it does fit with headaches and miscarriages and that is Sticky-Blood or Hughes Syndrome; see http://www.hughes-syndrome.org/

Other symptoms mimic MS; it can be controlled so please get checked for Apl antibodies in your blood; see your GP.

Good luck

G