need real help
birdie1120 posted:
am very concerned for myself right now. I will list symptoms first. I have tingling in left side this time around, now have speech problem, pain, joint problems, muscle problems, been sensitive to heat since a few years ago, and some others. I am nervous so can't remember all of it now. Sorry for that. i had been to hosp two times recently for what looked like stroke. No evidence of that. I have for a few years questions for a few years if had MS for years. They got me for fibromyalgia. In last four weeks first time i had problem woke up with it. Could not speak goo and was tingling in right side and head felt numb. Thing why I am scared is I saw doc and he wanted me to see Psychiatrist. I though that was not right. I have bipolar and I really think he just wanted to say that it's easier. I am getting a second opinion. I think I need advocate for this as well. I wish I had answers for my condition. I need so much help, but feel this may be a simple thing. I also think it may be MS. I hope maybe someone can point me in the right direction for help as well. I am at my wits end and need help. Not sure what to do, thought to start here first. Thank you.
2 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:need real help<i>am very concerned for myself right now. I will list symptoms first. I have tingling in left side this time around, now have speech problem, pain, joint problems, muscle problems, been sensitive to heat since a few years ago, and some others. I am nervous so can't remember all of it now. Sorry for that. i had been to hosp two times recently for what looked like stroke. No evidence of that. I have for a few years qu<i>estions for a few years if had MS for years. They got me for fibromyalgia. In last four weeks first time i had problem woke up with it. Could not speak goo and was tingling in right side and head felt numb. Thing why I am scared is I saw doc and he wanted me to see Psychiatrist. I though that was not right. I have bipolar and I really think he just wanted to say that it's easier. I am getting a second opinion. I think I need advocate for this as well. I wish I had answers for my condition. I need so much help, but feel this may be a simple thing. I also think it may be MS. I hope maybe someone can point me in the right direction for help as well. I am at my wits end and need help. Not sure what to do, thought to start here first. Thank you.</i></i>
Caprice_WebMD_Staff responded:
Hi Birdie,
I'm sure others will be responding though, of course, no one here can diagnose you. They may be able to point you in the direction of the kind of doctor and/or tests you might consider.
In the meantime, I wanted to welcome you here.
I'm sure others will be responding though, of course, no one here can diagnose you. They may be able to point you in the direction of the kind of doctor and/or tests you might consider.
In the meantime, I wanted to welcome you here.
Report This| Share this:need real helpHi Birdie,<br /><br />I'm sure others will be responding though, of course, no one here can diagnose you. They may be able to point you in the direction of the kind of doctor and/or tests you might consider.<br /><br />In the meantime, I wanted to welcome you here.
hackwriter responded:
Dear birdie,
The symptoms you describe can fit any number of conditions besides Fibromyalgia and MS, including vascular and infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders such as Lupus and Rheumatoid arthritis, the number of possibilities is enormous, really. But don't let that scare you off. Get that second opinion and don't give up. You must see a neurologist for an MS consultation; Fibromyalgia is treated by a rheumatologist. People with a Fibromyalgia diagnosis can go on to develop MS or discover that they were misdiagnosed, so your concern about possible MS (and a number of other autoimmune disorders, by the way) is valid.
Testing for MS involves MRIs of the brain and spinal cord, a neurological exam that tests coordination, strength, balance and reflexes, and a lumbar puncture.
It might take some time to find the answers you seek since it is largely a process of elimination, so stick to your guns and keep bugging your doctor. Keep a symptom log and present it each time you see the doctor. When you get a specialist referral, take that log to the specialist as well and discuss it thoroughly with that doctor, too. If a doctor suggests it's in your head, that simply means they are not interested in investigating further, so go back to the drawing board and get another referral. It isn't a waste of time to get numerous tests and amble down some blind alleys, you are establishing baseline testing that may be valuable as you go along.
I know how worrisome and stressful it is when you are trying to find the answers; most everyone with a rare chronic illness has had to run the gauntlet of specialists and dead ends before they get diagnosed and finally get the treatment they need. I hope you don't have MS--but if you do, we're here to listen and answer your questions so you don't feel so alone with it.
I hope you will let us know what you find out. And while you are pursuing a diagnosis, please feel free to ask questions or vent here whenever you need to.
Kim
The symptoms you describe can fit any number of conditions besides Fibromyalgia and MS, including vascular and infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders such as Lupus and Rheumatoid arthritis, the number of possibilities is enormous, really. But don't let that scare you off. Get that second opinion and don't give up. You must see a neurologist for an MS consultation; Fibromyalgia is treated by a rheumatologist. People with a Fibromyalgia diagnosis can go on to develop MS or discover that they were misdiagnosed, so your concern about possible MS (and a number of other autoimmune disorders, by the way) is valid.
Testing for MS involves MRIs of the brain and spinal cord, a neurological exam that tests coordination, strength, balance and reflexes, and a lumbar puncture.
It might take some time to find the answers you seek since it is largely a process of elimination, so stick to your guns and keep bugging your doctor. Keep a symptom log and present it each time you see the doctor. When you get a specialist referral, take that log to the specialist as well and discuss it thoroughly with that doctor, too. If a doctor suggests it's in your head, that simply means they are not interested in investigating further, so go back to the drawing board and get another referral. It isn't a waste of time to get numerous tests and amble down some blind alleys, you are establishing baseline testing that may be valuable as you go along.
I know how worrisome and stressful it is when you are trying to find the answers; most everyone with a rare chronic illness has had to run the gauntlet of specialists and dead ends before they get diagnosed and finally get the treatment they need. I hope you don't have MS--but if you do, we're here to listen and answer your questions so you don't feel so alone with it.
I hope you will let us know what you find out. And while you are pursuing a diagnosis, please feel free to ask questions or vent here whenever you need to.
Kim
Report This| Share this:need real helpDear birdie,<br /><br />The symptoms you describe can fit any number of conditions besides Fibromyalgia and MS, including vascular and infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders such as Lupus and Rheumatoid arthritis, the number of possibilities is enormous, really. But don't let that scare you off. Get that second opinion and don't give up. You must see a neurologist for an MS consultation; Fibromyalgia is treated by a rheumatologist. People with a Fibromyalgia diagnosis can go on to develop MS or discover that they were misdiagnosed, so your concern about possible MS (and a number of other autoimmune disorders, by the way) is valid. <br /><br />Testing for MS involves MRIs of the brain and spinal cord, a neurological exam that tests coordination, strength, balance and reflexes, and a lumbar puncture. <br /><br />It might take some time to find the answers you seek since it is largely a process of elimination, so stick to your guns and keep bugging your doctor. Keep a symptom log and present it each time you see the doctor. When you get a specialist referral, take that log to the specialist as well and discuss it thoroughly with that doctor, too. If a doctor suggests it's in your head, that simply means they are not interested in investigating further, so go back to the drawing board and get another referral. It isn't a waste of time to get numerous tests and amble down some blind alleys, you are establishing baseline testing that may be valuable as you go along.<br /><br />I know how worrisome and stressful it is when you are trying to find the answers; most everyone with a rare chronic illness has had to run the gauntlet of specialists and dead ends before they get diagnosed and finally get the treatment they need. I hope you don't have MS--but if you do, we're here to listen and answer your questions so you don't feel so alone with it.<br /><br />I hope you will let us know what you find out. And while you are pursuing a diagnosis, please feel free to ask questions or vent here whenever you need to.<br /><br />Kim
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