Hi everyone, I really hope this is the right place for this post, I am new to this board. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 11 years ago and have been suffering with it pretty badly all these years. I noticed a few odd things however, 1) my symptoms seemed more severe and/or just 'different' than many other FMS sufferers I compared notes with. But, people vary, etc. 2) I also have a variety of symptoms that are not even FMS symptoms at all, such as tingling, vertigo, tripping, balance issues and many others that have been otherwise unexplained and undiagnosed. I especially suffer from what FMS folks call "Fibro Fog", but my cognitive symptoms again seem far worse than theirs.
Anyway, recently I overheard someone talking and they mentioned that FMS & MS can be misdiagnosed for each other. I had never heard this, but it struck me odd, because many years ago, an Ophthalmologist friend of mine suggested I look at MS when my symptoms first began.
I came home and did some online reading about MS and am rather shocked to see I have just about every symptom of MS on typical symptom lists I am finding. Many of my non-FMS/unrelated/unexplained symptoms are actually MS symptoms and then of course all of the symptoms that are associated with FMS too.
It occurred to me that I don't think MS was ever actually ruled out. I don't remember having an MRI, I sure as heck know I never had a spinal tap... so I'm seriously starting to wonder if I have been misdiagnosed this entire time!?! It would explain so much actually, there have been a lot of gaps in my FMS diagnosis and I've never actually felt sure of the diagnosis at all.
I guess I am here to ask for any input you may have. Do you get this question a lot, have you heard of the two getting misdiagnosed for each other? And then, what next? Go tell my doctor, "Hey, I think I might have MS?" It almost sounds ridiculous to think that it could have been overlooked. Have many people with MS been initially misdiagnosed? Any input would be most appreciated, thanks so much!
Anyway, recently I overheard someone talking and they mentioned that FMS & MS can be misdiagnosed for each other. I had never heard this, but it struck me odd, because many years ago, an Ophthalmologist friend of mine suggested I look at MS when my symptoms first began.
I came home and did some online reading about MS and am rather shocked to see I have just about every symptom of MS on typical symptom lists I am finding. Many of my non-FMS/unrelated/unexplained symptoms are actually MS symptoms and then of course all of the symptoms that are associated with FMS too.
It occurred to me that I don't think MS was ever actually ruled out. I don't remember having an MRI, I sure as heck know I never had a spinal tap... so I'm seriously starting to wonder if I have been misdiagnosed this entire time!?! It would explain so much actually, there have been a lot of gaps in my FMS diagnosis and I've never actually felt sure of the diagnosis at all.
I guess I am here to ask for any input you may have. Do you get this question a lot, have you heard of the two getting misdiagnosed for each other? And then, what next? Go tell my doctor, "Hey, I think I might have MS?" It almost sounds ridiculous to think that it could have been overlooked. Have many people with MS been initially misdiagnosed? Any input would be most appreciated, thanks so much!
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