new here...hi all

[hart30]

Hi everyone....

Been browsing the board for quite some time...This is a wonderful place for information and full of very kind hearted people!

I have a Dr. appointment coming up on thursday. I just got insurance last month. I am not dx with anything yet...just have had a lot of sx that fit into the ms catagory...could be other things as well.

I am a nurse and have been for some time. So I know a little about ms and have researched quite a bit since I have been having sx. Heres whats been going on....

First off I have always been quite the klutz so the running into things, occasional fall and dropping things really didn't worry me much until recently.

I have been having numbness, mainly in my left leg and hand. Various other places that come and go. Have been having a very strange rain drop feeling all over my skin. Was walking through a store the other day and felt like a down pour on my feet so much so I looked up to see if something was leaking from the cealing. Very Strange!

I go from freezing to feeling like i'm burning up through out the day. Headaches off and on...but have always had headaches. Occasionally dizzy but usually when I go from sitting to standing.

I have been forgetting things so much that If I don't make a list for the day not to much gets accomplished.

I don't know. I will be glad to get to the dr, but worried at the same time not knowing for sure what is going on. I know you all have been through this so I guess it's just good to vent.

Auto Immune diseases do run in my family but no MS that i'm aware of.
Any ideas or suggestions? I'm hoping since I just got insurance if it is anything serious they don't label it pre exsisting...

OH also I have not had this happen since I was a kid, but I got the electrical like feeling in my back from time to time. Hasn't happened in years and actually I forgot about it until I was reading this forum. Surely MS doesnt stay dorment for that long? WHo know......
Thanks for reading!

[jazzgirl]

Well, good luck and keep us posted!

[mjan]

HI HART and welcome to MS World. I am glad you posted.

Are you seeing a MS doc? And what tests have you had, any MRI?

Because you are not diagnosed its not considered pre-existing now. So you should be ok with insurance.

Who do you have that knows what you are going through?
I hope you have friends and family. BUT know this, you are NOT alone with this..ask us anything as often as you need..and try the CHAT room too for help, social interation and support.

There is a section run MiniVanMama called Limboland checkin. ITs a good place to go while you are going through this MS process.

HUGS and support!!

Warmly, Jan

[notmyms]

Welcome hart30, I'm a newbie to this forum, too.

The sx you describe all could be due to MS, but of course your doctors will have to tell you. I've had the rain thing, too, it is so weird!

The numbness being primarily on the left side could indicate MS. I think many MSers feel lop-sided, because we are numb or tight or weak or hurting only on the left or right. There is an invisible line dividing my body in half, with the weird sx only on the left.

re: pre-existing condition issue, I don't think they can call it pre-existing if you haven't been diagnosed with or specifically treated for a condition before you got the insurance. If you are diagnosed, you will want to be sure to stay insured with no "lapse in coverage."

Apparently MS can be dormant or benign for years after an initial flare. The electric feeling could have been Lhermitte's signal. Sit up straight and let your head tilt forward, bending your neck and tucking your chin. Do you feel anything weird? Lhermitte's is an electric-like pulse sensation from the neck down the back and/or arms when the head is bent forward. It indicates some neurological damage, but not necessarily MS. (I think) I only get it during a relapse.

Best of luck with your appointment Thursday. I hope there is a simple, easily treatable reason for your symptoms, that they go away, and that you don't have MS! But if you do, know that it won't be as bad as you fear, and you can find sympathetic ears and support here.

[hart30]

Thanks!

Thank you all for the replies. I replied with a lengthy message only to realize that I wasn't logged on!

Jan-Thanks for the kind words. I have not had any tests...I haven't had insurance for quite some time. The only other thing I have really had wrong with me is Kidney stones. That was loads of fun...and UTI's which went along with the stones. All the fun of childbirth or so I hear with out anything to show for it other than a little ugly "rock"!
I do have some close friends I have discussed this with and my cousion who has Lupus. She thinks that is what it could be, but I really haven't been "sick" just these weird symptoms. And the fatigue.

Thanks Jan and notmyms for the words on insurance...I didn't think they could call it preexisting if I hadn't been diagnosed, but since I haven't had the insurance long...I know they like to get out of paying for anything if they can get away with it!

I re read my post and actually my appointment is wed. not thursday. I am seeing a Nurse practioner that i have heard very good things about and will ask for a refferal to a neuro. I think whatever it is it has to be something neurological.

Thanks for the kind words all...I feel better just getting everything out. I am trying not to panic and really just want to get everything over with and know something one way or the other!

[mjan]

Not to waste time, you need an MS neuro. Neuros in general know about MS but are not always as familiar.
It makes sense for someone to order the MRI, LP and blood tests before you see the MS neuro.

The blood tests rule things out; its quite a lot of blood work if they are thorough. AND you can have MS yet not see it yet on an MRI so no diagnosis. AND you can have MS and have a LP negative too ( I did but it was years before I finally got my diagnosis). Dont be surprised if they dont even understand your "water" feeling. I had drops of water sensations on small portions but not like you. NOthing much will surprise us here.

What kind of nursing are in working in?

I am on here a lot as I am no longer working and homebound for last 5 months.

Warmly, Jan

[hart30]

one more ?

I did try to go to the chat and there is just an X where the chat should be....what am I doing wrong?

And notmyms.... I do not have the electric feeling now. Even when I bend my neck forward. Thank goodness, I always found that really strange. Now it just rains on me all the time! Which yes it is a very odd feeling...and when you mention that to anyone they look at you like you've lost your mind!

[KoKo]

hart30

Hello hart30

You need to have Adobe Flash on your computer in order to use the chat room.

Let me know if you still can't use the room.

Take care,
KoKo

[hart30]

thanks KoKo...I will get that.



Jan- I am a Home health nurse. So...I know a little about a lot. Know more about wounds and geriatrics than anything. I have worked with a lot of mentally and physically handicapped kids, which I loved!

I don't know that my town has a ms specialist...but I'm not to far from a couple of big cities that i'm sure does.

[notmyms]

You're not crazy

When I started having all the weird symptoms my wonderful GP told me, "You are not crazy, and I'm referring you to a good neurologist to find out what is wrong." I pray that the NP you see soon is that wise.

[mjan]

HI Again HART~!

I was working for a Home health and Hospice agency as a Hospice social worker. I miss the work..but do not miss working. It was stressful to say the least.

Hope you are feeling more connected to us now.

Keep us informed as to how you are doing and you are welcome to write me via email which is in my profile.

Take good care,

Jan

[hart30]

It's nice to know that someone knows what I am talking about! Hate it that other people are going through it, but is nice to know that I am not Crazy!!

Thanks you all