Nervous I have MS - what were your first symptoms?

[everyrose]

So I will try to make a long story short... I am worried about MS. I am a nurse's aide and went to the workman's comp doc for back pain. I have also been having problems with incontinence, some seizures, constipation, fatigue, and tingling in my fingers and toes. He sent me to er to rule out cauda equina and they said because I was not numb between my legs they were not so worried about that. However they said I should see my pcp to rule out ms. That scared the pee out of me (literally). I didn't have a pcp at the time but I called everyone in town to see who could get me in quickest... now I am playing the waiting game. I am 20 years old... I feel like I am too young for this but I don't know. How old were you all at diagnosis? I KNOW I am too young to be incontinent by bladder 5-10 times a day. (Also, for those of you who are incontinent - do you have any tips for skinbreakdown?? I often wear wet diapers for hours at a time because I dont get the opportunity to change them at work)

Also a little about me...You can call me Rose. I am from michigan, I am college student and I live alone with my therapy cat. I am a nurse's aide and I adore my job but with the fatigue I've been having it's been extremely hard to work this job, constantly feels like my legs are going to give out from under me. Please tell me about yourselves!i will keep you updated after I see doc!

[SNOOPY]

Hello everyrose and welcome to MSWorld

I am a nurse's aide and went to the workman's comp doc for back pain.

Have you received a diagnosis for the back pain?

some seizures

Have you been diagnosed with epilepsy?

Maybe you have MS but maybe you don't. A diagnosis of Ms is one of exclusion. Many other things mimic the symptoms of MS and all of those other possibilities would need to be ruled out.

A PCP is a good start, s/he could do testing for some of the other possibilities and refer you to the appropriate specialist, if needed. Multiple Sclerosis is diagnosed and treated by a Neurologist not a PCP.

I was 24 years old at the time I was diagnosed but I have had symptoms that go back to childhood. I had been married 4 years when I was diagnosed, we have been married 35, almost 36 years. I have 2 children, my son is 27 and my daughter is 25. I have a 17 year old cat and a 7 year old Lab mix that was adopted from the animal shelter where I was volunteering (she was 6 months old when she came into the shelter).

I hope you don't have MS and your symptoms are easily resolved.

[SpottedCat]

I get you

Hay Rose,

We were together in the chat room the other day.

I am 19 now, and I developed my first symptoms in high school, tingling and numbness in my feet and calves mostly, also stress related incontinence. What helped for me, (I still do it today) is avoid caffeine. Decaf is still okay, but only one or two cups a day, (spaced out).

I hope you don't have MS, but it was nice to meet you all the same.

Spotted Cat

[everyrose]

Hello everyrose and welcome to MSWorld



Have you received a diagnosis for the back pain?



Have you been diagnosed with epilepsy?

Maybe you have MS but maybe you don't. A diagnosis of Ms is one of exclusion. Many other things mimic the symptoms of MS and all of those other possibilities would need to be ruled out.

A PCP is a good start, s/he could do testing for some of the other possibilities and refer you to the appropriate specialist, if needed. Multiple Sclerosis is diagnosed and treated by a Neurologist not a PCP.

I was 24 years old at the time I was diagnosed but I have had symptoms that go back to childhood. I had been married 4 years when I was diagnosed, we have been married 35, almost 36 years. I have 2 children, my son is 27 and my daughter is 25. I have a 17 year old cat and a 7 year old Lab mix that was adopted from the animal shelter where I was volunteering (she was 6 months old when she came into the shelter).

I hope you don't have MS and your symptoms are easily resolved.

Thank you for the response! I have recieved a few shaky dxs when in ER for the back pain...pulled muscle, sciatica, something starting with a p...I've been told I don't gave epilepsy but a "seizure disorder." I am tired of vague diagnoses!
I do hope I don't have ms but I definitely would like some kind of dx! I am glad I'm finally getting in with pcp, and a neurologist and urologist. hopefully these drs will offer some relief. i hope you are doing well, you seem very nice. thank you for the response.

[REG53]

Hello Rose, I don't have any advice to give but just wanted to say I had my first sx when I was around 26 yrs old. I was dx at age 53, I am now 65.

I hope you find answers soon and ms is ruled out.

[everyrose]

Hay Rose,

We were together in the chat room the other day.

I am 19 now, and I developed my first symptoms in high school, tingling and numbness in my feet and calves mostly, also stress related incontinence. What helped for me, (I still do it today) is avoid caffeine. Decaf is still okay, but only one or two cups a day, (spaced out).

I hope you don't have MS, but it was nice to meet you all the same.

Spotted Cat

Hi Cat,
It was so nice talking to you the other day. I hope you are managing well, thank you for the advice! I hope I don't have ms too, but I will just deal with whatever comes my way I suppose... nice to meet you!!

[Carolinemf]

Hi Rose
Welcome though sorry you need to be with us.
I had first symptoms at 18/19. Officially diagnosed 10 years later.
In the 30 years + since symptoms first presented I've had ups and downs but have managed to live a full life including work and family so hopefully if turns out you do have ms - you will too.
All the best.

[LizzyBaby]

Rose,
I am 22 years old I was diagnosed last month but I've had symptoms since I was a little girl. But those symptoms came and left so I never really paid attention to them. But for the last couple years I've had the worst pain in my legs every single day. Also had itchiness and tingles, and fatigue. I also started talking very slowly. And then at the beginning of Feb, I had my first actual flare up that affected my right side of the body,but after the steroid treatment I got way better. Anyways, I still have a lot of recovering to do and pain everyday but Id rather have pain then not feel. I start my treatment hopefully in a month or 2. I hope that helped. -Liz

[JEM86]

Hi Rose! I am 60 years old and was just diagnosed with MS, although I now recognize the symptoms going back many years. I also have a disorder called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) which is sometimes referred to as the "most common disorder you have never heard of." It shares many symptoms with MS. Cognitive, especially memory problems, are getting worse for me and I have struggled with incontinence for around 10 years. And these are strictly MS symptoms. There are many people who have both disorders, although I don't know if there are enough to describe it as a separate syndrome.

I have had CMT since early childhood. Although it was not as bad as your MS sounds at your age, I know it can be very difficult to deal with such a diagnosis as a young adult. I have used forums like this to deal with my CMT for many years. They can be so useful. Hang in with us and hang on. The symptoms may get worse, but the support gets better.