MS symptoms

**strezzed** · 06-12-2009, 09:29 AM

For any of you out there who have been diagnosed with MS, or know someone who has, how did the symptoms start?

**celina** · 06-12-2009, 11:02 AM

for my dear friend, she lost vision in her eye..started being blurry and after a week, nearly gone (the sight came back), others is often problems with a limb...

but she had other issues long before that...but they were always brushed off...but the vision thing is a big thing...

**frugalfranny** · 06-12-2009, 01:32 PM

If you google ms symptoms there is a whole host of websites that come up. I think it varies greatly with the person. No two people have the same symptoms for the dr. to have the 'aha' moment.

I don't have it but live in an area that has lots of it. (most in the US I have heard)

**mauimagic** · 06-12-2009, 01:49 PM

My dear friend went through 7 years of misdiagnoses until finally, one doctor caught on to her MS. Elusive and differing symptoms do make it difficult to diagnose. The changing eyesight one seems to more a more common thread than others.

**stinkbug** · 06-12-2009, 03:54 PM

frugalfanny...where are you? WA state???

**strezzed** · 06-12-2009, 07:17 PM

Thank you for all of the replies. They've been very useful!

**frugalfranny** · 06-13-2009, 01:32 AM

Originally Posted by stinkbug

frugalfanny...where are you? WA state???

I am going to have to change my screen name as people miss the 'R 'in the name....and there is a f-fanny here but not me. Maybe I can ask Sara to capitalize just the R...that should stand out.

Yep...stinkbug....Wa State. WHERE ARE YOU?

So it has been reported that we have the highest rate of MS in the states........no one knows why. Part of it is the nationalities of most of the people here but after that ...????...

**stinkbug** · 06-13-2009, 09:06 AM

Oh...I'm sorry about miss using your name! I need new bifocals!!! (badly)
I asked because I grew up in the Tri-Cities (Pasco) and have heard that about the area. I personally know three people from the area with MS. They were all diagnosed later in life....my best freind from grade school in her 30's, my cousin in her 40's, and my old boss in his 40's. The usual rumor was because of the Hanford Nuclear Site. (yeah....people in the Tri-Cities don't need night lights, they glow in the dark!) My folks and my bother still live there and my sister is in Kent.

I'm in Boise now. I've had no medical issues (other than typical aging stuff, I'm 50) and I'm actually a lot healthier than most people I know.

Where in WA are you?

**dschipman** · 06-13-2009, 10:23 AM

I have been diagnosis with MS for over 8 years. But they think I have had it for years before. My first initial symptom that I remember was waking up and my left side of my body was numb. My doctors thought I had a pinched nerve, but after an MRI and a Spinal Tap and some other testing they discovered the MS. EVERYONE, with MS has different symptoms and the disease can mimic so many other things, that it is difficult to diagnosis in some cases. HTH Dawn

**Sassyclass** · 06-13-2009, 09:48 PM

My mom had lost feeling in her legs around August of last year. Her doctor tested her for Lyme Disease, lead poisoning, and several other diseases before he started her on a med for MS. He sent her to IU Med Center back in March. Thankfully it is not MS. She has Fibromyalgia and is "slightly" Diabetic. Don't give up until you know exactly what it is. Meanwhile you will be in my prayers.

Cat

**strezzed** · 06-14-2009, 12:17 AM

Thanks for all of the wonderful responses! I've had an MRI done and MS is one of the 2 possible diagnoses I received. I'm inclining more toward it not being MS.

**ladykemma2** · 06-14-2009, 08:24 AM

my friend kept dropping things. she has a very mild case

**Momto2Boyz** · 06-15-2009, 09:24 AM

We have a super high rate of MS here in IL too. I know 13 people with it. My best friend in high school was diagnosed with it at 16. At the time she was the second youngest person to be diagnosed with the disease.

Most that I know, have had it start with either their blurred vision or numbness (tingling) in their hands and feet that progressively gets worse. But depending on what type of MS you have...it can be progressive, where it progressively gets worse over time, or it can be remissive, where it literally comes and goes. One of my old bosses had remissive MS and she would go into remission for months or even years, then it would hit and she couldn't get out of bed for 2 days.

It's a wild disease, that unfortunately they don't know enough about. However, most of the people I know are all doing really well on the new medications they have, as compared to the medications that they had even 10 years ago! So that is some good news!

I hope you figure out what is wrong. The not knowing is sometimes the hardest part!

**jsabatini7310** · 03-16-2012, 01:30 PM

If you are having MS like symptoms, get checked for Lymes. It mimics the same symptons and Lymes can be treated. Also, when getting tested, make sure that they do the Western Blott test and not just the ELISA test, which is very unreliable.

**henrysmom** · 03-16-2012, 07:42 PM

I work with two women who both have MS. The first one was diagnosed in her early 40's. She said she had lots of tingling and numbness in her hands which she explained away, weird "clumsy" moments out walking. But apparently one night she took a hot bath and couldn't get out. Literally couldn't get out of the bath and her husband had to pull her out, she was so weak. She does very well on the new meds. The other lady had lot of visual issues, but I don't know her well..