CleverLittleViper
17-10-14, 11:28
During the past month, I've suffered quite acutely with HA, apparently.
HA is not a new thing for me, but before now, I'd never experienced physical symptoms of it. In some ways, I'm doing a little better mentally. I'm certainly in a brighter headspace right now. What I'm having problems with is my near-constant symptoms.
-Constant head pressure
-Constant dizziness (although sometimes it does ease off/is less noticeable)
-Constant numbness in both my hands and feet (moreso in the hands)
-Perceived weakness in arms and legs
-A slight vibration in left leg (although it does seem to be easing off)
-Back pain in mid-lower back feels like someone is pressing against my spine (not constant)
-Facial tightness/pressure (could be attributed to headache)
Now, I must say the numbness I experience does not cause me to lose function or sensation in my hands or feet. In fact, the numbness in my hands is confined to my fingertips. It's just a weird sensation. Like they're "full" or something. Sometimes my hands change colour-like go really red, and mottled, but it's short-lived. I mean, from the time I wake up (I dread waking up now) my hands and feet are numb-someone did suggest it could be my mattress or my meds.
My doctor has ruled out MS, but I still have my fears. She says this is severe anxiety. I know I have to listen and accept the diagnosis to get on the process of healing, but how can I when my symptoms are near-constant? I just want to get to the bottom of this. I want it over. I haven't had any diagnostic tests to rule out MS officially, and I often wonder if it is that that keeps me hanging on to it. If I could outright rule it out, then I could relax.
I have had strength tests, grip tests, sensation tests (she pricked my hand with a plastic prod) eye tests and blood tests, and I passed everything with flying colours. They could find nothing discernible wrong with me. I know MS is a common fear among us HA sufferers, and I think another thing that keeps me hanging onto it is that I wasn't entirely honest with my first doctor (I now see someone else) about whether I'd had vision problems or not. Now, I've read a little about the vision problems associated with MS and the problems I've had (in March) don't sound all that similar- mine typically occurred at night after prolonged periods of being on the computer, and my eyes felt gritty, itchy and sore. I wrote it off as eye strain because it passed when I slept well, and one eye is weaker than the other (only by 0.5) (I need new prescription lenses but I'm still choosing my frames) and it was that eye that seemed worse affected because I squint (but both were affected).
As I'd had an eye test just that week, and passed the eye exam (healthy, normal eyes) I didn't think it was relevant to mention. Plus, it was so long ago. Now, I'm scared that by not mentioning them, it might have misled the doctor away from the "real" diagnosis. Again, I'm swimming around in my what-ifs. Now, logically, I know that with all the symptoms I have (I've had the above and more) the doctor would be able to rule in or out MS, w/o knowing about the eye problems. I also logically know that MS cannot present its symptoms the way I am.
But I'm still scared, and I need help. It feels like it takes very little to make my entire body go numb these days, and I'm concerned about what that is. Is it my meds (20mg Amitriptyline) or my anxiety (even when I'm not especially anxious) or something else?
HA is not a new thing for me, but before now, I'd never experienced physical symptoms of it. In some ways, I'm doing a little better mentally. I'm certainly in a brighter headspace right now. What I'm having problems with is my near-constant symptoms.
-Constant head pressure
-Constant dizziness (although sometimes it does ease off/is less noticeable)
-Constant numbness in both my hands and feet (moreso in the hands)
-Perceived weakness in arms and legs
-A slight vibration in left leg (although it does seem to be easing off)
-Back pain in mid-lower back feels like someone is pressing against my spine (not constant)
-Facial tightness/pressure (could be attributed to headache)
Now, I must say the numbness I experience does not cause me to lose function or sensation in my hands or feet. In fact, the numbness in my hands is confined to my fingertips. It's just a weird sensation. Like they're "full" or something. Sometimes my hands change colour-like go really red, and mottled, but it's short-lived. I mean, from the time I wake up (I dread waking up now) my hands and feet are numb-someone did suggest it could be my mattress or my meds.
My doctor has ruled out MS, but I still have my fears. She says this is severe anxiety. I know I have to listen and accept the diagnosis to get on the process of healing, but how can I when my symptoms are near-constant? I just want to get to the bottom of this. I want it over. I haven't had any diagnostic tests to rule out MS officially, and I often wonder if it is that that keeps me hanging on to it. If I could outright rule it out, then I could relax.
I have had strength tests, grip tests, sensation tests (she pricked my hand with a plastic prod) eye tests and blood tests, and I passed everything with flying colours. They could find nothing discernible wrong with me. I know MS is a common fear among us HA sufferers, and I think another thing that keeps me hanging onto it is that I wasn't entirely honest with my first doctor (I now see someone else) about whether I'd had vision problems or not. Now, I've read a little about the vision problems associated with MS and the problems I've had (in March) don't sound all that similar- mine typically occurred at night after prolonged periods of being on the computer, and my eyes felt gritty, itchy and sore. I wrote it off as eye strain because it passed when I slept well, and one eye is weaker than the other (only by 0.5) (I need new prescription lenses but I'm still choosing my frames) and it was that eye that seemed worse affected because I squint (but both were affected).
As I'd had an eye test just that week, and passed the eye exam (healthy, normal eyes) I didn't think it was relevant to mention. Plus, it was so long ago. Now, I'm scared that by not mentioning them, it might have misled the doctor away from the "real" diagnosis. Again, I'm swimming around in my what-ifs. Now, logically, I know that with all the symptoms I have (I've had the above and more) the doctor would be able to rule in or out MS, w/o knowing about the eye problems. I also logically know that MS cannot present its symptoms the way I am.
But I'm still scared, and I need help. It feels like it takes very little to make my entire body go numb these days, and I'm concerned about what that is. Is it my meds (20mg Amitriptyline) or my anxiety (even when I'm not especially anxious) or something else?