Hi everybody,
First time posting here and I apologize profusely for the long-winded narrative about my HA woes. I really need help. I've read about 300 threads on here about MS, arm and leg weakness, dizziness and so on, and I've decided that I should ask you guys for your opinions on my current situation.
Foreword: Ok so I’ve been on a medication called Enbrel for almost 7 years now, for the treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis, a form of arthritis. Never had a single side effect, but in very rare cases (about 0,1% apparently), this medication can cause demyelination like what you see in MS or in some cases full-blown MS but this rare side effect is till controversial. But although super rare, it can happen. I've always known this fact and it's been on the back of my mind.
For the past two months, I've experienced extreme anxiety. Panic episodes that lasted for up to 48 hours with multiple panic attacks throughout, difficulty sleeping and so on. I was anxious about everything, from a reunion at work to a supper with friends. I was always feeling anxious for no specific reason.
Then two and a half weeks ago, I woke up mildly dizzy out of the blue. As the day went on it kinda got better so I thought nothing of it.
Then when I was getting in bed at night I had a sudden weird sensation in my thigh that I could describe as something like a hot flash, but cold. Not sure if it was a blood rush as my leg was bent but it felt weird. Felt like water on my leg, kinda. So yeah, some neuro feeling I'm pretty sure.
So I looked up the symptoms dizziness and leg sensation on Google and yeah... big mistake. Found a lot of stuff about MS. Freaked out completely. Lost my marbles. The next day I felt like my limbs were weak and clumsy and my anxiety level skyrocketed. I only started eating and sleeping properly two to three days ago. So I had almost two weeks of panic attacks, no sleep, almost no food and I felt weak which I attributed to MS that I thought I got from Enbrel.
I went to the doctor about 10 days ago cause I was still mildly dizzy and I have strange sensations all over like someone flicking water on me. Happens most of the time on my leg but can also happen on arms, hands, face...
The GP did a basic neurological exam, reflexes, eye movements, walking on tip toes, all that jazz. She said everything was normal and that there was nothing indicative of MS so she didn’t want to order an MRI. She said my symptoms didn't sound like MS cause they were very mild and also MS wouldn’t present as small tingles all over that last a second but more like a whole leg tingling for hours or days. Had nothing to say about the near-constant dizziness... Only asked me if the room was spinning and I said no, more like a feeling when you get up too fast, but it lasts for hours...
She ordered complete blood tests to check for vitamin deficiencies, diabetes or thyroid problems. Everything came back fine. I broke down crying cause I felt like I had MS and no one was taking me seriously. The GP finally attributed my symptoms to extreme anxiety, tiredness and somatization. She gave me lorazepam and sent me away.
So I waited another week. Barely ate, slept using the lorazepam. My right arm and leg started feeling weak. They're not numb per se because they hurt when I pinch them but they "feel" numb if that makes sense? No tingles I just feel like they're weaker, like they hang more than my left limbs. Like they're hollow and light. I feel like they tremble easier.
I know my arm is not REALLY weak though because I can do push-ups and I can even stand on one arm in push-up position. It's kind of driving me crazy. I can still type like I'm used to but I feel clumsier, like my hands are slower.
A few days ago I went back to the same GP complaining about the same symptoms. She said I was a hypocondriac and sent me to the hospital... I ended up seeing two other doctors who did basic neuro exams and listened to my symptoms and diagnosed me with extreme health anxiety. Nobody even wants to send me for an MRI and everyone basically called me crazy. I had to see a psychiatrist in urgent care LOL. I've been eating again for 3 days and sleeping better but I'm still sure I have MS.
Every doctor brushed off my symptoms but I'm still dizzy for hours on end especially when standing up and moving about. I still have tingly, water drops type feelings in my legs and other places. My right arm and leg still feel very weak and tired and I can feel some twitches. So what is happening to me?
Can this really be all anxiety? I feel like I have a pretty strong case for at least an MRI but the useless GP's won't even send me for one. Anxiety, that's all they can say. My mother and girlfriend tell me the same thing and they won't hear anything about MS anymore. But I'm going crazy. I'm dizzy and my limbs feel weak and I have these sensations.
Everybody tells me that I've been anxious for so long and ate and slept so little that my body is crumbling and that it will take weeks to feel normal again but I have a hard time believing this can all be anxiety.
Do my symptoms even sound like MS? I'm going crazy.