Varying symptoms
Hi, I'm 36 years old and have a myriad of different symptoms that come and go. It started about 4 months ago with tingling in my left arm and hand, since then I've had burning in my feet and calves, hearing loss in my left ear, excess fluid in my right ear, feeling unbalanced, headache at the bottom back of my head and sore/slightly stiff neck, tingling numbness in my chin, upper lip, top of head and above ears, strange sensation in tongue and recently throat, tingling chills sometimes all over body and isolated even when it's not cold, sweats, funny feeling in diaphragm area/bottom of ribs, pains in left side of chest and ribs that come and go, lower back pain, blistering hives on my ankles, blood iny urine and nausea/feeling like I'm going to vomit. I was diagnosed with acid reflux after having flares the past two years. Waiting on a rheumatology appointment. Have had a brain MRI, c spine MRI, chest CT Scan, blood test, nerve tests and all have come back normal. Going out of my mind with worry. Do you think I have MS?
Hi,
and welcome!
I am sorry you are experiencing so many symptoms and are stuck in limbo, waiting for a diagnosis. We cannot provide any guess on a diagnosis, for your safety.
That said, there is obviously something going on in your body that deserves to be addressed. You mentioned that all your tests have come back normal so far. I have two questions:
1) Have you had a lumbar puncture (also known as a spinal tap) -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/diagnosis/lumbar-puncture.
2) Also, while your bloodwork came back normal, did they check for elevated ANA or RF levels (a marker for RA)? You can read more about that here -- https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/diagnosis/laboratory-testing. Keep in mind that people can have normal bloodwork and still have a form of RA called seronegative RA.
I'm gonna be honest, though. Your symptoms sound pretty varied and don't totally fit the bill of Rheumatoid Arthritis. But, you may be dealing with MS or another autoimmune condition (or something else entirely). Have your doctors ruled out other conditions that share symptoms with MS? You can read about some of those conditions here -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/diagnosis/ruling-out-other-health-conditions.
Are you still waiting to get scheduled for an appointment with a rheumatologist or do you have an appointment booked? I know appointments for specialists can be booked out months out, so hopefully, you don't have to wait too long. I will say that blood in one's urine is usually a symptom that is taken seriously, so if you haven't already, please get that checked out! It could something as simple as an infection, but it should still be addressed.
I don't blame you for being worried. I would be, too. It's hard to not having a diagnosis when you keep experiencing symptoms like yours.
You're not alone. And whether you have MS or something else, we are happy to offer support and help in any way we can.
Gentle Hugs, Erin, MultipleSclerosis.net Team member.Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it a lot. I haven't had a lumbar puncture no but I am going to see the rheumatologost tomorrow so hopefully they will guide me in the right direction. I also have an ultrasound next week to investigate the blood in my urine. The unknown is just so scary and when I google it makes everything ten times worse. Praying that it will all be ok 🙏
, I hope your appointment tomorrow is fruitful and you finally get some answers.
And goodness, Google searches are like the best and the worst thing ever, aren't they? Especially when it comes to medical things.
Hang in there and please update us after your appointment, if you feel comfortable doing so.
Best, Erin, MultipleSclerosis.net Team Member.
Hi there, so the rheumatologist said that I don't have Lyme's or lupus or any other autoimmune because I don't have the symptoms and because my bloods were clear, advised me to go back to the neurologist for numbness in throat, tongue, chin and head. I feel like I'm back to square one 😔
, ugh! I know that must be incredibly frustrating! I know, in a way, you're probably pretty disappointed to be back at square one. Did he/she give you any helpful input?
Best, Erin, MultipleSclerosis.net Team Member.
She said from my symptoms and blood work I didn't have Lyme's or Lupus or anything like that, she suggested I go back to the neurologist for the numbness in my chin, tongue and throat.
, not very helpful, huh? Sometimes (and I bet you know this), doctors will kind of push a patient to another doctor when they are stumped by your symptoms. They don't really want to admit that they have no clue and don't know what to do next, so they send you on your way. So frustrating!
Best, Erin, MultipleSclerosis.net Team Member.
