My hypochondria is creeping in.
So, my biological grandmother has multiple sclerosis. I know that multiple sclerosis isn't necessarily completely genetic but it doesn't help when you have a family member with it. So, here is where my hypochondria is creeping in. They say you start showing sypmtoms in your twenties and here are a list of symptoms I have experienced as of recently or within the past few years...
1. Numbness - Numbness of the face, body, or extremities is one of the most common symptoms of MS, and is often the first symptom experienced by those eventually diagnosed as having MS. The numbness may be mild or so severe that it interferes with the ability to use the affected body part. For example, a person with very numb feet may have difficulty walking. Numb hands may prevent writing, dressing or holding objects safely.
I've been experiencing this for years. For like thirty minutes or so at a time my fingers will go number or my toes or feet. A few of my fingers are numb right now. Last night my toes were numb for like an hour.
2. Dizziness and/or Vertigo - Dizziness is a frequent symptom of MS. People with MS may feel off balance or lightheaded. Vertigo is the sensation that you or the things around you are spinning. These symptoms are due to lesions-damaged areas-in the complex pathways that coordinate visual, spatial, and other input to the brain needed to produce and maintain equilibrium.
I've been experiencing this within the past couple of years. It gets so bad sometimes that I have to completely stop what I'm doing and either lay down with my feet up or put my head between my legs.
3. Bowel Dysfunction - It appears that constipation occurs in more people who have MS than in the general population. If this irregularity is a problem, there are several steps you can follow.
First, you should remember it is not necessary for good health to have a bowel movement every day. But, if you don't have one every three to four days, you could have complications. The symptoms of a full bowel could be nausea, headache and a general feeling of being unwell. Timing, fluid intake, diet and physical activity are four measures that must receive primary consideration.
This seems to be getting worse and worse.
4. Depression - Self explanatory.
I've been battling that off and on for years since I can even remember. I doubt MS has anything to do with this but I'm sure it doesn't help.
5. Cognitive - Memory, perception, etc.
I have no memory but that could be from the stuff I did when I was younger and perception, forget about it! None whatsoever.
6. Fatigue - Is a debilitating kind of overall weariness, which is not predictable and unrelated to your activity level. Increase in body temperature will temporarily worsen fatigue; conversely, air-conditioning or a cool drink will lower your temperature, possibly enabling you to feel better and continue.
I'm not to the point that I'm fatigued but I have no energy ever as long as I can remember I've always been like that. I could sit in one place and you could leave, come back hours later and I haven't moved. This could, also, be because I don't get enough iron or the fact that I'm a single parent, work a full time job, and have a class at school. Who knows. All I know is you could snap your fingers and could fall asleep at any time any place even though I try to eat right and I exercise on a regular basis. Nothing works.
Yes all of those symptoms are long shots and I'm probably completely healthy and will never get MS but to have half the symptoms they listed is what has made my hypochondria come about! :) I'll come back to livejournal years from now and update you few people who read my journal and let you know if I really have it or not!
1. Numbness - Numbness of the face, body, or extremities is one of the most common symptoms of MS, and is often the first symptom experienced by those eventually diagnosed as having MS. The numbness may be mild or so severe that it interferes with the ability to use the affected body part. For example, a person with very numb feet may have difficulty walking. Numb hands may prevent writing, dressing or holding objects safely.
I've been experiencing this for years. For like thirty minutes or so at a time my fingers will go number or my toes or feet. A few of my fingers are numb right now. Last night my toes were numb for like an hour.
2. Dizziness and/or Vertigo - Dizziness is a frequent symptom of MS. People with MS may feel off balance or lightheaded. Vertigo is the sensation that you or the things around you are spinning. These symptoms are due to lesions-damaged areas-in the complex pathways that coordinate visual, spatial, and other input to the brain needed to produce and maintain equilibrium.
I've been experiencing this within the past couple of years. It gets so bad sometimes that I have to completely stop what I'm doing and either lay down with my feet up or put my head between my legs.
3. Bowel Dysfunction - It appears that constipation occurs in more people who have MS than in the general population. If this irregularity is a problem, there are several steps you can follow.
First, you should remember it is not necessary for good health to have a bowel movement every day. But, if you don't have one every three to four days, you could have complications. The symptoms of a full bowel could be nausea, headache and a general feeling of being unwell. Timing, fluid intake, diet and physical activity are four measures that must receive primary consideration.
This seems to be getting worse and worse.
4. Depression - Self explanatory.
I've been battling that off and on for years since I can even remember. I doubt MS has anything to do with this but I'm sure it doesn't help.
5. Cognitive - Memory, perception, etc.
I have no memory but that could be from the stuff I did when I was younger and perception, forget about it! None whatsoever.
6. Fatigue - Is a debilitating kind of overall weariness, which is not predictable and unrelated to your activity level. Increase in body temperature will temporarily worsen fatigue; conversely, air-conditioning or a cool drink will lower your temperature, possibly enabling you to feel better and continue.
I'm not to the point that I'm fatigued but I have no energy ever as long as I can remember I've always been like that. I could sit in one place and you could leave, come back hours later and I haven't moved. This could, also, be because I don't get enough iron or the fact that I'm a single parent, work a full time job, and have a class at school. Who knows. All I know is you could snap your fingers and could fall asleep at any time any place even though I try to eat right and I exercise on a regular basis. Nothing works.
Yes all of those symptoms are long shots and I'm probably completely healthy and will never get MS but to have half the symptoms they listed is what has made my hypochondria come about! :) I'll come back to livejournal years from now and update you few people who read my journal and let you know if I really have it or not!