Medical
Ask a Doctor and Get an Answer to Your Medical Question ASAP
Hi Audrey. We see these types of symptoms all the time. They often wax and wane. Typically they will resolve over time. The fact that your symptoms improved while on vacation is very reassuring and suggests that an important factor is stress. While this might simply be an exacerbating factor of some other process, it is something that can be worked on and managed. In the meantime, I would suggest you see a rheumatologist. Many of your symptoms are suggestive of an autoimmune or autoinflammatory process, one that may or may not last. Either way, however, they can do some specialized testing and may want to start you on immunomodulatory therapy for diagnostic and therapeutic reasons.
These are all autoimmune conditions...including MS, ON (which is often a presenting sign of MS), fibromyalgia, Raynaud's, rheumatoid arthritis, mononeuritis multiplex. The list is long and 2 or 3 autoimmune conditions can co-exist within the same individual. Basic blood tests are often normal. Specialized blood tests usually indicate something awry. It can get very confusing. This is why I would suggest you see a rheumatologist rather than a neurologist. MS can wax and wane and there is little that can be done in the early stages anyway, so we are often comfortable waiting to see what develops. A rheumatologist (particularly an academic one) is more likely to pursue a diagnosis right away and initiate some form of treatment.
You're welcome. Hope all works out for the best.
Keep the faith, this will improve one way or the other. :-)
I agree this does not look like MS, but it can be variable in presentation...vexing...and the diagnosis is often delayed. So it is worth considering, and ruling out. There are also mild forms that probably never get diagnosed...but don't cause too much mischief either.