Haha, oh yes, fun times indeed. 😉 The more I learn about MS symptoms, the more I see that I definitely have some overlap there. Ulnar neuropathy, the MS hug, spasticity, tremors, vision changes, occasional difficulty swallowing, weakness, etc. I am still learning. I don’t know yet if MS-like symptoms can be triggered or if they only progress on their own but I have definitely had worsening symptoms ever since I had a cold last fall. Along with progressive clonus and other myoclonic-like tics and spasms, a 40 pound weight gain in less than a year, worsening sleep which was already bad to start with, dyshidrotic eczema decided to show up, head/neck pain that continues to get worse, racing heart rate, and all kinds of fun things like that. I just ordered a 23andMe test so I hope to learn something useful from that. Fingers crossed I get my results without too much trouble because it seems there have been some issues there according to the 23andMe Facebook page.
I have always had symptoms my entire life but I seem to have had two trigger points within the past few years. Last fall was a cold that triggered and/or worsened many of the aforementioned symptoms and I think I may have had a prior trigger a little under 3 years ago. I have no idea if I had a cold around that time or not. I can’t remember anything other than I know exactly when things seemed to change. My husband’s grandfather passed away and we had to drive halfway across the country to attend the funeral. I had had bouts of motion sickness in the past but nothing too strong and very infrequent. Well, that trip was absolute torture. I thought I had gotten food poisoning. We had to stop a few times so that I could vomit on the road. I have had horrible anxiety attacks in the past so I am practiced in trying to control nausea but this was horrific. And I have had terrible motion sickness ever since. I have to take dramamine every single time I get in a vehicle now. Some days I might forget and it seems to be a luck of the draw what the effect will be. Occasionally I might only feel a bit off and unwell and not hit quite so hard. And roughly around the same time that the motion sickness started, my menstrual cycle changed. It had remained constant and unchanged for the prior 14 years or so and yet suddenly the length/intensity cut in half. It still followed my typical 28-30 day cycle but it lasted for half the time and was much lighter. It has remained that way ever since. I mentioned it to a doctor who said “Meh, that just happens sometimes.” Which is certainly true but seems more suspect when it also matches other noticeable body changes that are occurring at the same time. Has anyone else experienced sudden changes like that?
I have my first ever gastro appointment in 4 days. I’m nervous and, even with a list, I’m afraid I will miss something. I have soooo many gastrointestinal issues it is hard to know where to start. My main concern is what condition my esophagus is in after nearly two decades of intense and constant acid exposure. Other concerns are possible inflammation, hernias, a weak or misaligned esophageal sphincter, delayed emptying, gastroparesis, IBS, Celiac-like response (previous bloodwork claimed I did not have Celiac but I don’t know about a sensitivity), bloating (I pretty much look a couple months pregnant 100% of the time and sometimes my stomach expands as if I am several months pregnant), etc. I am so desperate to know exactly what is going on and why. I want information so I can fight back. I am so grateful to have found PrettyIll!