Question: I am a seasoned registered nurse. I have a good head on my shoulders. I have been experiencing a constellation of vague symptoms that lead me to believe I may have possibly have MS. Mild peripheral neuropathy (paresthesia) in hands and feet unrelated to activity. Comes and goes. Gradual onset. I don't drink and I don't have diabetes. Nausea with no vomiting - comes and goes and not associated with food. Some dizziness associated with the nausea but no actual vertigo. Significant short term memory issues. Back spasms that come and go unrelated to activity. No blurred vision, no fatigue, and no balance issues. All my symptoms are paroxysmal. Some have been going on for a couple of years. The numbness, tingling, and itching in my extremities, the nausea, and the significant short term memory loss have developed within the past 2 months. I hate to start down the arduous road of diagnostic tests to rule out all the other possible conditions before landing the diagnosis of MS. My thought is to wait and continue to monitor. I am aware my clinical judgment may be tainted by denial. Thoughts?

So, Doctor, my late father had pernicious anemia . . . I will make an appointment soonest. Sometimes a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing. I have been imagining the worst case scenario. Your response has helped my anxiety and has freed me from my paralysis about moving forward. Thank you sooooooo much.

Kindest regards,

Deb