Crosland Moor woman Razia Bibi misdiagnosed twice before finding out she had Multiple sclerosis

Jan 26 2010 by Katie Grant, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A WOMAN misdiagnosed twice while suffering from multiple sclerosis has warned other sufferers: Never give in until you are sure you have the right diagnosis.

Razia Bibi wants to raise awareness of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) after being sent away from GPs twice with painkillers.

And it may be that only a quarter of the people suffering from MS in Huddersfield have had a diagnosis.

The Crosland Moor woman told the Examiner that other MS sufferers have been through the same process and urged anyone who feels they may have MS to keep going back to their GPs until they get a diagnosis they are sure is right.

And Huddersfield and Kirklees Multiple Sclerosis Society has echoed her warning.

Secretary Mrs Joanne Wilkins, who has MS, said: “Perseverance is certainly the key word. It is a very difficult thing to do to keep going back to the GP surgery, but that’s what you need to do sometimes.’’

Razia’s symptoms began with headaches and double vision and she started to drop things. Even though she is a Muslim and does not drink for religious reasons she said she has even mistaken for being a drunk as at times she could not walk straight.

“Once I nearly got knocked over by a bus because I couldn’t walk straight,’’ she said.

“I remember this old woman at the bus stop who saw me coming and she stepped back because she must have thought I was drunk first thing in the morning.

“But I had double vision and I couldn’t walk straight and I fell in the road in front of a bus.

“I thought to myself ‘this is ridiculous– there is definitely something wrong with me.”

She said she went to her GP, but was prescribed painkillers.

When she did not improve she went to another GP and at first the doctor thought she may have had a stroke, but again prescribed painkillers.

Eventually she returned to her first GP who sent her to see an eye specialist to have a closer look at the blurred vision.

Razia explained: “The optician said ‘why did the doctor send you here? It’s obviously a neurological problem.’

“So I went to the neurologist and he knew straight away it was MS.”

Razia doesn’t blame the GPs for being unable to diagnose her at first because MS has many different symptoms.

She hopes by telling her story she can help others reach an earlier diagnosis by getting themselves checked out.