A mum who endured months of strange symptoms - including intense tingling in her fingers - was diagnosed with an incurable blood cancer . Carol McGachie, 56, felt like "she had been plugged into the mains" when she became exhausted all the time yet couldn't sleep, and experienced back and neck pain. When Carol suffered tingling in her fingers and toes, she thought she had have MS (multiple sclerosis).
But Carol, a nurse from West Lothian , was eventually diagnosed with myeloma, a blood cancer, and now she wants to raise awareness of the tell-tale symptoms "before it's too late". The mother of two, who also has two step-children, is urging others to speak to their GP if they experience similar symptoms. "I was exhausted all the time.
I used to regularly bake and cook, I loved gardening . I would walk our dog for miles - but I just didn't have the energy for it anymore. I declined invites to social occasions because I knew I would suffer the next day," Carol said.
The mum claimed GPs don't know an awful lot about blood cancer, and "didn't put two and two together" for her. As a nurse herself, she had been aware of myeloma but didn't know what it was or its impact. Speaking to Daily Record , Carol continued: "I would not have associated back pain with blood cancer.
That’s why awareness is so important. Now I try to raise awareness through work and I’ve told some of my patients about my diagnosis and symptoms. I think I left it too long and tried to manage the pain myself.
"M.
