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Questions posted in the
Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Question Title: Could symptoms be caused by autonomic disorder?Forum: Neurology Forum
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I have been seen by an internal medicine physician for five months now and the Dr. seems to be at a loss. I saw a psychiatrist who eliminated an anxiety or panic disorder as the cause of my symptoms. My predominant symtoms are problems in visual accomodation (even though visual accuity is 20/20 and peripheral screening normal)especially when I am moving or I change visual fields such as viewing the computer and turning around into an expanded view. Other troubling symptoms are that if I sit for an extended period of time, I begin to feel "fog-headed", disoriented, slowed mental processes, and like the blood to my brain is being decreased. I also have spells that feel like my blood pressure is soaring and this causes a feeling of extreme pressure in my head. Conversly, physical activity can also bring on the feeling of light-headedness and I sometimes see "white transparent spots" during these episodes. These symptoms occur daily and seem to take their toll on my endurance as I always feel tired - even after plenty of sleep. Previously, I led a very active life and at present, these symptoms consume my daily life and dictate my activities. I long for a diagnosis and some relief. To make matters worse, I am experiencing tremendous frustration with my physician because it appears that he thinks it's all in my head. I would appreciate any feedback or guidance! Thanks - Tamara Some of the symptoms you describe have an autonomic component but since the autoniomic nerveous system is involved in practically every body process from food digestion to stress to sexual response, the mere presence of an autonomic component does not suggest that the primary problem resides with the autonomic system itself. Generally autonomic problems present with problems in blood pressure control, sexual dysfunction and are relatively easy to document by means of autonomic testing. Stress would certainly suggest itself as a possible unifying diagnosis, however you probably need to be assesed by a neurologist or opthalmologist before settling on this option. There is insuffiecient information available by this route to come up with an answer but I would strongly suspect that the autonomic nervous system is not the primary focus of the problem.
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