Stroke Like Symtoms, Intermittent Loss of speech & Balance

[Likesjewellry]

About 1 1/2 yrs. ago, I started experiencing, at the age of 49, severe vertigo, visual problems, nausea and left sided weakness. I was tested for everything imaginable, no diagnosis and yet I went from being physically fit and a chef, to bedridden and sleeping 20 hours a day, because of all the gravol I had to take to get some general relief of my symptoms.  

This past February, still holed up in the house, I experienced the normal 'weakness' on my left side but it progressed to total paralysis, inability to speak and inability to swallow.  My husband gave me an aspirin when he realized I couldn't respond to him and took me to the hospital 5 min. from our home.  I was treated as a stroke patient and sent to the downtown Toronto Stroke Centre.  Unfortunately, by the time I arrive by ambulance, (about 3 hrs. later), it was too late to administer the 'stroke buster' shot that was planned.  After about 4 hours, slowly, I began to regain feeling in my left fingers and forearm.  I felt a burning/pins & needles sensation and within that time frame, my speech started coming back, though slurry and jumbled.  I ended up being sent back to my original hospital when in the ambulance, the whole episode started again.  It was like that, back and forth, speaking, drooling, paralysis until the next day around noon.  Again, every test was done (MRI, CT scan), 3 times, looking for the cause.

I am now much better and not needing nearly the amount of gravol that I used to but I cannot drive because I have lost my depth perception, ability to judge speed or distance, and am clumsy.  I walked 5 blocks a few days ago for the first time in 1 1/2 yrs., without staggering and bumping into things beside me.   I am still not able to go into busy stores or large box stores because within about 10 - 15 minutes, I start to develop the vision problems, balance problems and become sick to my stomach.  I can't tell you how this has affected my life.  I have a loving supportive family and good friends, though I don't see people often.  Watching people talk, their hands move, or trying to have a conversation in a large group sets the whole thing off.  I really don't understand any of this.

I am 50 1/2.  I am going through menopause, had some problem with depression after my kids in my thirties, and agreed after thorough testing that perhaps a neuropsychiatrist was an option.  My doctor felt perhaps it is emotionally based.  I agreed because I am willing to expore every avenue.  The doctor I am seeing is wonderful.  My husband comes with me to my sessions which are too far for me to get to on my own, waits for me, consults with the neuro doc and we sit in together and talk about things.  I truly am a happy person at this time in my life.  My girls are grown and successful, my relationship is great and I am basically free of burdens.  What the heck is going on??

Is there anyone out there who has experienced such symptoms?  Right now, I need to go and get gravol, typing this letter has made me sick.  I have taken medicine for migraine but I am still seeing only spots of my screen and have pain in my temples, forehead, base of my neck and general woozy feeling.  When I am like this I would definitely not go out in public.  I would either be down on the ground after losing my balance completely or my field of vision would be moving and making me throw up. I am still suffering from loss of words, memory failure, jumbled words, and stuttering.

Help!

[twmill]

Thank you for posting these techniques.
Yesterday my daughter was sent home from middle school.  The nurse stated that she did not know teacher's name and could not write or speak making any sense.  
She had this episode last summer where she could not speak for about an hour and we just wrote it off to a silly 12 year old.  I am going to have her work on these.
I plan on Monday bringing her into the Dr - I am guessing these are migrane episodes I keep reading about.

[AlmostDied]

Actually I just went through the whole scenario that you described. Only my ordeal became totally out of control with Misdiagnosis's that put into trauma resuscitation immediately and into a drug induced coma in ICU... They thought it was a STROKE and it was NOT, I had a severe reaction to the TPA administered. I found out 10 days later from the infectious disease Dr. that MRSA in the lungs mimics a stroke almost exact... There is Much, Much More to my case, as far as the hospitals negligence that gave me even more concerning problems, but this is to help you and what you may have. I would have a simple lung test to see if you are a carrier of MRSA and simply do the 6 week or more Antibiotic regimen if the culture shows that this is what you have...      

[sara12345]

Did you ever try the physical therapy?  That gave me tremendous relief after my stroke. But it doesn't sound like you've had a stroke.  What you describe are common side effects of migraines.  And if you did have a stroke, they can't do anything for you about it now.  You need to get to the ER within 3 hours.  Still you are in a lot of pain and need help with that.  If the physical therapy doesn't help, then I would see about going to a pain management doctor.  For example, my migraines are caused by my neck pain and extreme tension in both my neck and shoulders.  What helps me greatly are nerve block and trigger point injections given by a pain management neurologist. That is something that might help you.  And if the meds aren't helping you, then if you have headaches at least 14 days a month, then your chances of having Botox injections help your headaches are very good.  Let me know if you've tried anything that I've talked about, including the physical therapy.  I also use physical therapy almost every day to help with my migraines.  I had severe 24/7 migraines following a major stroke that began with paralysis and inability to speak or understand people.  I was a wreck.  So you deserve more help.  I hope that you get it.

[Rochellelabrador15]

Its all started nov 2012 my left head start to feel the pain,so i go to opta coz they say maybe its vision problem then my opta said i have astigmatism,so i wore glasses after a month the headache still there they check again my eye grade is high now.but still have headache daily then i go to family doctor couz i have pain in my neck he refferred me to a bone specialist ,then he told me to have an xray in my head and neck..the result in the head was nothing but in the neck theres a spasm muscle so they said i need to go to therapy..but the therapy wont get away the pain..i go to neurologist expalain it all then he said it was a migraine..many meds i lv been taking still theres pain 2 doctors again iv seen and they said because of the spasm it affects the head because of the muscle in the head.it been many months still they dont want me to go a test like ct scan..what should i do..i feel the headache sometimes numbness in head and face now i feel so weak..pls help

[sara12345]

What I meant by rehab was physical therapy.  Is that what you mean by physio?  And by physical therapy I mean did they give you exercises to do?  If so, they can still help you. And you could still make progress after 5 months.  I went back 18 months later after my stroke and got more progress from more physical therapy.  It doesn't sound like you got very much of it though.  Insurance wouldn't cover you?  Or what was the problem?  I don't understand the health system in the United Kingdom. Why can't you get any more physical therapy in the future?  In any case, you will see more progress as the years go by.  A friend of mine had a stroke 8 years ago, and her speech has improved greatly through the years.  My stroke was 5 years ago, and my word finding ability has improved significantly from just a year ago.  I still have some weakness on the right side of my body, but not a lot.  Although I can barely hand write. Have difficulty typing this.  I still have many other disabilities caused by the stroke, but I've learned to cope with them.  So don't give up.  Things will get better.  You take care.  

[bayliss1]

No I had no rehab, only some physio  in March that being 5months after my stroke.

[sara12345]

Sorry to hear that you can no longer get rehab or physical therapy.  Did you get any after your stroke?  It can make a big difference if you can continue to do the exercises that they gave you.  If you didn't get any rehab, then shame on everyone for not making sure that you would get it.  Someone after a stroke is not able to handle things very well.  Let me know.

[bayliss1]

sorry forgot to say I have also been left with weakness in my left arm and leg and tend to lean to the left when walking

[bayliss1]

my symptoms were slurred slow speech, mouth numbness and dizziness. I have been left with dizziness, loss of concentration , muddled speech when tired. I have asked for rehab but  as I had my stroke last October I can  no longer have any help. I have lost my job due to the fact that I also have a problem with spacial awareness and can't drive as I feel unsafe, having to pull over when a car comes towards me. I am happy to hear that you are progressing as am I however very slowly.  

[sara12345]

You didn't say what your stroke like symptoms are.  Could you say what they are and how long you have had them.  I would think that it would be helpful for you to have any rehab services that are given to stroke survivors.  I did have a major stroke, but have made great gains, but I still suffer disability from severe migraines that were caused by my stroke.  Let me know.

[Likesjewellry]

I have heard about a type of migraine that is rare but is referred to as a, 'Stomach Migraine'....I wish I could tell you more. As far as Neurological illnesses are concerned, I think there is still alot that is simply unknown and you are only, VERY lucky, if you stumble upon a Doc that has seen your specific symptoms before and treated them with success. If you don't happen upon the right professional you join the leagues of patients like me and a million others whose lives have been horribly changed, their families lives interrupted, incomes lost and self worth sent flushing down the toilet as we are told, again and again, 'it's all in your head'. The medical community has a very difficult time with admitting or saying, 'we just don't know', 'go away'. Good luck and I am sorry for your pain and suffering. T.

[Likesjewellry]

I finally saw the premier neurologist in Canada, Dr. King, in Halifax, N.S. He diagnosed me with Generalized Distonia a very rare, ( one in 6 million), illness that is caused by a notched gene that is heretidary and passed down, usually skipping a generation or two, through Eastern European Jewish families. Now, my father was pure Italian, first generation here in Canada with 11 siblings and no one showing any symptoms and my mother, pure English/Scottish, second generation in Canada with no known symptoms or illness such as this in her family. There has never been an Eastern European Jew in our family! Is that weird or what? Anyway, my daughter, who is 25 now was born perfectly healthy and at 6 wks., of age started displaying strange and terrifying neurological symptoms; seizures of all kinds, sometimes lasting for hours, loss of use of various parts of her body, inability to communicate, clumsy motor skills, her intelligence, though, was never impaired. She was classified a mystery child...a lot of good that did for us. Life was hell on wheels. We couldn't leave her with anyone but a registered nurse because we were never certain if, 'this would be the episode that killed her', we had to fight to have her placed in the regular school system because they didn't want the responsibility of 'what could possibly happen on school property', and so on. Other than the very unpredictable, and, very violent grande mal seizures, she came out of the episodes weary, sometimes dillusional, sometimes overly emotional and took a day or so to recover after the output of physical energy.

After reaching puberty and her period started, her symptoms lessened immensely. She was left with an intact and high intelligence, physically still a little clutzy, but able to read an entire text in an hour or less and describe it in it's entirety. She has a degree in Art History and another in Literature but....the big but, she suffers from a severe form of anxiety, agoraphobia, depression and will not any of her family in her life anymore. As her major caregiver and advocate when she was a child, this kills me, but, in a way, I am also relieved after 16 yrs., of anxiety and sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what the next phone call would entail. i.e. she's seizing in a ditch somewhere, she doesn't seem to be breathing, she is drunk, on medication and is non responsive...and on it went. I had to do the tough love thing for both of us. She insists now that I abandoned her when she needed me most.....
I became menopausal in 2006, my period ending in 2011, but, starting at the earlier date was the onset of all of the above symptoms. They slowly worsened to the point of me being bedridden for 2.5 yrs., unable to stand up and walk straight or walk without walking into walls, people, displays, etc. Then came stoke like symtoms, slurred speech, not able to access words, attacks of weakness, alternating sides, and in the last two or three years, horrid attacks of muscular twisting, clenching, almost like a charlie horse roaming thoughout all major muscle groups, causing rigidity, retraction of tendons and muscles both upper and lower at the same time and now, my toes are curled under, my calves constantly taut and painful sometime causing me to walk without being able to bend my knees, gluts and quads now joining in, left hand becoming curled forward, tendons knotting in my palms, right shoulder encapsulated unable to move even though I undergo therapy, pain running down to elbow, wrist and fingers and worst of all in the last year, attacks of these spasms starting under my right breast running up through my chest, up my neck, shoulder, jaw, cleft area and ear. The pain absolutely wrenching, I am almost not able to move or breathe and it will hold me paralyzed on and off for 12 to 14 hrs., varying in serious intensity. I wish I could just die. Honestly, it feels like what I feel would be a heart attack but the emerg. Doc told me it was inflammation of the muscles that connect my rib cage from bottom to top and the resulting clenching tissue, nerves, etc. She said, excruciating but not life threatening. Give me a break! I have had 7 years of torture and now even with the aid of Steleevo, Propranolol, Sertraline, Valproic Acid, Clonapapam, and others, I still suffer immensely.
Even though I have asked not one Doc will do a Spinal Tap....I've undergone Psyschiatric treatment to see if there is an underlying cause, been told, 'maybe it was a stroke', but each Doc has a different opinion on that, who knows.
This past Christmas, I could see my self becoming skeletal, even less energy than before, I could barely get two or three sips of liquid down my throat, couldn't eat solids, bruises and cuts did not heal, if I fell I couldn't get up, etc. One night I woke up with immense pain in my abdomen and was rushed to hospital where they found I was so absessed in my intestinal track that I was close to death, needed emergency surgery, was too weak and infected, told me to get my details in order, and hope that the three types of antibiotics would clean me up enough for them to go in and surgically remove all the infected areas. They also told me to expect a colostomy when I woke up.
I told them, 'no bag'. I also asked if this was related to the Distonia. Again, split responses and opinions. After 15 days in hospital and flat lining twice, I was told that, yes, the Distonic attacks affected all bodily soft tissue and it was only a matter of time before I had another recurrance of D........, forgot it's name. At the end of my stay, the Interns came to see me and informed me that they had all decided that I didn't have Distonia! God, my mouth opened, I couldn't say a word. Where the heck does someone go after so many years of dire medical issues and still, yet, no diagnosis or proper treatment?

[bayliss1]

I too have stroke like symptoms, in fact one neurologist stated that I had a stroke, others say I have not. I have gone from a very hard working,active 51year old, to not being able to go out on my own , I  would also like help if anyone has any idea of what may be happening to me and others like me.

[sa2165]

My name is Sharaz On March 5th I felt a sharp pain in my stomach about five minutes after there were a sharp cramping pain in my head then, I black out and pass out for about five minutes when, I woke up. I lost my speech I was taken to the hospital they run an (MRI, EEG,EKG, CT,Chest Ext Blood work and a Swallow test) I lost my speech for about a week I am seeing my Physicians also a Neurologist's,ENT and a GI. I am still dizzy and have headache stomach still cramp and chest is tight. I need help  

[pflaumra1]

Hi,

I don't know if this is still a problem for you, but at 49 I had the symptoms you mention except it was my right side that went weak. Basically the vertigo/dizziness, nausea, weak right side, and it felt like I was walking on the floor of a funhouse which caused me to reach for stable things like walls or tables when walking. In addition, in severe episodes I would lose my speech, or just lock up and not be able to move. The accompanying headaches were extreme.

As part of a battery of tests that my never-say-die neurologist and primary care physicians included a spinal tap. While I was supposed to lay down and feel rough after this, I instead felt like my old self, with a cessation of symptoms. My neurologist performed another one when he heard this, and I felt great again. He feels I likely have normal pressure hydrocephalus, or water on the brain. He will be admitting me in the next week or so for a lumbar drain, just to confirm the symptoms go away, and if so, will put in a shunt. He says mine is an unusual presentation for NPH, and that I am young, but we can't argue with feeling great after a spinal tap. Maybe this will help you.

[kattsqueen]

please look into ion channelopathies try supplementing potassium and low carb potassium rich diet,, if in two to three days if you are in less pain moving better or in anyway improved please contact a specialist dealing with this,, my ion channelopathy is andersen tawil syndrome but there are others also..only do the diet and potassium if potassium runs normal to low.. and kidneys are still healthy bless you all..karen

[Russgus]

I thought I was the only one with stroke symptoms that aren't a stroke! It's to the point where I'm in a power chair now. I have general weakness that started on my left side and has progressed to my entire body. I have intermittent paralysis on my left side. It just quits.
As a child and teen I suffered massive headaches and blackouts.
I know what I DON'T have (MS, ALS, Stroke, CHF) but I don't have a diagnosis. It's bad enough that some of the medtechs at the VA are calling me "patient one".
If anyone gets anything that may pin this down, PLEASE let me know.

[joazz]

I had a front end collision in 2010 and had a really bad episode of stroke like symptoms them.  My dr. sent me to the hospital for test ( ct, bloodwork I think).  Only conclusion then was a concussion from the accident, even though I did not bump my head I was just jerked forward and to the left side.  Now, for the past 4 or 5 months the dizziness, weakness, numbness, tingling and sometimes pain on my left side are getting worse.  Sometimes I feel like I can't hardly hear or see.  I feel like I'm down in a tunnel almost and my ears are ringing.  I feel tired all the time, can't focus at times, stumble around and drag my left leg and foot. I am so frustrated now I went to the heart dr. they did some test and found me to have a right inner carotid dilatation and 50% blockage, but the Vascular dr. I just went to gave me some flip diagnosis of dizziness and giddiness and said my insides were beautiful.  I feel like no one is really helping me and they are just taking my money.  I will go back to the heart dr. and the neurologist in Dec./2011 so maybe they will have some new ideas as to what can be done.  I'm sick of being sick an tired.  Joyce

[toni42e]

About 7 years ago I started having symptoms of slurred speech  then couldn't walk,went from cane to wheelchair,difficulty writing then blurred vision and no motor skills.
I am 42 years old and it's been 7 years. The doctor's say I have acute cerebellar ataxia which is like a stroke,but I have some serious doubts,no infections and otherwise very healthy.
They told cerebellar ataxia because they don't know what it could be. They just know my cerebellum in my brain shrunk and still trying to figure out why? Could it be as simple as a vitamin deficiency and what kind of vitamin could possibly do this.
No headaches at all,mother died of breast cancer at age 43,father father died of cancer as well,he had stomach,lung and liver cancer at age 54.
Any suggestions/answers of what this could be

[toni42]

No hallucinations sorry for that

[toni42]

I haven't had imaging studies done only bloodwork no metals or vitamins deficiency tests done

[toni42]

To Rowena Santos
I had a ct scan and mri done a few years ago,spinal tap and other tests a few years ago,someone told me to test for pernicious anemia they have alot of the same symptoms.Do you think I need to have these tests repeated. Did I mention I have brain shrinkage,hallucinations and headaches now

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? Are there other symptoms present? What diagnostic tests were done in the past? You may benefit from another neurologist's opinion for proper evaluation. If imaging studies were done, bring the previous plates for assessment. A new referral for a CT scan or MRI may also be indicated. Take care and hope to hear from you soon.

[hava]

Look at my earlier posts on this forum thread and do the pranayam - breathing techniques, and you will be helping yourself to get better. After you start, I can guide you further.