migraines to debilitating fatigue

Hi,
I'm a 44 yr old female who has been to a 4 doctors within the past month, and I'm at my wits end still with no answers.  I don't know where to turn, and now my problem is keeping me from performing my job (I'm a 4th grade teacher).  It all started with daily headaches, then migraines.  I went to a neurologist 3 months ago for the migraines, got an MRI with and without contrast with no revealing problems.  I was put on Topamax and was to take Midrin when the migraines surfaced.  This didn't alleviate the problem.  I continued to live with headaches and migraines.

I then started to notice that I was getting very lethargic and unable to do outside or inside work as long as I used to (this was about 1 month after the neurologist), and my menstrual cycle was more frequent (2x monthly).  I went to my gynocologist, had a biopsy and blood test.  Biopsy was fine and blood test showed anemia (30---"It's not low enough for you to feel as badly as you do."  I was told...right before being told that my symptoms due to my "psychosis.")  So, I starting to take iron, increase my proteing, and hope.

Sadly, my symptoms worsened, and I got weaker and standing up was near to impossible.  I started experiencing confusion, disorientation, tingling and/or numbness in both hands (now working its way up my arms), dizziness, weakness, complete fatique, and top of all this, a MIGRAINE (still).  This past Tuesday, I was unable to walk one classroom from mine without having to sit down, catch my breath, and recover...which I really didn't.  I was so weak and disoriented, that I had to leave work.  Since then, I have seen my general practioner, who ran thyroid test, complete blood test,  hormone tests (female), and everything is "within range."

So, here it is an entire week  that I've been unable to move from one room in my house to another w/o getting out of breath, tingling up my arms, dizzy, and exhausted (not to mention, pale), and I don't know what to do.  I've been unable to go to work, and that's not me.  Sitting is not me.  Today I FORCED myself to do something (put towels away), and it nearly wore me out!!  

I've tried to figure out triggers but there isn't any food or drink that is causing this, no new meds, not diabetic (checked my BS on occassions when I exhibited signs of diabetes---oh, forgot another symptom...thirst..ice in particular----and I'm no longer anemic).  I even looked into some mosquito born disease since it seems that I cannot go outside without getting bitten by 4 or more (this is ANY time I go outside - I live in New Orleans), but I don't have fever.

  I just don't understand what's going on and where to turn.  I'm not depressed (as was suggested by one doctor).   Something is wrong, and I need someone to please help direct me.  I just can't seem to find anything with my symptoms.  Please help.

[AmorDeJay]

Hello. I don't by any means have the answer to all your issues but I do believe that Topamax may be causing A LOT of them. Especially "Confusion Delirium, disorientation, tingling and/or numbnessNumbness and tingling in both handsHand or foot spasms
Hand tremor." I have had disabling headaches NON STOP for the past two months and my neurologist put me on Topamax which I started last week. I had my MRI today which I am anxiously awaiting the results of. Scared! But the Topamax has caused me to become, for lack of a better word, stupid, slow, unable to find the right word to say, confused, disoriented, tingling in my hands and feet. I don't know that I will be able to continue taking it.  Please google Topamax side effects or Topamax reviews and you will see many people with a lot of the same symptoms as you. Good luck to you and God Bless.

[mle134]

Topamax left me very disoriented, forgetful, loopy, and not able to walk in a straight line.  I would forget what I was saying in the middle of a sentence, & also had very bad eye pain with it, so it was not the drug for me.  Midrin contains a mild sedative, so it could be contributing depending on how often you take it.

Lomg ago I took Depakote for migraines and it seemed to have less side effects than Topamax.

My migraine pattern did change after 40 - got much more frequent, but my migraines were hormone related...

Hoping you find out what is happening and it is something easy to fix!

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Hope you are feeling better.
Since most of your tests are normal including MRI of brain, neurological causes for your symptoms can be ruled out.
If Topamax is no providing any relief you can opt for other options like calcium channel blocker and beta blockers.
Your symptoms can also be due to acute anxiety bordering on panic attacks, fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.
I would suggest you to do some breathing exercises everyday. Make sure you eat plenty of greens and fresh fruits and exercise daily. You can discuss these possibilities with you doctor. Take care!