I feel like such a hyperchondriac

[Billie_Jo]

About two years ago I woke up with an odd numb yet painfull sensation in my left hand and forearm.  At first I just thought I slept on it wrong but It did not go away and within two days, my feet felt the same odd numb sensations. I went to my doctor who did a CAT scan and alot of lab work to rule out infection, diabetes, deficiency etc.  When he couldn't figure it, out he sent me to a neurologist who ordered MRI of my head and neck,  again more labs, and some test where they use electricity to stimulate the nerves and needles to test the muscles.  I was told there was nothing wrong with me and sent to a psychologist for futher evaluation.  Where I was given Cymbalta to treat the heavy fatigue and Depression that I must admit has plagued me for more than a few years. To date no antidepressant has helped at all and when my eyesight became so blurry that I could see details I went back to the doctor again.  he sent me to an eye doctor who said there is nothing wrong that reading glasses wouldn't fix. (even though they didn't help much).  Once again I was sent back to the Psychologist who is now suggesting maybe It is all in my mind and told me I should stay off the internet because the mind can play powerfull tricks on the body.  For the last week I have been experiencing Ice cold sensations in both feet.  So much that they hurt but they are actually warm to the touch.  Since nothing has shown up on all the test so far, I do not want to go back to the doctors and be submitted to all these test and huge medical bills again only to be humiliated and sent home feeling like I am crazy.   I am posting on this sight because when I was looking up my symptoms online,  your website came up and sure enough I found that many of you have these same symptoms.  Do any of you have any suggestions what I should do next or what I should have checked.  I know I am not crazy and this is not just in my mind but apparently I am the only one who does!

[Billie_Jo]

Hi Terri,

Thanks.  I found the "Health Pages" (thanks to other members) and have read all of it I could.

I saw the "Trackers" but I didn't realize what it was.  That's great!  I think I will go right now and check it out.

BillieJo

[tjj3761]

Hi BillieJo,

I just wanted to welcome you to the forum.  Sorry to hear you are having all these symptoms.

You will find the forum helpful, so stick around!  

Also, I know you feel like a hypochondriac, but you are not......you just know something is wrong and want to find out what it is.  

You will find the "Health Pages" in the top right-hand corner of the page and also "Trackers" where you can keep a time-line or history of your symptoms on a daily basis and add journal entries.  

terri

[Billie_Jo]

Hi again,

Thanks for the advice.  I did have a brain and cervical spine MRI with and without contrast neither of them showed anything except some minor degeneration in my C spine.  

The Neuro Doc  didn't think I needed any on the rest of my spine because he said my symptoms were related to the head and neck.

I think I will ask for an xray or MRI on the rest of my spine , though I'm not sure the doc will approve it.

I don't know if there is another Neurologist within a five hour radius of me and I waited 14 weeks to get an appointment to see this one.  But maybe a new one is in order!

BillieJo

[runitskat]

You need to get your lower back checked. You need xrays or an MRI.  It sounds like you're having sciatica in your legs and feet and yes it can happen in your arms as well. I have a herniated disk at L5/S1 as well as degeneration and arthritis. Which causes numbness in my feet, muscle spasms and twitching and that electric shock feeling.

I would go to your doctor and ask for a lumbar MRI.

[Guitar_grrrl]

Hi, and welcome.

Have you gotten a T-spine MRI?  What did your Brain MRI report say?  Just curious...

While I was lurking on this site some 2-3 months before I joined the forum, and 8-9 months before my diagnosis, I read all the Health Pages (yellow icon, upper right), and really began to educate myself.

Perhaps a new neurologist?...

[Billie_Jo]

Thanks Krystle,

You hit the nail on the head.  It is so frustrating.  

And it really does help to hear from others like you who understand.

Thanks for caring,
BillieJo

[Hopesndreams03]

Hey BillieJo!

I'm pretty new here myself, and it sounds very similar to something going on with me as well. I know you must be frustrated with all of the tests, docs, and bills with nothing concrete to show for it.

My GP just put me on Gabapentin a month ago, which was also mentioned earlier in the post. It didn't help me at all with pain or numbness, but DID help me with vertigo, dizziness and occasional episodes of my vision going black. I know the medicine wasn't designed for it, but this medicine seems to be doing something at least.

I also got the same stories about anxiety and depression. I don't know about you, but it seems like I only get very anxious about what I'm feeling-- and nothing else. My symptoms started right after I had my daughter as well-- and there's such a mystery with women and the effects of hormones afterwards that it seems that's an excuse for the doctors as well.

Don't give up though! It's nice to have people here to talk to, and keep searching for answers. You're not crazy. =-)

-Krystle

[Billie_Jo]

Hi all,

I just wanted to add I'm sorry for drifting off subject so much and for all the run on senteces.

My post read much like my thoughts.  SCATTERED!

But somehow just telling someone else who knows what you are talking about just feels theraputic and I find myself just writing my thoughts as they enter my mind.

Thank you all for the warm welcome

Sincerely,
BillieJo

[Billie_Jo]

Hi Jan,

Actually no,  my arm numbness did go away after about a week but the numbness and pain in my feet have never gone away.  

And the numbness was so hard to explain to my doctor because I could feel his touch and pain at the same time it felt numb.  Kind of like trying to explain how my feet now feel ice cold and pain and numb at the same time.

Maybe that's why they have a hard time beleiving me.

I did periodically get this weird zapping kind of pain that went from my elbow down to my hand ,that if it had lasted more than a split second at a time, could have been excruciating.  And that did last for weeks.

And I also had tightening pain around my ribcage (again periodically and for no apparent reason) that I didn't know how to describe to my doctor other than to say, it felt much like labor contractions only around my chest.

HE, of course, did not understand what I was talking about and suggested maybe it was a panic attack.  

This I dismissed immediately because one, I am not an especially anxious person and two,  my heart rate, blood pressure ,etc.  were all fine.

I know this because my husband is a medic and as soon as I told him I felt this tightening pain aroun my ribcage, he jumped on me with a stethoscope and a bp cuff.

Yes I did have neck pain and the cervical spine MRI showed minor disc degeneration at c6 and c7 but all the doctors agreed that shouldn't have caused the symptoms I have.

They did not look at my lower back where I have had the most problems.  MAYBE THAT IS THE NEXT PATH TO TAKE!  JUST A THOUGHT.

Thinking back,  the first really odd numbness and pain that I had was actually about eight months after the birth of my daughter (who is now 6) and it was in my groin and I was just too embarrased to mention it to anyone other than my Gyno., who offered only a puzzled look and little to suggest that it was anything to be concerned about.

Anyway, Thanks for listening and caring.

All the best,
BillieJo

[janbubears]

Hi so sorry to read your story, i am new to this site myself.

I was just wondering - because your very first symptoms were exactly same as mine ( do you STILL have arm numbness or pain) . I started just like you and still got the arm thing with more pain after almost 6 months its got worse if anything.

Did you get any neck pain ?

We all know our own body best regardless what the so called specialists say..

Take care Jan xx

[jaegergirl]

I just wanted to say welcome. I amfairly new to this site myself and it has been really helpful. Sometimes just knowing we aren't alone helps better than any medicine. I also want to second what celery or louey said I believe we have all been told it was "in our heads" even with a confirmed diagnoses I am sometimes told it's in my head- whatever. All I know is that we all deserve to feel good and heard and respected so you have found a good place to start.

After just one week on this site I feel way better and less anxious. There is something about feeling free to share and learn and research that makes me feel like I am taking control of my own own health and therefore helping myself to feel better that really seems to work wonders. At least it does for me and I hope it will for you also. -Carol

[Billie_Jo]

Thank you so much for your support.

I'm not sure what kind of drug it is but the doc put me on Neurontin. (something like that)

Anyway, I didn't take that long before I was switched to Cymbalta for depression and was told it would also help with the nerve pain.  but I couldn't tolerate it well enough to get up to normal dose.

I was then put on the Emsam patch for depression and fatigue but that didn't work and I just couldn't tolerate the patch itself.  Not to mention it cost 500.00 a month.

The last time I went the doc showed me my brain MRI and said it looked great and he was sure I would be feeling much better soon and sent me home with nothing.

I can only guess that was suppose to convince me everything was just fine thereby curing me of my hypochondria's.

Anyway, I think I will stick around and read as much as I can.   I don't know if my problem is MS or not but I know something is wrong and I am just so thrilled to find others who know what I am going through even if it turns out to be a different illness.

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.  I intend to look into everything including the Neuro-Spych evaluation another member suggested.

I will keep you all posted

Thanks again,
Billiejo

[Celery47]

Hi Billie Jo,

I just wanted to say welcome!  I hope you stick around - I think this board here could be just the place for you.  

I am so sorry to hear about all of your frustrations, and I can definitely say I relate!  I'm in "limboland" too, and - ugh, well, yeah, I know what a wringer it can be.  For me, it really, REALLY helps to read others' experiences here, just to know I'm not alone.  I hope maybe this would help you too - at least a little :)  

As far as your health condition goes - I was wondering, have you ever tried a nerve pain drug like gabapentin?  I would kind of expect a doctor to offer it, given the the feelings in your feet.  I think it might be worth making at least one appointment, if you're interested in trying one of these drugs.  

Oh, and about the whole "it's all in your head" thing - eeeh, so frustrating, and I think SO overused!  One thing you might want to check out - if you haven't heard of it already - is chronic hyperventilation syndrome, which can be tied to anxiety.  Personally, I don't think it sounds like a particularly good fit for you, but I just mention because it makes me so frustrating when doctors say "it's anxiety" without explaining how hyperventilation syndrome works!  By the way, I think pretty much EVERYONE on the board has been told it's "all in their head" at one point or another - or at many points, over and over again.  You are definitely not alone!!!

I'm wishing you lots of luck :)  I hope you'll stick around, and read others' stories, and keep us posted on yours!  Oh, by the way, do you know about the Health Pages?  They are awesome - you can get to them by clicking from that little menu in the upper right corner.

Hugs :)

Louey

[jensequitur]

Usually when a neurologist wants to pin the symptoms on the mind, I recommend going for a neuro-psych examination.  A neuro-psych will evaluate your brain function and pinpoint areas that are having problems with organic damage.

Good luck!  I know this can be very difficult.