Has anyone heard from quillswriting?

[jenn38018]

Just wanted to make sure you are ok.  Haven't heard from you this weekend, and you were sounding pretty down last time.  Drop a quick line to let me know you are ok.

Jenn

[quillswriting]

Hi Jenn,

I have been to see another doctor today, one who gave me a number of neurological examinations - reflexes, checking the eyes/inside the eyes for pressure and damage etc... balance tests, all sorts of funny little tests really, he was great, so thorough.  

His conclusion was that I passed all the tests with flying colours, he did not see any neurological problem nor a pattern in my symptoms with classic neuro things.  He concluded that my problem could be ME, he still thinks I need the MRI.  (He was an independant doctor that I saw) but he also thinks a lot of my problems relate to a number of things like:

Anorexia - I did lose my appetite when I started getting anxious over symptoms and have not been looking after myself properly, I did not eat from March till May, then started slowly getting back into eating then went downhill again,  He thinks that has caused some of the gastro symptoms, the rapid weight loss (also the fact that I had just had a baby when all this started meant that my hormones played a part in the weight loss too - my body was vulnerable)

Chain smoking - he thinks has led to the drying out of my tongue and throat, the cough and the redness in my throat.  he said it looks irritated.  He asked me how much I smoke and I honestly could not answer because when I feel irritable or anxious I light up (I used to smoke 5-10 a day but the ashtrays are full)

I have not left the house for weeks, also, he thought maybe the eye thing MIGHT be to do with my hair being over one side of my face, he looked at my eyes for a while and tested eye movement, focus, light reaction and used the torch to look into the back of my eyes.  

I have had pain etc... which he thinks could be ME but would like me to have my MRI done in time (i.e, when I get my appt).  He also thinks I'm in constant fight or flight mode which may explain the tachy.  The fact that I told him I wake up with butterflies in my belly and I get that a lot through the day, contributes.  

He was lovely, he was an independant out of hours GP.  I said to him - "I wish you were my doctor" he was so thorough.  He told me off for smoking, told me to wean myself off the cigs as otherwise it would be worse for me, but to replace the cigs with good food.  

I'm on Citalopram (paxil I think they call it in the US) now as well as the beta blockers.  I am to go out in the sun a little more, though I don't like the idea of being out in public the way I look.  But he was so nice and supportive.  I want to find out where his practice is, I found a doctor I could trust.  He explained a lot to me.  More than any from my own practice have done.

[jenn38018]

I am sorry to hear you have been having even more trouble.  I was hoping you had been enjoying your anniversary and family, and that was why you had'nt been on the forum in a few days.  

The nerve you are talking about with the heart is the vagus nerve.  The sinoatrial node of the heart is actually considered the "pacemaker" of the heart, but the vagus nerve is what connects the heart to the brain.  If I am not mistaken, I think that the brain will send an impulse to the sinoatrial node through the vagus nerve when the pace of the heart needs to be sped up or slown down because of certain stimuli or conditions in the body (ie. dehydration, infection, fear, pain, etc.).  I have wondered myself if this nerve could be damaged through a demylenation process such as MS, and if so, what it would do to the rythm of the heart.  This is something I think I will look into even further, and maybe even ask one of my professors about.  I don't know if that could be causing your tachycardia or not.  

Keep thinking positively about the scan.  It will happen for you eventually.  Let me know if you need to talk.  Take care!

Jenn

[quillswriting]

Hi Jenn, I have been on some other forums, still on my quest for answers.  Not been too good, lots of visual probs, still got the tachy, now getting weird headaches and pressure in my head.

I have been to the hospital out of ours GP twice and they sent me home and told me I have to wait for my referal which could take ages.  The tachy got worse three days ago, my rate was about 180 ish.  I had been in bed and it was nice and steady and as soon as I sat up it raced and I nearly fainted.  An ambulance was called, they gave me an ECG after I had taken my beta blocker, they referred me to my GP who said - You have to wait for your referral.

I am desparate to get a scan done but they just won't do it.  I asked the ambulance team if I went down to A & E what tests would they do - the answer was "The same as before, your bloods and an ECG" No scans!  

I've had this sense of unreality for three days too, like I can hear myself talk but can't feel it.  I have had lots of nerve pains and such.  I wondered if all of this was down to severe dehyrdation and malnutrition as I did stop eating properly in Feb just before all of this started.  I have lost so much weight and my skin is so dry that it is like my arms have dandruff.

I have been drinking plenty today but no better.  I'm quite scared now.  I fear that the nerve that controls my heart rate may be damaged.  Someone even used the term spinal cord tumor to me!