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Avatar universal

Please help me - Quixotic? Anyone?

I have read some of your posts and you all are so caring and helpful.  I've just made an appointment with a neuro and am stressing on whether or not to go through with it.  I don't want to start going through a bunch of testing only to be told "we don't know, here's an antidepressant."  This has happened to me before. I have been depressed before and I know what it feels like, and I am not depressed.  

So anyhow, I would really like someone's advice on what to do.  Here are my current symptoms:
- fatigue
- walking with a slight "waddle" when I'm tired (which is probably 80% of the time)
- left leg, left arm twitches at night
- left eye feels "fuzzy" but sight is fine, just had normal eye exam
- takes me about 3 days to recover from a hard 1/2 day of work
- some random tingling in arms & legs (which could be from just sitting at the computer too much)
- left upper lip started tingling after a particularly stressful day
- tried to walk heel to toe with my eyes closed and couldn't keep my balance at all (not sure if that's normal or not)
- chest pain (no heart problems)
- couple bouts of dizziness, one after sorting through some clothes and standing up quickly, one after jogging slowly on treadmill for 15 minutes (is it normal to feel dizzy after that?)
- right leg gets tired, heavy

I just feel like my list of symptoms is so vague and so I feel like I'm going to get blown off by the neuro.  But I know something is wrong.  I haven't been able to work full time for 8 years.  I can manage my symptoms because I can take a nap when I need to for the most part.  Things only get bad when there is a lot going on and I overwork myself, or if some stressful stuff happens.  

Nine years ago I was sent to Mayo Clinic because of some severe jerking I had going on in my body.  They diagnosed spinal myoclonus with unknown origin, but possible autoimmune etiology.  So they had me do a 5-day IV of SoluMedrol.  Back then all my MRI's and LP, evoked potentials, were normal, although the brain mri was done in my hometown and I question whether or not it would have been strong enough to pick up everything.  Anyhow, I'm wondering since I've been feeling bad again for the last year if stuff is just starting up again.  I remember thinking when I started feeling this way, "Here we go again.  I don't believe it's all in my head, but how can I convince a doctor of that?  Should I wait and see if something more "definite" happens?  I can manage living this way right now because I can work when I want.  But I'm going through a time of really wanting some answers.  Thanks for listening, you all seem like a really supportive group.
7 Responses
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Avatar universal
Sorry you lost your post - looking forward to hearing what you think :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I appreciate all your replies, advice and encouraging words.

I used to exercise a lot (ran track in college, coached some after college) and I have a horse boarding stable so I do physical labor every day, but I can no longer run because if I do it pretty much knocks me out for the rest of the day and I can't get any of my other stuff done.  Some days it's really hard for me to push my wheelbarrow of horse "droppings" around :)

Mel - I can really relate to the feeling of wanting them to find something.  Like Heather said, not knowing is worse.  I guess maybe I would feel differently after I was actually diagnosed with something, but not knowing what is wrong is really hard.  I think it's good you surveyed your students.  The people that see us every day might notice something wrong that a doctor wouldn't be able to observe in a 15-minute exam.  

Moki & Mel - I hope you can get some answers.  It sounds like it's been a long road, I'll be thinking of you both.

I remember in the beginning of all this my symptoms were so alarming (my body would jerk so hard I would fall down) that every single doctor I saw treated it as an emergency practically.  My boyfriend at the time (now husband) thought it was very possible I'd soon be in a wheelchair and we had just started dating, and he stuck by me.  It was only after the 1st year when I went back to the doctor because I was still tired (but not jerking so violently) that they started trying me on anxiety meds, so I tried that, didn't help, quit going to the doctor for 6 years.  But I guess since my deductible's met for the year I'll give it another shot!

Helpful - 0
147426 tn?1317265632
I just wrote you a whole, looong post and lost it when my internet connection failed.  I haven't it in me to reconstruct it tonight.  But, you will hear from me tomorrow!!  I have a whole lot to say, as always.  Quix
Helpful - 0
271770 tn?1221992084
Definitely go to the Neuro appointment! It can only help, surely? If it just puts your mind at ease one way or the other. My Mum asked me yesterday if I thought something was going to show up on an MRI and I said that I suspected it might. I then said that I would actually rather at this point to find something and start treatment than continue waiting and wondering for goodness knows how long?!

I've been sick on and off for 11 years, so I know how it feels to think things are just in your head. I actually went ahead and surveyed my students (I'm a teacher) yesterday to see if they had noticed things and of course they had! They even told me of other things they had noticed that I didn't even realise! That gave me a feeling of validation, that yes other people have noticed specific things and this stuff is happening!

Please go to the Neuro and get yourself better! It's not blowing you off - your Doc just wants to send you to the right person!

Mel
Helpful - 0
281565 tn?1295982683
I'm new to all this to and as of yet undiagnosed so I don't have a great deal of advice to give other than you need to get checked out. As you said, you've been depressed and know that feeling and that this is different so you know something else is going on. Hopefully you only need to see one neuro  and that he will take you seriously and fully check you out. If not find another. (I am working on taking my own advice lol)  Heather is so right in knowledge is power. Keep the appointment!!

My thoughts are with you
Moki

Helpful - 0
195469 tn?1388322888
As with anything in the medical world, there are not always clear-cut answers.  MS is one of the grey areas that mimic the typical lesions and symptoms of so many other diseases and disorders.

'Relapses' and 'remissions,' spaced several weeks or months apart, along with neurological exam changes or deficits, positive MRI's for lesions in the brain and/or spinal cord...are 'usually' what a doctor will look for, before making a diagnosis.  But even though a person may have what they call a "text book case of Multiple Sclerosis," your doctor may STILL not diagnosis MS.  Some Neuro's take the wait and see approach.  They wait for more symptoms to appear, changes in MRI's...it's runs the full spectrum.

Even though I say this, having the disease myself for over a decade (excuse me, 'diagnosed' for over a decade.  Who knows how long I have really HAD MS?) this should NOT desuade you from seeing the Neurologist.

There are some of your symptoms that do not exactly spell out MS.  Then again, there are some that are "classic."  Going to the Neuro and him probably ordering an MRI, would be of great benefit to you.  There is power in knowledge.  Not knowing what is wrong, is worse..don't you think?

No matter what the diagnosis, you should be under a doctor's care.  There is no question in my mind.  

With every step you take in this process, remember that each and every person on this forum, will support you emotionally and help you "survive" the process.  It is indeed a process...but better to know and be treated for whatever is wrong, than not know and further deteriorate and suffer the consequences.  Don't mean to scare you by saying that.  Just trying my best to urge you to keep your appointment.  It IS important, no matter what the doctor finally diagnoses.

Keep the chin up and best wishes, Heather
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Go to the neurologist, it cannot hurt but only help.  My friend had some of the same symptoms as you and it was stress and told to exercise.  She is 48 years old.  She joined a gym, exercised and felt better.  Personally, I believe depression can cause some of your symptoms but who knows.  I'd definately see the neurologist.  If he or she is not help, see another until you get a definitive answer.
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