Aa
neurological or psychological?
I am a single mom, of three children (ages 6, 4, and 3). I have not felt strong nor well since I had my youngest in 2004. I have finally convinced my doc that he should order an MRI which is to be done today. And I think I am more scared of there being nothing there, more so than if there is. I have been tested for everything form RA to Lyme's Disease, basically all of the blood work was negative. Needless to say I am losing patience and faith in Doctors at this point. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here is a list of my symptoms:
mental - it is like my short term memory isn't being processed
- constantly mixing up words
- inability to concentrate and focus
- mood swings, i get upset/angry easily and more often
vision - double vision especially when fatigued
- get dizzy and almost pass out at times
arms - pins/needles both arms from shoulder down
- during extreme points of episodes extremely painful burning and spasms with paralysis that
lasts for as much as 4 hours, to the point meds do nothing
- weakness, get real shaky when doing detail oriented work, hurts to brush my daughters
hair let alone my own
legs - constant tightness (spasm) in my right calf muscle, which causes knee pain
- pins/needles in right leg from knee down
- painful burning muscle sensations in my legs that I have to wrap in cold wet towels to sleep
fatigue - is extreme if i don't get at least 12 hours of sleep I can not drive because I will fall asleep
continuously
- extreme headaches and migraines
- neck stiffness/pain as well as lower back pain
- can take hours to be able to get out of bed after waking up
The doc has put me on aderrall for Adult ADD, tried Requip for RLS, and Lexapro to help with anxiety and depression, not to mention muscle relaxers, pain meds .....
I know my family is losing patience and understanding, and quite frankly so am I....please help...
mental - it is like my short term memory isn't being processed
- constantly mixing up words
- inability to concentrate and focus
- mood swings, i get upset/angry easily and more often
vision - double vision especially when fatigued
- get dizzy and almost pass out at times
arms - pins/needles both arms from shoulder down
- during extreme points of episodes extremely painful burning and spasms with paralysis that
lasts for as much as 4 hours, to the point meds do nothing
- weakness, get real shaky when doing detail oriented work, hurts to brush my daughters
hair let alone my own
legs - constant tightness (spasm) in my right calf muscle, which causes knee pain
- pins/needles in right leg from knee down
- painful burning muscle sensations in my legs that I have to wrap in cold wet towels to sleep
fatigue - is extreme if i don't get at least 12 hours of sleep I can not drive because I will fall asleep
continuously
- extreme headaches and migraines
- neck stiffness/pain as well as lower back pain
- can take hours to be able to get out of bed after waking up
The doc has put me on aderrall for Adult ADD, tried Requip for RLS, and Lexapro to help with anxiety and depression, not to mention muscle relaxers, pain meds .....
I know my family is losing patience and understanding, and quite frankly so am I....please help...
Hey,
all that I can say is stick around. This is the best place to get the support you're going to need. Post your successes, your fears and anything in between. These are good people. I lean on them everyday.
~Ley
all that I can say is stick around. This is the best place to get the support you're going to need. Post your successes, your fears and anything in between. These are good people. I lean on them everyday.
~Ley
Wecome!!! I too am in limbo land. I am on my second neuro. Hang in there! I so understand your frustration.
By the way... I lived in Hot Springs Ar!!! Beautiful state! My sis lives in Little Rock!! Too cool.
Keep us posted on your MRI results!!!
And No you are not crazy!
Syn
By the way... I lived in Hot Springs Ar!!! Beautiful state! My sis lives in Little Rock!! Too cool.
Keep us posted on your MRI results!!!
And No you are not crazy!
Syn
Thank you so much for the support, it is nice to find a place where others truly understand the frustration and just shear madness of the amount of undiagnosable disorders/diseases we still have in such a technologically advanced period we live in. My doc recommended I see an associate in his office for a second opinion on what should be investigated next, and he agreed that most of my symptoms are neurological in nature. The only thing is that most of the neurology docs here are general, and then even the MS specialist are not the best. My best friend has MS and she was the one pointed out that my symptoms are very much like hers and that I should not let off of my doc until he performed an MRI. And she had to go to Little Rock to find a specialist she liked.
But the docs office has been trying to get an appointment since Tuesday of last week, and still no response, hopefully before the end of the week I will know something more specific.
I don't even think it would bother me if it is psychological because at least then I would know where the problem is and how to start to fix it. If I know where the problem exists I can find the way to attack it head on and start fixing or healing the issue.
Again THANK YOU for the warm welcome, it is refreshing to receive understanding as opposed to a frustrated questioning and disbelief.
Michelle
But the docs office has been trying to get an appointment since Tuesday of last week, and still no response, hopefully before the end of the week I will know something more specific.
I don't even think it would bother me if it is psychological because at least then I would know where the problem is and how to start to fix it. If I know where the problem exists I can find the way to attack it head on and start fixing or healing the issue.
Again THANK YOU for the warm welcome, it is refreshing to receive understanding as opposed to a frustrated questioning and disbelief.
Michelle
Hey~ Welcome to the forum! I know all these nice ladies have tried to reassure you that you're not crazy.....but I know these ladies, and I'm not sure THEY'RE the ones who should be judging, if you get my drift! (Just kidding, girls!)
We really have no idea if you're crazy at all, do we? Except the crazy ones usually don't WONDER if they are! I, personally, think most likely -- you're perfectly sane. Just frustrated. You have a lot going on with your body, and so far, no answers.
From my experience, it may take a while to figure out a diagnosis fopr you, but the MRI is a great first step. Maybe it will show something and your doc will have a good idea what to do next. Hopefully, it will be normal, frustrating as that would be.
Hang in there, and let us know how the results turn out.
Feel well!
Momzilla*
We really have no idea if you're crazy at all, do we? Except the crazy ones usually don't WONDER if they are! I, personally, think most likely -- you're perfectly sane. Just frustrated. You have a lot going on with your body, and so far, no answers.
From my experience, it may take a while to figure out a diagnosis fopr you, but the MRI is a great first step. Maybe it will show something and your doc will have a good idea what to do next. Hopefully, it will be normal, frustrating as that would be.
Hang in there, and let us know how the results turn out.
Feel well!
Momzilla*
Hi and Welcome!
Sorry you are going through this and hopefully you can find some answers. ..soon.
If your primary doctor is someone you trust and have faith in, hang in there. He/she can aid you in finding the right specialist who can help you. It is understandably difficult to not lose patience.
Everyone here knows what you are going through so feel free to vent those frustrations. Many people here can help you sort this out and give you some direction.
You have a lot on your shoulders being a single mom. Moms aren’t supposed to get sick. Kids get scared and they lash out. Family members get frustrated because they don’t know what to do to help, or there is the mindset that if the “doctors” cannot figure it out then it must be “all in your head.”
Getting a diagnosis isn’t a fast process. Many here have been in limbo for quite some time. Others have made little steps toward feeling better, but still undiagnosed.
Please believe there are answers for you, and also you’ll find that this is a nice place to find support.
Someone with more medical knowledge (Quix maybe?) will be able to give you some specific direction.
Again, welcome.
Wanna
Sorry you are going through this and hopefully you can find some answers. ..soon.
If your primary doctor is someone you trust and have faith in, hang in there. He/she can aid you in finding the right specialist who can help you. It is understandably difficult to not lose patience.
Everyone here knows what you are going through so feel free to vent those frustrations. Many people here can help you sort this out and give you some direction.
You have a lot on your shoulders being a single mom. Moms aren’t supposed to get sick. Kids get scared and they lash out. Family members get frustrated because they don’t know what to do to help, or there is the mindset that if the “doctors” cannot figure it out then it must be “all in your head.”
Getting a diagnosis isn’t a fast process. Many here have been in limbo for quite some time. Others have made little steps toward feeling better, but still undiagnosed.
Please believe there are answers for you, and also you’ll find that this is a nice place to find support.
Someone with more medical knowledge (Quix maybe?) will be able to give you some specific direction.
Again, welcome.
Wanna
I absolutely understand your fear that there is nothing wrong with you more so than if there is. I call it a need for validation!
I too am in the waiting room called Limbo Land.
My bloodwork for Lyme (and sed rate, and CBC, among other things) is fine. One dr. says I have several reflexes indicative of something neurological that needs to be ruled out, either MS or fibromyalgia. I really tend toward the MS symptoms.
The above was at a clinic where I went for a nasty vertigo issue that resolved in about 3 hours, don't get that at all.......??
My primary dr. did NOT get the same reflex results (but I had my socks and jeans on, so could that skew his results?)
To his credit, and my request, I will see a neuro dr. at an MS place next week.
Do you have access to an MS specialist? Not just what I call a "generic neuro dr.", a specialist!!!!!
Know that you are not alone, and above all, you are not crazy. So I addressed you that way.
Suzanne
I too am in the waiting room called Limbo Land.
My bloodwork for Lyme (and sed rate, and CBC, among other things) is fine. One dr. says I have several reflexes indicative of something neurological that needs to be ruled out, either MS or fibromyalgia. I really tend toward the MS symptoms.
The above was at a clinic where I went for a nasty vertigo issue that resolved in about 3 hours, don't get that at all.......??
My primary dr. did NOT get the same reflex results (but I had my socks and jeans on, so could that skew his results?)
To his credit, and my request, I will see a neuro dr. at an MS place next week.
Do you have access to an MS specialist? Not just what I call a "generic neuro dr.", a specialist!!!!!
Know that you are not alone, and above all, you are not crazy. So I addressed you that way.
Suzanne
Hello Am I, and welcome to the forum. I am sorry to hear that you are suffering, but you found a great place to talk to others and maybe get some ideas.
Your situation sounds somewhat like mine, with a few differences. Mine started also with the birth of my last child. The pregnancy was very rough for me, and I ended up becoming a diabetic and delivering very prematurely.
I have never recovered back to my original body. This was in 2002. So far I am listed as probable MS, (by 2 doctors) and my Neuro disagreeing. He believes it is a combo of diabetic neuropathy, stroke during the delivery (really high blood sugar), and a Chronic Epstein Barr infection. I have been on meds for over a year for the Ebv, and I do have to say, that it was by far my best year since, actually the only year I've ever accomplished anything at all since the birth.
I have abnormal MRI brain readings, abnormal Emg's, and abnormal reflexes, with many of the symptoms you list, except the double vision and back pain.
I know exactly what you mean about losing faith. It seems it would be obvious that when a previously active, healthy person goes so downhill that there is something they are missing. Have you been to a Neurologist? What tests have they ran?
Good to have you with us and again welcome,
Jazzy
Your situation sounds somewhat like mine, with a few differences. Mine started also with the birth of my last child. The pregnancy was very rough for me, and I ended up becoming a diabetic and delivering very prematurely.
I have never recovered back to my original body. This was in 2002. So far I am listed as probable MS, (by 2 doctors) and my Neuro disagreeing. He believes it is a combo of diabetic neuropathy, stroke during the delivery (really high blood sugar), and a Chronic Epstein Barr infection. I have been on meds for over a year for the Ebv, and I do have to say, that it was by far my best year since, actually the only year I've ever accomplished anything at all since the birth.
I have abnormal MRI brain readings, abnormal Emg's, and abnormal reflexes, with many of the symptoms you list, except the double vision and back pain.
I know exactly what you mean about losing faith. It seems it would be obvious that when a previously active, healthy person goes so downhill that there is something they are missing. Have you been to a Neurologist? What tests have they ran?
Good to have you with us and again welcome,
Jazzy
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