Neurology Expert Forum
Autoimmune Nervous System Disease?
About This Forum:

This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.

Font Size:
A
A
A
Background:
Blank
Blank
Blank
Blank Blank

Autoimmune Nervous System Disease?

I'm a 24 year old male.  Stage 3-4 liver cirrhosis due to autoimmune hepatitis.  

Recently:
-My heartbeat was dropping below 40 with relative regularity.  One time after standing up, got the worst headache I've ever had in my life.  Vision completely disappeared.  I had a lot of trouble breathing. Prevailing feeling is that it was some kind of mini-stroke (TIA).  They said brain MRI was normal.  Leading up to that event and ever since, my feet are numb, and it seems like my gait favors one side a bit.
-I keep fainting, and went in for a tilt table test - came back positive.  Doctor said neurocardiogenic syncope, and also talked about Shy Drager syndrome, but I lack too many symptoms for them to say that - no cognitive or speech issues
-All of my fainting episodes are after standing up after either lying or sitting - excepting the tilt table (fainted upright) when it occurred after they gave me a little adrenaline - in spray form.

In relation to this forum, about a year ago, I get these sharp pains.  Usually they're there and gone - every once in a while they last for 20-30 seconds.  There are locations that are more common, but I DO get them all over. Once I told my doctor they happen "all over" - I'm written off as anxiety.  
I've told myself just to ignore them until I bad enough for a doctor to diagnose me, but it's getting worse.  Pain seems to come for a couple days, and then go.

Is this MS-related, or some other neurological disorder?  I'm already immunosuppressed with 100mg/day of azathioprine.

Hoping somebody could point me in right direction.  Thanks,
Related Discussions
Avatar_dr_m_tn
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

Your initial symptoms do sound like cardiogenic syncope. The cause of this could many and may be related to your underlying hepatitis or the medication you are taking, which can cause blood pressure abnormalities. There are options available for treatment including increasing salt in the diet, wearing compression hoses, flexing calves in a sitting position prior to standing, and certain medications. These can be discussed with your primary physician.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that primarily affects the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves from the eye, the optic nerves). Symptoms may be mild to severe, ranging from tingling and numbness to paralysis. There is not one test alone or one symptom that can diagnose MS, but there are well-established criteria that help neurologists make the diagnosis. These include taking a thorough history, doing a thorough physical exam, conducting an MRI of the brain and sometimes the spine, and sometimes ancillary testing such as lumbar puncture and evoked potentials. If an MRI of the brain and spine is normal, the diagnosis of MS becomes highly unlikely.

I would follow up with your local physician and also discuss your symptoms with your gastroenterologist.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
Blank
Continue discussion Blank
Go
Blank
Request an Appointment
MedHelp Health Answers
Blank
Weight Tracker
Reach your weight goal faster
Start Tracking Now
RSS Expert Activity
1741471_tn?1349564002
Blank
Parkinson Awareness Month: Parkinso... Blank
May 10 by Michael Gonzalez-WallaceBlank
233488_tn?1310696703
Blank
NEW STUDIES ON PREVENTING PROGRESSI...
May 08 by John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAOBlank
2126606_tn?1346348724
Blank
Heroin Use in the U.S.
May 08 by Clare Waismann Kavin, Blank