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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Confusing symptoms
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Confusing symptoms
by Lyn2, Aug 24, 2001 12:00AM
I am a 33yr.old female. I have been having several neuro. symptoms over the past several months. The neuro. doc I see says I have postural and task specific tremors-diffuse, but I think more so on lft. side. I have peripheral neuropathy, hyperreflexia, and around mid-July developed severe dizziness with strange sensation on left side of head, and horrible headache. The dizziness has continued. The neurologist said I had marked nystagmus during certain head positions.
Here is the concern. I also have frequent bouts of A-fib and a PFO. Have been told I am high stroke risk. I also have a pacemaker. Cardio has me on amiodarone, coumadin and others. Neuro. doc has me on mysoline. When I became dizzy it was surrounded by about 2 wks. of very bad a-fib and very low INR level (below theraputic). At the time I saw my neuro. I did not make any connections between the 2, and did not mention this. I am scheduled for a BAEP soon. My neuro. does not believe the symptoms are connected to the amiodarone.
Does this sound possibly stroke related?
Will the BAEP test show if it was, and what else can it detect?
I have had blood tests for everything and nothing was pos. that would relate to neuro. symptoms.
Does this mixture of symptoms connect in any way? I find it hard to believe I have developed all this around the same time, with any connection.
If you have any insight I would appreciate it. Thank you so very much!!!!!
Here is the concern. I also have frequent bouts of A-fib and a PFO. Have been told I am high stroke risk. I also have a pacemaker. Cardio has me on amiodarone, coumadin and others. Neuro. doc has me on mysoline. When I became dizzy it was surrounded by about 2 wks. of very bad a-fib and very low INR level (below theraputic). At the time I saw my neuro. I did not make any connections between the 2, and did not mention this. I am scheduled for a BAEP soon. My neuro. does not believe the symptoms are connected to the amiodarone.
Does this sound possibly stroke related?
Will the BAEP test show if it was, and what else can it detect?
I have had blood tests for everything and nothing was pos. that would relate to neuro. symptoms.
Does this mixture of symptoms connect in any way? I find it hard to believe I have developed all this around the same time, with any connection.
If you have any insight I would appreciate it. Thank you so very much!!!!!
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Aug 24, 2001 12:00AM
I'm sorry to hear about your many symptoms. You certainly are at a significantly higher risk for stroke than most people due to your heart problems. There are a number of possiblities that could explain what's going on. The dizziness could be related to a stroke in the back of your brain or brainstem, a new onset of vertiginous migraine, amiodarone, or the Afib itself. An MRI of the brain may be a good test to evaluate you for stroke and would be a good baseline for you just in case you should have more symptoms. A BAEP tests your response to hearing and the integrity of its connections with the brainstem. If you have a problem in the brainstem or along its connection such as a stroke or multiple sclerosis, the test will be abnormal.
Think back when you developed each symptom and when you were started on the amiodarone. This med is known to cause dizziness, peripheral neuropathy, and tremor which is the biggest side effect. However, I understand your neurologist's concern. With your risk factors for stroke and the additional symptoms of face numbness, I would be reluctant to just chalking this up to amiodarone. Talk to your doctor about the possible need for an MRI. Best of luck.
Think back when you developed each symptom and when you were started on the amiodarone. This med is known to cause dizziness, peripheral neuropathy, and tremor which is the biggest side effect. However, I understand your neurologist's concern. With your risk factors for stroke and the additional symptoms of face numbness, I would be reluctant to just chalking this up to amiodarone. Talk to your doctor about the possible need for an MRI. Best of luck.
