Could this be anxiety or something more?

[ShakinThingzUp]

I've been seeing doctors since this past January, for various problems that began in November.... I had similar problems in 2002/2003.  At that time, the problems were blamed on several different ailments and treated accordingly.  Suddenly in late 2003 I seemed to have much better health and it lasted, blessedly for about 4 years.

Then in late 2007 I began to fall apart again.  This time, I put all the pieces together and wondered if my several ailments were in fact one problem.  I have had one appointment with a Neurologist and a few tests.  I am waiting for a return call to set up the next round of testing (per the Neurosurgeons recommendations after my last test and appt. with him).  Whereupon he told me he couldn't help me to go back to the Neurologist.

Like many on this forum, I'm growing weary of the waiting.  Each time I have a new "episode" of health problems I become anxious, irritable and even angry.  There are many like me on this forum, waiting for a diagnosis, wondering if its MS, and what else it might be if its not MS.  

Some of my symptoms could be explained by Sciatica, pinched nerves.  Some could be explained if it were Fibromyalgia.  Some could be explained if it were migraines.  BUT it looks to me as if ALL of my symptoms could be explained... every last one, if they discovered I had MS.

This past Sunday night I had another "episode" of electric shock type pains and cried myself to sleep.  I awoke to various pains and problems which would continue over the next several days.  Occasional shock type pains came, but none like that night.  My vision is acting up again - which I've had no problems at all with for at least 6 weeks (diagnosed in March with optic neuritis in one eye).

I've noticed over the last few days, that I've had a few "episodes" for lack of a better word, where for about 20-40 minutes each time I have the following symptoms all at once:

Vertigo/dizziness
Feeling like my head is heavy and full - hard to hold up
Mild - to - severe headache each time mainly at back of head
Clumsiness, dropping things
tremors in my hands and arms
dimmed & blurred vision in right eye
right eye watering
feeling of being hot/flushed

These symptoms, being all at once, are rather new to me.  They seem to either preceed or follow some "shock" type pains in my legs, arm and even my pelvic area.  Each time a bit different.

I noticed this yesterday once or twice, and today so far three times.

I'm wondering if this could be anxiety, or blood pressure or if it might be related to the overall problems currently being investigated through MRI, EMG, etc.

Any thoughts??

God Bless!
Amy

[ShakinThingzUp]

THANK YOU!

I've been reading up on Fibromyalgia this afternoon.  It's always been in my mind that this was one possibility, however, I knew that Fibro alone did not account for all my symptoms so I was not reading up on it, partially dismissing it.......... while all the time it lingered in the back of my mind.  Years ago, an allergist I was seeing told me he thought I had it.  (Obviously he didnt diagnose me, he was an allergist, however, he indicated I should speak to my GP about it)  This was WAY back in about 1996 when there wasn't all that much known about it I suppose.

ANYWAY........... this afternoon I've read articles that have enlightened me!!  They answered many of my questions!!

Apparently Fibromyalgia is sometimes linked with Shingles (which I had in 2002) and also with PHN ---- which might explain the nerve pains that I have had SINCE I had shingles in 2002......  Also, I read about CMP (Chronic Myofascial Pain) which is also associated with Fibro.

The combination of all of these WOULD explain ALL my symptoms.

I've printed up loads of info to read over the weekend, and plan to make a call to my doctor on Monday!!  Meanwhile, I will educate myself.  Thank you for spurring me into reading more!!!

God Bless You!
Amy

[ShakinThingzUp]

Thanks for your response.  All things to think about.....

No, I do not take any SSRI's.  My General Practioner at first had me on Trazodone, to help me sleep at night due to pain at night that started long before I began the meds.  Once the pain increased, and I saw no help from Trazodone, I stopped the medication (despite my GP telling me to increase it to help me sleep).  I was on the medication years ago for migraines (which I havent had since 2003 - until perhaps now) - and back then it began to make my hair fall out.  So you see, I dropped the only medication I was taking in that class of my own accord...

I am on meds for allergies and asthma (Zyrtec, Singulair and Advair) and more recently to try and help with the current problems, I am taking Neurontin (900 mg per day - I cant take more makes me too sleepy to work) and Darvocet, which I take about 2 pills a day.  I try not to take more, makes me itch if I take too much of it.

Eyesight - my vision is 20/30, the docs not concerned about my eye sight, only that I had PAIN and blurred vision and color change in sight of one eye, which was perceived to be mild optic neuritis back in March.  So far, I have not had the pains THIS time - only blurry vision in one eye.  If I do have the pain, I will see the eye doctor again.... and notify my Neuro.

Thyroid - I have been thinking about that recently also - don't know much about it.  I had a few problems with my thyroid levels when pregnant (years ago), but medication for about 1 month fixed it.  I never really noticed any symptoms from it - they just check your blood a lot when pregnant and caught it.  One of the things I plan to do at my next doctors appt. is to request that my doctor run some blood tests to check for anything blood-wise that might indicate a problem causing my symptoms.  (Lyme, poisons, Thyroid, all these things).  

Fibromyalgia...... I do have some spots on me that hurt to touch, just under the skin.  I will do a search and see if I can find information on the specific points that would indicate that.  Sometimes they seem to follow the path of a nerve as I pull my fingers across them..... other times it's not, like an area larger than a half dollar on my upper arm.

In the past, if I had symptoms like I'm having now, they were attributed to anxiety (back when I had migraine issues in 2002).  But, recently my OTHER health problems - the electric shock type pains in my legs and arms for example have been much more dominant than any headaches....... and the vertigo comes with no headache, I'm nauseous a LOT off and on during the day...  If I get hot, I feel exhausted, worthless really...

The zapping type pain is worse at night, and when I get those pains it is so bad that nothing else registers.  I have carpal tunnel, so I'm familar with what nerve pain feels like.  It's the same type pain radiating down both legs starting in my back area and down to my toes and also in my left shoulder down to my finger tips........  Thus far my right arm has not been affected.

I seem to have periods where its awful for a week, up to three weeks.  Then, the pains are better, without any electric shock type pains, but more mile pains and milder problems for up to 6 weeks or so before I have what seems like another "attack."  I've paid more attention to it in the past 4 months, keeping notes, etc.

Thanks,
God Bless!
Amy

[ggreg]

Dear Shakin,
I just want to bring up a couple things, in case you don't have MS, which by the way, is normally detected by a scan of the head and spine, these lesions show up.

You did not mention what meds you were on.  I just wanted to bring to your attention that SSRIs can cause that zap deal, and can also cause you to drop things and be stiff.  Not all SSRIs are alike... some are worse than others, especially Lexapro, so if you are taking them, you can switch to a milder one like Zoloft.  It is also important that you take the same amount every day and not miss a dose.  I'm presuming this might be the problem, but it may be that you don't take them.  You didn't say.  But if you're taking ANY medication, I always tell people to review their medications with their doc first.

Now, the dizziness, vertigo, and headaches, that could all be from your eyesight.  You have been to a doctor about that, and I think you should go again, just to make sure that isn't contributing to your symptom picture.  Also, female problems can cause some of your issues, as well, either stuff like endometriosis or perimenopause.  In addition, a thyroid condition might explain some of your stuff, so it's always a good idea to have a thyroid panel run next time you're at the general physician's office and they draw blood, particularly if you've noticed your heart rate is either racing or very weak.

Fibromyalgia, there are pressure points, you can find them on the web, and if you have something like 7 out of 11 of them, it points to that.  There are a couple wonderful medications for that disorder now, one of them is Lyrica.  That medication also helps with sciatica pain, which you can get electric zaps from a spinal problem, so could be you need better treatment for any nerve pain you might be having, to include ordinary yoga type exercises instead of drugs.
GG

[ShakinThingzUp]

Bumping this up.