Daughter's symptoms

[lindar]

I am trying to find answers to the symptoms my 23 yr old daughter is having.  The symptoms are not all the time, but come on without warning, without trauma and without physical activity.  The problem starts with a tightening in her throat.  Then she gets tingling in her fingers and numbness which travels up her arm.  Sometimes the numbness goes into her back and chest.  Her speech is effected because her mouth gets numb and she has a difficult time talking even though she knows what she wants to say.  Once the numbness goes away, she is left with a very intense headache.  These symptoms have lasted as long as an hour.
She has been tested for diabetes, hypoglycemia, thyroid, heart problems and has had a CAT scan of her head.  But so far, no one has been able to tell us what IS wrong.  She ended up in the emergency room again this weekend.
She is 23, 5'5", 107 lbs.
Do you have ANY ideas or suggestions for us?
She lives in Scottsdale, AZ.
Thanks very much for your help.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Sherry:

Sorry to hear about your granddaughter.  If the EEG was abnormal then your granddaughter likely has epilepsy.  There are some forms of epilepsy that might give you a normal EEG when you are not having a seizures.  This is especially true concerning frontal lobe epilepsy.  I would sit down with your pediatric neurologist and get a complete description of what he/she thinks is going on.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Sherry]

grandaughter suddenlly having seizures dr. thinks focal seizure
in hospital for week eeg mri had no seizure while in hospital no episode, hospital scared for her to have one kept her in bed with no activity. sent home seizures more frequent lasting sometimes ten min. stated if lasted 30 min could loose her.started her on mild dosage of med not helping, stated would take week for med to kick in.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Karrin:

It depends on the age of the person, the health status, concurrent medications etc.  There are many reasons from stroke to headache.  If you are worried I would see a physician.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Karrin]

Do you have any ideas what could be the cause for sudden onset eye crossing, then uncrossed over the period of 6 hours?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD,RPS]

Dear Linda:

Pineal cysts are common and usually cause no symptoms, however if they are big they might induce hydrcephalus by obstructing the adueduct.  We usually just follow them periodically to make sure they are not growing and distinquish them from a cystic astrocytoma.  Most pineal cysts are found only by accident, and they usually are pretty bengin.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[diagnosis]

My daughter got her test results back today. The neurologist thinks that she has a pineal cyst and wants her to see a neurosurgeon.  What is a "pineal cyst" and do you know any good surgeons you can recommend in Phoenix?  I'm still pretty upset about the news but am trying to gather as much information as I can.  Thanks.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for updating us.

CCF Neuro MD

[Update from Linda]

My daughter has finally seen a Neurologist and she likes him!!!  On January 7th she is scheduled for an EEG, an MRI and an MRA.   He feels that she is experiencing symptoms of migraine but wants to make sure. Will send more info after the tests. Happy New Year!

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear LindaR:

No, but be sure that all your concerns are answered. Your daughter should not be blown off by the neurologist saying that this is all in her head.  Somesort of investigation should be performed to rule out the worrisome things, like previously described.  Let us know what happens.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[lindar]

She has had these symptoms off and on for about 4 years.  However, since October 20, 1999, she has had them more often and more severe.  She doesn't always have the headache with the other symptoms.  She has an appointment with a Neurologist this Thursday so I am hoping that she may learn more then.  It's very hard being so far away. (She's in Arizona, I'm in Illinois)
Do you have any suggestions for her visit on Thursday?  Any specific questions she should be asking?
The word seizure is scary............
Thanks for your help.
Linda

[Leigh]

Hi! Although I am not a doctor but I can tell you from personal experience perhaps your daughter is experiencing a form of migraine. I suffer from complicated migraine. Once while on vacation one of mine hit and the entire left side of my body went numb and I was unable to speak. It was as if I had suffered a stroke! It is my understanding that migraine headache can take on various forms and can be both very scarey and they are sooo painful. My maternal Grandfather had migraine. My mother and both of her sisters and their daughters also have migraine. As I said I have them and my sister suffers from both migraine and cluster headache. If anyone in your family has migraine then perhaps it is worth investigating if your daughter has them. She probably needs to go see a neurologist or a headache clinic for a workup. I take medication as a preventative for migraine and have some medication to take when I get one. Sorry to hear she has to go thru it but if it is migraine then there are medicines she can take. I wish her the best.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Linda R:

Sorry to hear about your daughter.  Things that are repetitive in nature that give a patient symptoms that you describe are usually either migraine or seizures.  Without being able to neurologically examine your daughter, if is difficult for me to give you a more precise diagnosis.  How long have these symptoms been going on for?  Is there a family history of migraine?  I would go see a headache specialist initially.  A type of atypical migraine might be causing these symptoms.  But, I am not sure that I could not rule out seizure activity.  Since she does have a neurological focus (dysarthria), I think I would also get an MRI of her brain.

CCF Neuro MD