Fever, Strange Speech and Wake-up Foggy

[CGTMHI]

I've never done this and am praying you might help.

I live in a small area of Ala. where the 3 doctors I've seen treat only the pain and I don't even go for pain killers, especially since the problem persists. Have had a headache 3 wks. , uncontrollably tired, had low fever to begin, have always be low pressure (due to rain) sensitive, but this is different. Have painful walnut sized growth near right elbow, growing, speak strange at times, can't think clearly, foggy, fuzzy, wake up better, but within 1 and 1/2 hrs., it sets in again. Have had benign brain tumor 3 years ago removed, last years MRI, showed no evidence. Began epidurals 3 1/2 weeks ago for sciatic nerve problem.

Please, please, help, I have no Idea what to do and am now looking at the idea of mold infestations or infection somewhere.

Please comment.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

I was alerted to your post by the med help staff. I agree with them that you need to have this problem evaluated sooner rather then later. The severe headaches and fluctuating symptoms could be a sign of bleeding around the brain. Without seeing you and examining you I can not make specific recommendations, but I believe a doctor needs to see you. If you are still having the symptoms you should go to an emergency room to be evaluated. They will be able to exclude serious problems, and then you can see a neurologist after that. It may be possible that your headaches are related to your epidurals. If the headaches increases with activity or sitting upright, and improves with lying down, this could indicate a leak of spinal fluid at the epidural site. This also needs to be evaluated and treated. Good luck.

[cindymhi]

Cindy,

I'm a nurse and based on your symptoms and history I URGE you to call your doctor RIGHT NOW!!  You need to tell him or her that you are having difficulty speaking and thinking!!!  

DO NOT WAIT - CALL RIGHT NOW and make SURE THAT YOU TELL THEM EXACTLY WHAT YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE!!!!!

Sandy

[Med Help]

Cindy,

PLEASE CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY!! We cannot offer a diagnosis via the Internet, but based on some of the symptoms you have posted, you need IMMEDIATE medical attention!!

The warning signs for stroke are:

*  Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body

*  Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

*  Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

*  Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

*  Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Sometimes the warning signs last for only a few minutes and then disappear. This could be a mini-stroke, called a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Although they don't last long, TIAs are a symptom of a medical problem. Don't ignore a TIA - see your doctor right away.

A stroke requires immediate medical care. If you think you are having a stroke, call 911. Research shows that treatment during the first few hours after stroke symptoms appear can be important for the best possible recovery. An emergency doctor or a neurologist (a doctor who diagnoses and treats disorders of the brain and nervous system) will provide emergency treatment. Then a family doctor, internist, or geriatrician can step in and provide continuing care.

Doctors make an early diagnosis by studying symptoms, reviewing the patient's medical history, and performing tests such as a computerized tomography (CT) scan-a 3-dimensional x-ray of the brain.

MED HELP INTERNATIONAL

[Med Help]

Med Help was very concerned about "Cindy's" posting and managed to locate her via telephone.  She told us that she has seen 2 doctors recently and has told them about her bouts with confusion and difficulty speaking.  In addition, she tole us that her mother has a history of stroke.  We asked if she has seen a Neurologist and she said that she has, but it was for back problems awhile ago.

Med Help urged her to contact the Neurologist TODAY and let him know what symptoms she is experiencing.  We also recommended that because of her history of benign brain tumor and mother's history of stroke, that she make an appointment with a Neurologist, at the nearest major university teaching hospital, for a second opinion.

We urge everyone using our forums that if you think you are having a serious medical problem, or if you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, PLEASE CALL YOUR DOCTOR OR 911!!  Minute are precious and can make a big difference in the outcome!!

MED HELP INTERNATIONAL

[ontherecord]

Agreed that this needs to be evaluated sooner than later.  But a person in the middle of a stroke doesn't manage to find medhelp.org (for the first time, too) browsing the internet, all the while having the presence of mind to post a question.  Scaring people unnecessarily -- even if erring on the side of caution, carries its own associated risks notwithstanding the nobility of the effort.  If it didn't turn out to be a stroke or a TIA -- and it didn't sound like it was, I think the disclaimer on the main page would have been more than sufficient.  

Now here's a question for someone who really wants to help: WHAT EXACTLY IS A LACUNAR INFARCT???? The radiologist said I had a 3 MM lacunar infarct in the right putamen (and that "no other intracranial abnormality is identified") BUT my neurologist looked at the image on the scan under the bright light and said it's entirely incorrect and labeled the radiologist's assesment of the lacunar infarct "nonsense."  I need to show the scans to someone else now, but I just don't know whether to go to a neurologist or a radiologist....tough one indeed.  But I hope I don't have any infarct.